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Original poster

Mirena

29 replies

Ncfreely · 20/08/2022 23:18

I’m booked in for this to be fitted under GA next week and I’m shitting myself and tempted to back out. I’ve been waiting months. GP couldn’t get it in and I had some bad injuries after childbirth so went for GA.

It isn’t a contraception thing but for heavy periods after two DCs. Ended up with iron transfusion and take tranexamic acid but they’re still not light. I’ve taken Primrose Oil for years due to bad PMT. Stopped taking the pill at 20 because it made me mentally unwell and weight gain etc. have never touched hormonal contraception since.

I don’t know whether to risk it. My MH took a dive last year but I’m in a good place now and healthy and fit, iron is ok but on the low side. Any thoughts most welcome. I’m nearly 39 so also conscious of peri menopause.

OP posts:
thingsarestrange · 20/08/2022 23:30

Go for it. No guarantees but it could settle your periods and help your mood. It’s trial and error but I say go for it

AnotherFuckingUsername · 20/08/2022 23:34

I also had mine fitted for heavy and irregular (almost constant) periods. After a few months of reduced bleeding /heavy spotting.... nothing. Nada. No bleeding over years now and what a relief! No guarantees but for me it's worked and no side affects.

PermanentlyTired03 · 20/08/2022 23:34

I have a mirena, had them for 10 years or
So. My periods went from being very heavy to non-existent. Much better than the pill IMO. Hopefully it'll go well for you a

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Original poster
Ncfreely · 20/08/2022 23:57

Thank you all. I really hope I get the same experience.

OP posts:
Chaotica · 21/08/2022 00:00

I had terrible side effects (and it did nothing to stop my periods or make them lighter). It affects different women in very different ways, so just be alert to that and get rid of it if you have problems.

DramaAlpaca · 21/08/2022 00:12

I loved mine. It stopped my erratic, heavy perimenopausal periods completely. I had no side effects whatsoever.

Original poster
Ncfreely · 21/08/2022 03:02

Chaotica · 21/08/2022 00:00

I had terrible side effects (and it did nothing to stop my periods or make them lighter). It affects different women in very different ways, so just be alert to that and get rid of it if you have problems.

@Chaotica how long did you have it for?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 21/08/2022 03:36

After having post menopause bleeding which turned out to be a benign polyp I had one fitted. I'm already a bit bit concerned about having it removed.

Original poster
Ncfreely · 21/08/2022 08:31

@ilovesooty how long have you had it for?

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 21/08/2022 08:41

I had one fitted for heavy periods causing anaemia. I spotted on and off for about 7 months after it was put in, and now I get a light period every month or so, but I only need a small pad for it.
The one good thing was that it massively reduced my monthly rages, and I wasn’t expecting that.

Original poster
Ncfreely · 21/08/2022 08:43

@KangarooKenny omg that’s amazing. That’s what I need! I just am really scared I’ll be one of the unlucky ones

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 21/08/2022 08:50

If you go in with a negative mind set you will be looking for things to blame on the Mirena. Go into it positive, I’m sure it will be life changing for you, like it was for me.

TomAllenWife · 21/08/2022 09:10

I always have mine done under GA and it's amazing

There's some spotting afterwards but then no periods for 4 years

This is my 3rd mirena since my last baby 12 years ago

I recently started bleeding every day for 5 months and my consultant was happy to change it (only been in 18m) but now I've started HRT it's stopped so I think it was menopause related rather than the mirena

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 21/08/2022 09:18

I had my first inserted in late 1993 a few months after DD was born. 6 weeks of spotting but no periods since. None, nada. I had one after the other and carried on right through menopause until this year when my 63-year-old cervix finally said No. Lifechanging for me in the best possible way.

luckylavender · 21/08/2022 09:20

Ncfreely · 20/08/2022 23:57

Thank you all. I really hope I get the same experience.

I had similar very heavy bleeding to you & tried the same things. And the mirena coil saved my life. One of the best things I ever did.

Lizsmum · 21/08/2022 09:36

I loved mine - only had it removed when I was positive that I was well in to the menopause. I didn't have any periods so it was difficult to tell. And almost no menopause symptoms, don't know if that was thanks to keeping the mirena in.

Decidualcast · 21/08/2022 09:56

I had one fitted after surgery for heavy bleeding. I, too, was anemic. I was very against having one (as I didn’t want anything hormonal fucking me up) but surgeon said it would be for 4 weeks to prevent uterine walls from collapsing post-surgery. I have to say it’s been fabulous, and I didn’t have it removed. PMT is much better, I don’t get hormonal headaches and zits, bleeding is minimal.

MrsH497 · 21/08/2022 11:27

I loved mine for the 11 weeks I had it after my c section sadly it fell out and I'm on a waiting list. Have been for the last 15 weeks.

BeechFairy · 21/08/2022 11:31

I had one age 40 for horrendous heavy clotting periods. It transformed me.
Yes it was painful to be fitted as I have a back tilted uterus but so, so worth it.
I had minor sptting once a month but that's all. I went on to have 2 more until I was past menopause.
Probably saved me having a hysterectomy.

quiteathome · 21/08/2022 11:45

I had one as I had mid cycle bleeding. It stopped that but I would say my periods are heavier now than they were.

quiteathome · 21/08/2022 11:46

To add to above post, my periods had been getting steadily heavier though. So possibly they are not as bad now as they would be.

Original poster
Ncfreely · 21/08/2022 18:41

Thanks all.

OP posts:
Chaotica · 21/08/2022 21:53

@Ncfreely I had mine for about two years. Some side effects (weight gain, lack of libido) appeared within a month but I didn't imagine that Mirena would be the cause, so I kept it.

It was only when I started developing very serious side effects (neurological problems, vision problems, month-long migraine symptoms etc) and brain scans came back with no sign of MS (to the surprise of my GP) that the coil was implicated. They resolved after it was removed. I should emphasise that these are very rare side-effects. Most people are fine.

Original poster
Ncfreely · 22/08/2022 04:14

@Chaotica thank you and sorry you were so unlucky

OP posts:
WhiteChocMocha · 07/02/2023 17:24

Had mine fitted today.

Nice to read some positive stories on here.

I was pitched it as the ony real solution for heavy bleeding. However, now I'm worried about weight gain and mental health (have been through CBT this year already) - what was your experience of these symptoms like? What about facial swelling?

Like OP, I did not get along with the pill when young and have stayed away from hormonal contraception since, mostly as I worry it'll make me cry all the time or change my body. Hence a bit worried now and hoping I've made the right decision.