Help me make a decision on the Mirena coil !

[GiveMeAllTheGin8]

I’m in my mid 30’s, family complete .
I have endometriosis and a 4cm cyst on my ovary.
I have had awful pain and flooding every month ( bar being pregnant!) since I was 19.
Am getting laproscopy next month for a clear out and removal of cyst .
Consultant said I could get Mirena coil or hysterectomy as endo will just come back within the year anyway .
I chose the coil but now I’m having doubts .
No pill ever agreed with me - constant bleeding /spotting .
I’ve been reading horror stories and am really having second thoughts.
Am worried to about weight gain . I’ve put on Weight over lockdown , joined slimming world and doing well. Have a stone left to lose .

Please can u have your good/ bad stories with the Mirena ? Or a hysterectomy in your 30’s?
My kids are young so tbh the only thing that made me choose Mirena over hysterectomy was the recovery

Thanks !

I would try it but be realistic about how it might turn out. I read so many "reviews" from people who said it was life changing and they hadn't had a period for years with the coil and my experience turned out to be so different. The more I read the more I find I'm not alone but it does make me cross that it really seems to be pushed as the "cure" to all women's gynae issues. I think if you don't have an underlying condition then it's probably great but if you do the chances of it working really well seem to be less.

I am onto my second Mirena. No periods for the last 6 years at this point, in that sense it has been life changing in a positive sense, and the contraception part is obviously working. I do get a bit spotty on my chin and jawline every few months which I think is around the time I would have had a period but I am happy to trade a few spots for no periods, no question. Weight gain - I didn't put any on when I got the first mirena, I did put on some during lockdown like everyone I know and it's very slow to come off, but I'm still very sedentary while WFH so that's probably contributing as well. I wasn't trying to solve any underlying problems other than contraception though.

I agree with emma, in your situation I think it's worth a try in the sense that compared to a hysterectomy it's a low risk, reversible option and you will still have the hysterectomy as a back-up, but not expect a miracle cure straight away.

I'm about to have my Mirena changed - it will be my 5th since I was 18. For me it was an absolute godsend; the hormones in the pill impact me terribly badly and the injection/patch/ring left me with constant spotting. I get none of that with the Mirena.

Given that it's easily removed and is not as permanent as a hysterectomy I'd definitely look at giving it a go before reverting to surgery. For the people it works for (and I know quite a few in my immediate circle), it's brilliant.

Hi OP

I was diagnosed with menorrhagia as a teen; I was flooding every month (a tampon & two 'night' pads would be saturated after 30 mins). I missed school for days a month and was anaemic. My G.P. put me on the pill and transexamic acid tablets which helped.

I had a serious accident when I was pregnant (first trimester) with my DS. I delivered him early, then needed surgery which meant I could not carry a future pregnancy. I was sterilised (tubes clipped) and the heavy periods came back even worse than before. Medication I was on for a different condition meant I couldn't go back on the pill.

My gynecologist recommended I try a Mirena, then if it didn't work she'd refer me for a hysterectomy. I had a lot of polyps so had a D&C first. I was in my late 30's.

It has been life-changing, in a good way! I spotted for the month after it was fitted, then nothing at all. I'm on my 2nd and haven't had a period in 8 years. No unusual weight gain. I'm peri-menopausal now and my Mirena is being used as part of my HRT treatment.

If I were you, I'd ask how easy it would be to have it removed if you found it wasn't right for you. I was lucky to be under a private gynecologist. She said it might take up to six weeks to 'settle down', but she'd take it out straight after that if I wasn't happy. I've read stories where women really struggle to get appointments for removal. I knew that wouldn't be the case for me, so I was happy to give it a try. I should add that I had absolutely no issues with taking the pill either, whereas I know some people suffer with any kind of hormonal medication.

Good luck

Thanks so much for reply’s .
I am fortunate to have private insurance so have a good consultant who has said I can have it taken out at any time if needs be.
I think I will go ahead with the Mirena and see how I get on
Thanks again

I would definitely go ahead as it’s temporary (unlike hysterectomy). You can always have it removed if you want.

Fwiw, I had the copper coil (that’s hell, would not recommend) and I wanted mine out. Had it out easily during COVID. The clinic was able to book me in about 10 days later. It would have been sooner but I had to wait 7 days after last time we had sex.