Mirena - do you have or have had one? Would love to hear some experiences of it?

[Twoweekcruise]

I have been advised to have one as I keep getting uterine polyps and apparently the mirena will shrink them and keep the lining thin until I hit menopause.
However, there are so many awful stories regarding the mirena and I'm also concerned about the risk of breast cancer and the mirena too.
Only two of my friends have had one and they both had horrible experiences with it so I'm in a dilemma.
I know the only way I'll know is to give it a go but the thought of the potential horrid side effects are putting me off especially anxiety, depression and migraine with aura as I already have those!

I had a tough time with insertion. I was surprised as I’d had two copper coils fitted without any problems at all - one in my lunch break and I was back at my desk within the hour.
I had cervical shock and two failed insertions before a hospital gynae did it under LA. All quite traumatic.
Periods are next to nothing now, so that’s a plus. I’ve gained weight, so that’s a negative which I’m working on.
I’m debating having it removed as I’m single now, but it’s reassuring to know it’s there and I don’t need to think about it.
If periods had been a big issue for me, I think I’d be really pleased with it. I was lucky before and had fairly uneventful 4 Day bleeds, which were no big deal.

Ellie I feel the same. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have really heavy periods and stuck to the house for a couple of times a week but know I've got to do something!

NC what's cervical shock?

Oh... mental health. I have depression and PMDD but it’s really levelled me in that sense. I don’t get the crazy hormonal mood swings I used to and as long as I take my anti Ds I feel pretty stable.
That’s a plus I’d forgotten about.

Following with interest as I'm about to get one I think.

As I've been on the POP for years now I assume hormonal side effects are unlikely, but I'm worried about insertion and the feeling of something being in there, I don't like the feeling of tampons for example. Can you feel it once it is in?

Why did the implant not work for you April? I'm considering that as a back up in case I chicken out.

I found the insertion painful but manageable. Cramping after was bad though. I took buscopan and naproxen after for the pain and they pretty much stopped it.

Middling stuff: Adjusting was okay. I had a few weeks of spotting and then I'd say I had a period roughly every 8 weeks.

Bad stuff: for the 2.5 years I had it in, every 3-4 weeks I'd get the most excruciating cramps. I also used to get spotting after sex. I had a pervasive sense of anxiety, which I also had on the pill. Just like on the pill I had no sex drive. All of these issues resolved within weeks of removal.

Good stuff: it stopped the migraines and mood swings I had on the pill. Very easy and never had to think about contraception.

In the end, it was the cramps that got me and I had it removed which was very quick and easy.

Where your cervix goes into spasm and you go into shock. I went all shakey and thought I was going to faint.
I think it was unusual though. Most people don’t have that.

I've had a Mirena for 14 years, obviously not the same one had no issues whatsoever. Would fully recommend.

You won't know if it suits you until you try it...

Poppy, I definitely can’t feel it now. I forget it’s there.

I love mine. It's been a life changer. No issues whatsoever.

On my 2nd one. No problems with either what so ever. Had quite heavy bleeding before but completely stopped with coil fitted. Both insertions and the removal been fine.

It suits me. Having it replaced was a bit of a drama but I will have another when this one needs replacing.

I have had some of the side effects, some weight gain (although that could also be down to cake and age) I have a darker pigmented area on my forehead that I also had during my pregnancies but it covers easily enough with make up. I do get a few spots but always did, they are definitely not worse.

I don't have periods and my goodness that is worth it. They were so painful and were very heavy even when on the pill. I don't have to think about it at all. Dd is entering the teenage years and it occurred to me that I don't have sanitary products in the house anymore because I don't need them.

Good luck op but I think you will be glad you had it fitted.

I have one. Mine was recommended by my psychiatrist (I have PMDD). It has absolutely, 100% changed my life for the better. I also used to have horrible periods and those have virtually gone. PMDD symptoms are much much better.

Just to mention that mine gets fitted under a ga as I go into cervical shock. That's my weird body though, as I tend to shock when having biopsies done etc.

I'm also on my 2nd Mirena. They have been great. I have had no problems at all. I had period type pain the day they were inserted but that's all. I have had very light periods while having them and now am entering the perimenopause and the doc said to keep it in. Honestly I have been fine and they have been great for me.

Thanks everyone, that’s really put my mind at ease, I’ve been fretting about this so much. I’m going to have to try it. I’m fed up of yearly hysteroscopies, polyps removals and periods that leave me house bound for days!