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Original poster

Anyone with a Mirena coil?

59 replies

Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 19:10

I have been advised to have a Mirena fitted because I have uterine polyps and have regular but awful, awful heavy periods. I’ve been putting it off for over 3 years because I am 46 and to date have never had any form of hormonal contraceptives (and was hoping never to have to tbh) and also because of the awful stories I have read online of side effects such as exacerbated anxiety and depression (something I already suffer from and just can not afford to have made worse), swollen breasts, weight gain (absolutely DO NOT want this as I have issues with my weight), acne and headaches (already suffer from hormonal aura migraines and do not want those made worse) etc.
My friend has recently started in the mini pill and her weight has ballooned and she now has issues with awful acne having had beautiful clear skin before taking it, so this has also put me off as the mini pill has progestin in also (although I’m told at a higher dose than the Mirena).
I have yet another gynae appointment soon to discuss my heavy periods and I know they will push the Mirena as they always do. My number one choice would be an ablation and a couple of years ago I asked for an ablation under a local, the gynaecologist agreed but on the day of the surgery the anaesthetist refused saying he would only do it under a general which I didn’t want, so I was left upset and back to square one unless I save up for an ablation under a local at a private hospital which will take some time if I’m honest, so it looks like the Mirena is my only current option which I really am not sure about.
Has anyone had or have the Mirena and what side effects did you suffer from?

OP posts:

Iliketeaagain · 27/12/2019 19:16

I had a marina fitted about 6 months ago. I had light bleeding for about 10 weeks and then intermittent very light bleeding since then. I had horrendous periods before, so it's been an absolute god send for me.
Have had occasional sore boobs, which I always had around when my period was due anyway. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to have done, but it was bearable and only took a few mins. I got it done at a family planning clinic rather than my GP because I figured the staff there did coil insertion much more often than the nurse practitioner at the GP surgery.
I read a lot of horror stories before I got it but decided to go for it after reading some research and I am seriously glad I did.

TheCWord · 27/12/2019 19:16

I had Mirena, well 2 now. Best thing i ever did. No more heavy bleeding nearly straight away. Took out after 7 years and bleeding started again so had another put in. No weight gain or headaches or anything. I would recommend it without hesitation

Nanna50 · 27/12/2019 19:16

On to my fourth Mirena coil in a row and apart from the first six weeks settling it has been very beneficial and no problems. Is there a particular reason you don’t want a general anaesthetic?

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Nanna50 · 27/12/2019 19:19

I agree with going to clinic for insertion rather than GP, for same reasons as @Iliketeaagain, although my first one was fitted by the gynae consultant.

magicmallow · 27/12/2019 19:21

i had one, life changingly amazing. no periods any more! took about 3 - 4 months to stop completely. No side effects. Slightly uncomfortable minor procedure but nothing awful - would highly recommend. I had endo before. Now gone!

NewMe2020 · 27/12/2019 19:23

Best thing ever. Do it!

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 27/12/2019 19:23

No side effects here either. Going to have second one shortly. No periods the entire time. Uncomfortable having it fitted but that’s only every 5 years- I can handle that.

AAA89 · 27/12/2019 19:27

I had the mirena coil put in after my second child, I never had any problems then all of a sudden I was getting cysts on my ovaries, polyps in my womb, my mood was unreal and although I never put on weight it was very hard to get it off. Also ended up pregnant on it! I'm currently pregnant with my 3rd but after this I will be getting my tubes clamped as no birth control agrees with me.
All you can do is try and see if it works for you :)

AlmaMartyr · 27/12/2019 19:45

I have a Mirena and I love it, no bad side effects here.

Luckingfovely · 27/12/2019 19:57

I had a Mirena which on top of a severe Anxiety Disorder, destroyed my mental health to the level of suicidal thoughts. Having it taken out was a huge relief and possibly lifesaving for me.

I know people with it who think it's the best thing ever, others who are severely affected. Not sure if it's luck of the draw or if it just amplifies existing conditions. But be very careful.

