Tell me about your Mirena coil!!

[melonhead]

I'm set to have one put in next week as the progesterone part of my HRT (I'm sterilised so it's not for the contraception). I have been taking Utrogestan but it's annoying to remember. But it seems people say it's the greatest thing or the worst ever.

Just had my 5th and final one fitted. I've not had a period for over 20 years and it's kept my endo at bay for all that time. I have oestrogel for hrt and they work very well together.

Turned into an utter lunatic. Didn't want DH anywhere near me. Literally the angriest woman you could imagine. I pulled it out myself and my sex drive returned and I just felt happy for the first time in years.

Best thing ever, insertion no worse than a smear test, all bleeding stopped after a few months and never came back, hormonal zits banished.

Absolutely love it. I’m on my 5th, probably my last. Insertion is painful for me, but 100% worth it. No periods, no problems.
Whenever there’s a Mirena thread there’s a real marmite response, and I feel so lucky to have got on with it, as it’s been perfect contraception for me for the last 20-odd years and hopefully will smooth the way through menopause as well

Big thumbs up from me. I was having ridiculously heavy periods and was very anaemic. Once I had my mirena this changed to very light spotting 1-2 days a month. No other side effects.

i hate it, I’m 10 months in, no periods but constant mild period pain, ive gained 2 stone which i can’t seem to shift and i get random bouts of bleeding every month, im gonna rip it out myself if i can’t get through to the GP today x

I’ve had mine 7 months now and it’s a life changer for me! I had horrendously heavy periods and couldn’t get on top of my iron levels. Had a laparoscopy and I have stage 4 endometriosis and a large cyst which can’t be removed (well it could but would involve a total bowel resection so desperate to avoid that!).

I still get a period but it’s so much more normal, 3ish days then maybe some spotting for a week but light years away from how I used to be. I can just get on with a normal life.

Really hoping it keeps everything at bay so I can avoid a hysteroscopy or the horrid bowel surgery 🤞

The only side effect I’ve seen is I’ve got a bit more hairy - especially on my chin!! But that could also be age

I had a copper coil for 10 years as was wary of the mirena. Over lockdown I was put on the pill as my coil needed to be changed and they couldn't do it because of covid restrictions.

I loved having no periods so thought I'd five the mirena a try. I didn't know why I didn't do it before. I love it. Don't need to think about taking the pill and no periods.

Love it. I'm on my 4th I think. I've had one period (between babies) in the last 15 years. What's not to like?

Only had it a few weeks but so far, so good! Take painkillers before you go to get it as it feels like period cramps (I hadn’t thought of this, wish I had!) and take some time after to settle yourself. I was uncomfortable during the procedure and then felt unusually sorry for myself after, found driving difficult, also thought the cramps would last forever but was fine after a few hours and some painkillers. I had very heavy periods beforehand and not much since. Hurrah! Should make not being anaemic much easier.

I am on my second.

Having the first one put in was horrible, took a few weeks to get over it and thought I'd never have another. Now - love it, makes my life so much better (very little/occasional bleeding, steady moods, no babies...). Didn't hesitate when it came to getting it replaced.

Worst thing ever
Had it fitted to supposedly help reduce heavy bleeding (partly caused by fibroids but seemingly still an issue now they've been treated).
Had bleeding or spotting more days than I didn't every month, cramps like I'd never had in my life (had to take days off work sick) and the bleeding got heavier! GP kept saying "it should settle down" but after a year it bled itself out in an episode that saw me at A&E with blood literally pouring out of me.
never again

I've got mixed feelings about mine. Insertian was fine, but it took about 9 months to settle down and I spotted most days. Now my periods are extremely light and I only need a pantyliner, but they do tend to go on for about 8-10 days which is annoying.

But no mood swings or weight gain, my skin is clearer and i only rarely get period pain. And I don't have to remember to take the pill etc. On balance, I would probably have another.

I had one when they were first released and had nothing but praise for it. It was removed when we started to TTC.

I had another fitted last month for "non contraceptive" reasons. I bled for a while after fitting and had some fairly hard core cramps but everything settled down after about 3 weeks. I haven't had an actual period yet so the juries still out on that one and, I don't think it's been long enough for me to really notice any side effects now I'm old

As an amusing aside, during my telephone consultation, the nurse said they were no long fitting the Mirena for non contraceptive reasons. I was a little disappointed, but she then pointed out that should I have an affair it would indeed be an excellent form of contraception, STDs aside. There then followed a roundabout conversation where ultimately I admitted I could possibly have an affair and the nurse then agreed to the fitting

It's so interesting to hear everyone's stories. I think I'll go for it and see how I get on. I'm in France and it's easy to get a gyne apt quickly (you pay for it) so at least I can get it removed if I really hate it.

When people say 'settled down' what does that actually mean? Painful? Bleeding?

For me settled down means only bleeding when I have my period rather than all the time and no longer having spot breakouts.

I also forgot to mention I do have more frequent migraines now. They totally disappeared when I got pregnant with dd1, so that was a bit of an unwelcome surprise to have them back! Although only 1 every couple of months or so, so manageable.

I love mine. On my second now and cannot recommend them more highly.

I had constant bleeding for 6 months after having mine put in and the hormones gave me really bad acne (although I am prone to that anyway).

I know other people who have had it and loved it though!

For me "settling" would have meant the bleeding stopping and the thing actually doing the job it was put in to do.

It was to get control of my heavy bleeding. After 13 months it still hadn't done that and the bleeding was heavier if anything.

It was also meant to shrink my fibroids (which were most likely causing the bleeding in the first place). It didn't. An ultrasound scan after the removal of the mirena showed that they had grown bigger and more numerous.

Everyone's experience varies though. For you it may work better and there is one way to find that out.

With my first Mirena, I (imagined?) I could feel it (or at least discomfort) for a week or so. Had lots of brownish discharge on and off for a few weeks. That was the settling down in my case. None of that with coil #2 😊