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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask anyone who has had experience with the mirena coil good or bad to comment?

105 replies

mirenacoilworrier · 29/10/2013 08:30

Due to have an op tomorrow where they are going to also put the mirena coil in. I have done some research and it seems there are a lot of negative stories. I know people are more likely to talk about a bad experience but after reading a thread BASTARD mirena its started me worrying.

Due to have it because of heavy/irregular periods.

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
mirenacoilworrier · 29/10/2013 08:31

Should add the op is for a look around (keyhole) they want to put the coil in as well.

OP posts:
gingerbead · 29/10/2013 08:36

I love it! Never looked back! It hurt to put in like a crampy period pain but after a day it was gone!

Not had any bleeding in 2.5 years. Different people have different experiences but mine has been nothing but positive!

Lilacroses · 29/10/2013 08:37

My bf has one, it has made her so happy! No more periods and no more pain. My Dp has one, she had lots of pain in the first few months but now is really pleased with it. My sister in law had one but felt it made her feel extremely hormonal all the time so had it removed.

NightFallsFast · 29/10/2013 08:38

I've had a mirena in for about 6 months. I had it put in at my GP surgery rather than as part of another procedure and have it for contraception rather than any problems with my periods. I bled for about 5 days and had cramps for a week or so. Since then I've had very light periods about every 6 weeks. Unfortunately I've developed an ovarian cyst, which is one of the complications, but this should go within the next few months.

No one can tell you how your body will react to the mirena. The only way to know is to try it, and if it doesn't suit you it can be taken out.

I'm a doctor, and it's a really popular choice for doctors themselves (female ones, obviously!)

mistlethrush · 29/10/2013 08:40

I had one for very heavy periods - not good fitting, but after that, no side effects apart from sorting the bleeding out.

sleeplessinderbyshire · 29/10/2013 08:42

I absolutely love mine. I've had it for a year and I couldn't tell you when I last had a period. I do get random spotting but never enough to wear a tampon. has changed my life from period misery (the pill helped when I had that but I got an ectropion which meant I bled loads after sex)

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 29/10/2013 08:42

Had one in 3mths ago. I think it's fine this far. I do get some flipping nasty spots sometimes which seriously hurt. But my baby is 10mths so still hard to tell if more that than this.

I wanted to stop anger/pms symptoms. This has diminished not gone I think.... