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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:
Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:18

I don’t want a general if I can help it, I had one a few years back and had an awful time for a few weeks after due to the anaesthetic.

OP posts:
MirkwoodMiss · 27/12/2019 22:19

My gyn tried to push me into having a myrena coil when a scan showed I had endometriosis and adynomyosis.
I really, really didn't want it- as the only 'cure' for adynomyosis is a hysterectomy. I ended up having the hysterectomy last year- age 48. I don't regret a thing- I'm just angry that they tried to push me into a a procedure that wouldn't have cured me, as it was the cheaper option.

Choc88 · 27/12/2019 22:22

In my recent experience of having one I would never advise getting one as you do sound similar to me. I suffer from migraine & anxiety & low self esteem and all I can say is having the coil made everything so much worse for me. I had heavy periods too & polyps so I was advised too that the coil would be like magic & the bleeding & periods would stop. They did but I have never felt more anxious in my life. I had it put in in August this year & went to the doctor twice to get it out but she advised me to give it time & gave me beta blockers to calm me down ! I am a 40 year old mum of two & felt so patronised ! Like you I’ve always been hormone free so I could tell the difference immediately with my moods. In the end my doctor agreed to take it out only after telling me I had wasted the nhs £100 ! It was taken out on December 5th ( few weeks ago ) & I can honestly say I’m feeling like I’m getring back to normal. The anxiety has gone along with the huge boobs & bloated face. I have put on about 10 pounds due to it & making me eat more & have no energy. This is only my experience & the coil can be amazing for some people but if you’re prone to anxiety / migraines I would avoid it at all costs x

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Women's health
springy0c · 27/12/2019 22:31

I've had 3 over 13 years. No side effects. No periods. Feel Miles better. Dreading having it taken out for the last time at the age of 53

MrsElf · 27/12/2019 22:31

I’m on my 3rd mirena - great for not having periods, no weight gain (if anything the reverse). The first two I had one after the other, and I didn’t notice any side effects, but after a 4 year gap between the last two, I do wonder if there has been a (slight) decrease in my sex drive and drop in mood while the coils are in. It’s so so so minor, but having heard a bit of anecdata, I am wondering if there is a connection. Relationship history might explain both things, but the correlation has got me wondering, and I am considering having this one out. (Easy fittings, easy removal for me, similar to a smear test in discomfort level.)

BionicEmu · 27/12/2019 22:33

My first Mirena slipped and got wedged inside my cervix. My second made me bleed for 7 months straight (until I had it out), my depression relapsed badly, and I lost half my hair. But I always hear far more positive stories, so it seems good for most.

I ended up having an ablation under local anaesthetic (NHS). 6 months on and my periods are getting heavier again, and are far more painful. Looking at a hysterectomy now.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:35

choc88 this is my absolute fear and the reason I have kept putting it off for the last few years, I really want the ablation tbh. I really, really do not want my anxiety, depression or migraines made worse as the first two are already at an all time high atm. If I do have it and need it removed and any of them tell me I’d wasted £100 of NHS money I would be absolutely fuming as they are the ones pushing it, Ive never wanted it. What other options are you left with now? Have your periods become heavy again?

OP posts:
Graphista · 27/12/2019 22:36

As you've not tried hormones before and have mh issues to consider too I would say it makes more sense for you try a pill first to see if you tolerate the hormones.

If you can't then it's far easier and quicker to stop taking the pill and for the hormones to come out of your system.

If you do tolerate the hormones ok then you can revisit the possibility of a mirena.

Personally I wouldn't advise anyone using mirena at the moment as I've read of so many users having problems with them and currently it's very difficult to get them removed on nhs before they are due to be.

There are many threads & posts on here alone by users who've had horrific experiences and had great difficulty in arranging removal.

You may want to investigate (and not just by asking gp) what the situation is on that in your health authority area as it differs around the country.

Also bear in mind there's financial incentives for gp surgeries for getting patients to sign up to LARC incentives they can lose if patients insist on them being removed "early"

Personally this sounds to me also like merely treating the symptoms of your gynae issues rather than properly treating the cause - a continual problem with gynae issues unfortunately.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:38

BionicEmu what a shame your ablation hasn’t cured the issue, that must be a bit annoying, was it the Novasure? It does annoy me that my hospital wont do it under a local yet other trusts will, grrr!

