Mirena Coil or tranexamic acid (AIBU to be hesitant)

Thank you for the info finally pulled my finger out and called doctors to have coil fitted. Waiting on a return phone call.

@babasaclover- my flow only became extremely heavy after my pregnancy. My gynaecologist said it’s not uncommon for adenomyosis to start after a pregnancy and in older women (I had my child at 39).

On my third Mirena. Love it. No periods after 18 months of it settling in. I had spotting during that time and my periods got shorter and lighter immediately.

If the Mirena doesn’t agree with your body you can get it removed.

I am in the same boat as you. I have been given the tranemexic acid two months ago and still scared to try it and scared of the coil. However I did have very large cervical polyp removal which may have been making the adenomyosis symptoms a lot worse. In the last two months I've tried an anti flamatory diet (I still have off days) and seed cycling this current period I'm noticing a normal flow and less pain...still pain but not lasting days if that make sense and period days are 8 rather than 10. I understand everyones adenomyosis symptoms vary so much and this may not be suitable for all but worth mentioning if it does help anyone. Wishing you well x

I've done both.

Transexamic acid made periods a bit lighter (still very heavy) but significantly longer and it just didn't work for me. I was on this for about 2yrs.

Mirena coil has been truly life changing. I would flood through a moon cup and heaviest flow period pants within an hour and I genuinely couldn't leave my house for the first 3 days of my period. Fatigue was extreme also.

Going on holiday was even worse and something I would really worry about.

I now don't have any periods, fatigue or any issues at all. I did spot lightly for the first 6 months, which honestly was far preferably to monthly floods and now nothing at all. It didn't hurt to be inserted. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner- I didn't because I was worried about potential side effects and pain, of which I've had none.

Dd 17 and I both take Tranexamic acid, for me it definitely shorterns my period and lightens the bleeding quite a lot after the first 2 doses. Dd17 gets less bleeding but period is usual length.

Please be careful that’s know to cause long term bone damage.

I've tried both. Transexamic acid did make my periods lighter, but not shorter and still not "light". I could get the bus to work without flooding on the way, but still wouldn't e.g. go swimming or wear light colours.

I'm on my 2nd mirena now, and it has been life changing. My periods have completely stopped.

It took a long time to settle in when I got the first one. I had 6 months of constant spotting, and I felt disgusting. It didn't help my endometriosis pain much at the start either. But I am so glad I stuck with it, as I am completely symptom free now.

Is uterine ablation an option?

I was put on tranexamic for years with no investigation as to why my periods were so heavy and turns out I had fibroids. Since then I’ve had the coil and wish I’d had it sooner to be honest as it stopped the bleeding for me which was great. Annoys me so much what us women have to go through!!!

I have adenomyosis and I use tranaxemic acid and Boots period pain reliever tablets which are naproxen I think. I’m also anaemic. The combination works ok for me

I refused the coil and ended up being put on a drug called Ryeqo. I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about the mirena coil, and the consultant pushed and pushed it and in the end I had to sign something to say I’d refused it. I have widespread endometriosis and denim sis and was seriously anaemic for years. The consultant told me my only options left were Ryeqo which stops your periods altogether and basically puts you in chemical menopause, or full hysterectomy. I didn’t even want the hormone but he asked me to humour him and just try it and it’s been life changing. No pain, no bleeding, no more anaemia. He said it’s a miracle drug but it’s very expensive so the nhs don’t like it being pushed.

I’ve had both and for me the mirena was a game changer re how heavy my periods were to how they are now. I also had far less period pain with coil. Mood wise I still get mood swings but not as severe with coil.

i was nervous re fitting as I struggle with smear but i waited until appointment with specialist and it was over quickly. I did bleed on and off for about6 weeks until it settled.

Tranexamic acid has made my 7 day flooding periods into three day light manageable periods.

I’m sticking with this instead of contraceptives.

I had an eblation which worked really well for me but I had finished having dc as it impacts fertility. Nothing else compared and it sounds dramatics but it changed my life.

