Please tell me about the mirena coil and perimenopause symptoms

[RedHeadedSnippet]

I’m off to the GP this week with a list of symptoms that i suspect are linked to perimenopause (exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety hungover lethargic feeling). I feel woefully underprepared to respond to what suggestions might come my way. Because I am under 45 I think the mirena coil might be suggested (as it was mooted once before.) I do not require the coil for contraception so would only be interested in symptom reduction. Would love to hear stories of if/how the coil worked or didn’t work for you.

thanK you!

Bump

Well, I had my second one fitted at age 47 (10 years ago) and have more or less sailed through meno, I did have some mild anxiety and low mood at times but nothing too serious. No periods AT ALL was amazing. In fact I had it removed a few weeks ago and am now starting to get some hot flushes 🤦‍♀️. But I’m not an HRT expert and there may well be other or better options.

It’s often offered as part of HRT - so you’d need oestrogen as well - ie usually oestrogel. The mirena provides the progesterone part of the HRT. You need both oestrogen and progesterone (unless you don’t have a womb, then you only need the oestrogen). You can also have utrogestan and oestrogel instead of the coil if you don’t need contraception. Another option is the mini pill (progesterone only) alongside either utrogestan at a lower dose and oestrogel or the mini pill alongside combined patches. There are a lot of options. Have a google about it all.

I hated it, it was bloody painful going in and I’m convinced it triggered my ongoing uti/atrophy symptoms due to the localised progesterone. Not a doctor or a scientist so just my experience.

thanks so much - I can’t take the mini pill due to migraine issues.

does it hurt to have the mirena put in?

You don’t have to take the mini pill for contraception- you can take progesterone tablets and oestrogel and use barrier methods, abstention or whatever you do currently. You just can’t be on the combined pill and HRT

It's been great for me. I had it fitted at 45 for perimenopause. I use estrogen patches too. It stopped all my symptoms and stopped my periods completely which was a blessing because they were getting heavier and more painful every month.
It did hurt getting it fitted but it didn't take long.

@WhereAreWeNowcould I ask what your symptoms were? You had it done at just a few months older than me - I’m steeling myself for being told I’m too young or that my anxiety is to blame for my symptoms so it’s reassuring to hear similar stories!

And pain-wise, is it akin to a smear?

I had a Mirena fitted in January and prescribed Estradot for perimenopause symptoms which included anxiety, high levels of PMT and insomnia.

I was nervous about it, I’ve friends who have had awful experiences with them being fitted and afterwards. My GP is a menopause specialist and she gave me plenty of reassurance. She used anaesthetic gel during the fitting, which I combined with a smear too, and I barely noticed it.

I had a couple of days of spotting, then lighter periods for a few months and now nothing.

I also get migraines and so she recommended transdermal oestrogen. I’m building up from a very low dose (now on 37.5mg patches). The first patch did kick off a migraine, but nothing since.

I’m feeling really well on it - my confidence is back, anxiety has disappeared. I’m sleeping really well and my PMT has disappeared. It’s been transformative.

Have you had children? The asked me when I had mine fitted three weeks ago. It’s supposed to be less painful if you’ve had virginal births. I didn’t even really feel it being inserted. I’ve had two children. I’m fifty three and hoping it ends my periods. I have been on hrt for seven years. I’m now applying the gel only. I have bleed for about two weeks but you need to give it six months to settle. It’s marmite some people love them others have hated them. I’m hoping it will see me out of menopause.

@RedHeadedSnippet re the pain, it was much worse than a smear for me but I think it varies a lot. I've heard plenty of women say it was a breeze and no worse than a smear. It hurt but it was over quite quickly and I would/will do it again.

My symptoms were mainly periods (very heavy, painful and lasted 8 days) and PMS symptoms that I've had all my life but they just got worse and worse and lasted 2 or 3 weeks rather than just a few days! So I was super emotional, tearful, angry etc. Couldn't sleep. Sore breasts which went up a cup size each month and were excruciatingly painful.

Basically I was a hormonal mess. Oh and I was getting really achy. But I didn't have hot flushes.

This is really helpful, thank you!

@mrsnjwive had one vaginal birth so fingers crossed!

@WhereAreWeNowi am also emotional, teary and angry! No issues with my sleep thank goodness and I am sensitive to heat but don’t know if I can say I have hot flushes. So the big stereotypical symptoms might be missing, but I seem to have all the slightly lesser ones (not that they feel lesser!)