OP posts:
Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:44

Graphista my gynaecologist wouldn’t prescribe me the pill or mini pill, he said that the hormone levels were far higher than the Mirena and that I would more likely experience far more side effects from them than the coil. It’s was so frustrating because no matter who I spoke to at the hospital regarding my fears (gynaecologists, nurses etc) they all poo-poo’d my worries and almost appeared to be like sales people for the bloody thing, they were raving about it like it was THE best thing ever invented for woman-kind with no side effects or potential worrying issues linked to it!

OP posts:
Chattercino · 27/12/2019 22:45

Really happy with mine. No periods and no side affects. However, the settling in period was tricky- I did bleed for about 8 weeks (spotting) and suffered from migraine auras. But it's in for 5 years so I'd do it all again.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:46

They just insist that the cause of my polyps is a hormone imbalance which the Mirena will correct!

OP posts:
Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 27/12/2019 22:47

Chattercino that’s my worry about the aura migraines, mine trigger off more anxiety and panic for me, I just don’t want to end up in that vicious cycle.

OP posts:
gumpforestgump · 27/12/2019 22:49

Love my mine, 2nd one. No periods. No side effects

SoldiersinPetticoats · 27/12/2019 22:56

Everyone I know loves their Mirena but I didn’t get on with it at all.
Had daily spotting for months and it killed my libido dead. Ended up having it out under GA whilst having a birth injury repaired as the insertion was so painful as my cervix went into spasm.

lovethesunshineways · 27/12/2019 22:59

I'm on my second medina coil and I love it! Didn't hurt having it fitted, just slightly uncomfortable, then had mild like contractions for a few hours followed by few weeks of light bleeding.
Had it removed after 5 years and my second fitted at the same time, again no problems, slightly longer light needing with this one and get occasional spotting. Had a very might period on 1st August and nothing until the end of November.
Get slightly sore boobs occasionally and still need chocolate every month but that's it!

Weffiepops · 27/12/2019 23:10

I've had this coil for over 10 years and love it. No periods, no pregnancy, I have nothing bad to say about it.

MirkwoodMiss · 27/12/2019 23:17

A family member had hers removed as she thought she was losing her mind. After being prescribed antidepressants, she did her own research and demanded it be removed. There are a few FB help groups for this this very thing. She is now fully recovered. Myrena is definitely not for everyone.

42isthemeaning · 27/12/2019 23:20

I'm on the second one which will stay in for ten years. Stopped my periods completely. I suffer anxiety but it hasn't exacerbated it. I used to suffer dreadful PMT and that has gone. If you find that it doesn't agree with you, just have it removed?

Haybo26 · 27/12/2019 23:24

I suffered with heavy painful periods to the point where I was severely anaemic. In July I was put under general anaesthetic where they removed a couple of polyps and did a d&c on my womb lining as it was thickened and inserted a mirena coil too. It has changed my life. I barely bleed now, no pain and I can leave the house without the fear of leaking blood through my clothes. No side effects at all for me.

Tolleshunt · 27/12/2019 23:24

Fucking hell, Choc, trying to stuff you full of further medication to cover up the effects of the Mirena rather than just remove it, and then insinuate that it’s more important to save the NHS £100 than to relieve you of awful anxiety.

Maybe she thought you should just have a ruined life for 5 years to justify the £100.... Shock

I would be considering a complaint in your shoes. Shocking conduct.

Tolleshunt · 27/12/2019 23:26

OP, have you done an evidence search to see if the Mirena is in actual fact the best treatment for polyps, rather than the cheapest?

Amani · 27/12/2019 23:28

Bad experience with the coil which was fitted at the same time as having a womb biopsy.., even if I was paid a £1000000 to have it I would say no..

Elieza · 27/12/2019 23:35

My bestie got one. Stopped all her problems. She could once more live a normal life even in her period. Literally life changing.

Get it. If you don’t like it after a few weeks for whatever reason they will remove it.

Only one way to find out if it will help you. It may also help your case for other treatment if it doesn’t work. The nhs will want to try the cheap stuff first, fair enough.

Graphista · 28/12/2019 00:45

“If you find that it doesn't agree with you, just have it removed?” There are many many posts on here and elsewhere by women who had to really fight to get it removed because their healthcare providers refused to remove it.

There’s even women who’ve in desperation removed them themselves.

It is not necessarily an easy thing to do at all.

This is why I’ve advised op to find out what the situation is re this local to her - some places are worse than others.

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