I have adenomyosis and a fibroid. My problem is prolonged periods rather than very heavy, plus pain. Mirena stopped them for 18 months then they came back. I also take utrogestan for sleep and mood. We tried upping the utrogestan, then switching to duphaston, but they continued. A scan showed that the lining had been thickening but it had been controlling the adenomyosis as it hadn't worsened. The doctor explained that the coil has a higher dose at the start that tails off, and so it may be that I need to replace it more frequently for the purpose of the bleeding control.
She wants me to take it out, have a "clean out" bleed and then do another.
I'm going to do it but I don't love it as I'm sure the coil made me put on weight.
I was also hopeful for a hysterectomy but then learnt it can impact the pelvic floor so I'll try to avoid that as much as possible.

For me it reduced the pain and flow but then took longer to come out iyswim. I might try the coil - out of options!

interested to know those with heavy flows was it always like this? Mine only started to be a problem after I was pregnant

I have adenomyosis with horrific flooding periods. I ruined so many things during this period. I got the mirena and honestly it was a life changer. I still have periods but a pantyliner is enough to deal with it rather than the doubling up protection I had before that would still leak. I’ve also managed to get on top of the anemia and the crushing tiredness it caused. Tranxenemic acid did not do enough for me - I still flooded with it. The mirena was a little painful on insertion but nothing since. Mood is fine, I’m maybe a little more PMS-y than I was previously.

I also had positive experience with Mirena.
Have to diagnosis but periods caused me to regularly pass out in pain despite strong painkillers. I didn’t want Mirena as a friend had prolonged bleeding for several months after fitting
I was conscious I would be TTC in 6 months so didn’t see point of having it fitted. I got it whilst I gas investigative surgery
Life changing
just had ‘normal’ manageable period pains for few months

As you can tell from these replies, it’s very individual.
I had adeno diagnosed over 20 years ago. I’d already tried tranxemic acid which had no effect then the Mirena was fitted. Took a few months to settle (painful boobs 3 mths) but once it did it was great and no periods to speak of. Sadly it failed after 2 years but my periods were already reducing in frequency by then anyway.

I am now 15 years post meno and have a Mirena again to deal with HRT bleeding (no doubt exacerbated by adenovirus) and it’s working fine.

sorry this isn’t hugely helpful. It’s more to demonstrate that all women react individually to hormonal intervention, and their reactions will even differ at different times.

as you’ve already got the appointment booked I’d just go and get it done. I’m not gonna pretend it’s pleasant but it’s over quite quickly. Take some painkillers an hour beforehand - usually helps. Good luck.

I've had tranexamic for a year or so now and it's been life changing. I used to to have days when I couldn't leave the house but now I don't dread my periods starting anymore.

I have adenomyosis and used to have ridiculously heavy and painful periods. Recently diagnosed with cancer as well as hyperplasia and have the mirena as part of my treatment. Its been life changing. Periods are so easy and painfree now. I have had regular daily spotting but from what I've read that should settle in a few months.

I have been taking transonic acid for the last 6 months and my periods are 4 maybe 5 days but never more than 5. I was offered the coil but I refused it. Like you, I need it for heavy periods as I was severely anaemic.
You need to take it everyday of your period. I think I metabolise it quite quickly in my system as I notice if I don’t take the next dose, the bleeding gets heavier. Initially was taking 2x 500mg 3 times a day, I recently switched to 1x500mg 4 times a day and it worked fine.

i have such heavy periods i physically throw up, black out, I have to have iron infusions regularly. Very similar. I actually had both, on top of prostap, desogesterol, tibolne and ferric chloride. With the acid and coil, the Prostap started to reduce my bleeding to a “more manageable” level (which meant I could actually do stuff for an hour before I had to get back in the shower again)
however, I hit upon “extremely large” fibroids and cysts in my uterus. Had an endometrial resection to try and remove them (painful AF) and then another one when the first fibroid grew back faster. I have another resection scheduled and they will have to remove the coil because it has “settled” in a dangerous position. Apparently it’s really rare to happen, but I seem to be the 1 in 10 women, every single sodding time.
You are right to be wary, but it can change your life.

I had a Mirena (for contraception) a few years ago and suffered the most debilitating pelvic and back pain.

Had it removed. Then my periods got much heavier.

Gps LOVE the mirena and pushed it again but I just couldn’t face it.

I was sterilised to deal with contraception and that has worked well although I’m not having as much sex as I’d like 🤣

My mum suggested tranexamic acid for my periods and I’ve never looked back. Shortened periods, almost no bleeding. No side effects. Genius.