Junie70 · 27/12/2019 20:02

I have had them in for nearly 20 years now, and wouldn't be without one. I'm on no 5, and they've said this can stay in for 7 years as hopefully I will be post menopause by then (I'm currently 49).

I went from being housebound for the 1st two days of my period due to flooding everywhere, to barely having to wear a pantyliner. It's honestly been life changing.

I've found my weight a bit of an issue, and get a bit grouchy at times with PMT but they are such minor issues that they are totally bearable.

Bananajam · 27/12/2019 20:31

I have an appointment on monday to have a mirena fitted. A GP friend of mine has always recommended it and said it would change my life. I am perimenopausal, 49 and my periods are horrendous. When I spoke to my GP she gave me the pros and cons and said at my age it could be useful.
I have never had hormonal contraception, my periods have always been erratic but I've kept putting it off. I'm really nervous but I'm definitely going to try it because working and dealing with extremely heavy bleeding once a month is unbearable.

Cantthinkofcoolname · 27/12/2019 21:22

I had the mirena coil and am another sufferer of the really bad side effects. Weight gain (then the inability to lose weight), hair loss, anxiety and depression, low or no sex drive are a few effects that spring to mind. My periods did stop after a while and I had it fitted for that reason but I wouldn't recommend it based on my experience.

Fleetheart · 27/12/2019 21:29

Life
Changing
In a good way. No more heavy periods. Spotting for a few months, and then. No periods at all. Would highly recommend, and I wasn’t keen to start with!

PurBal · 27/12/2019 21:54

Had Mirena for 4 years. First two weeks I got a bit of pain. And then for the first 3 months bled pretty much constantly. Then settled. Only long term side effect has been greasy skin.

Original poster

Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 21:59

Of course it would be great if I were one of those who had no effects from it and would be fantastic if it were a life changing experience of the positive kind but I really do worry that it may exacerbate my anxiety/depression like a few pp, that would be an absolute disaster for me. I appreciate that the only way to know is to try but it’s really a worrying gamble but I have no other real options but I too am housebound for a few days every months due to such heavy bleeding and it’s getting worse. Ahhhh! It’s such a dilemma.

OP posts:

thelibertine · 27/12/2019 22:02

I have one.

I still have monthly periods (although everyone else I know with one does not have periods anymore !)

The one thing that has been difficult for me has been the intense moodswings...I get a lot angrier about things than I used to. Thankfully these are few and far between - and since I realised the cause I've been able to put in certain coping mechanisms.

Runkle · 27/12/2019 22:02

I loved mine. Definitely get it done at your local family planning clinic. Even the Nurse at my GP surgery recommended that.

Roselilly36 · 27/12/2019 22:02

I am on my 3rd Mirena, sorted out my heavy periods, no bad side effects. Best thing I did tbh I rarely have a period now.

Doryhunky · 27/12/2019 22:04

Brilliant for bleeding but made me very depressed and had to have it out after a few weeks.

MrsTumbletap · 27/12/2019 22:07

I'm on my second one. First one for 5 years was great, no side effects, second one has given me acne.

Not sure what to do take it out or keep it in, I'm really stuck on the decision!

Original poster

Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:08

For those who had problems with anxiety and depression with it, was that alleviated once out?

OP posts:

Love51 · 27/12/2019 22:09

I have one, and it has helped the mood swings I had previously.

Tolleshunt · 27/12/2019 22:10

Can’t you book in for an ablation y see general? Or could they do it under a spinal (or was that what you were meant to be having before when the anaesthetist refused?

Seems a bit odd to try and attack the problem with hormones rather than just removing the growths.

Original poster

Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:17

Tolleshunt I was due to have the polyps removed then the ablation for the heavy bleeding. Because the anaesthetist refused to do the ablation under a local I had to go for just the polyps to be removed on the day instead, that was two years later and unfortunately now the polyps have grown back. The gynaecologist insists that I should have the Mirena as it will stop the polyps growing back?!

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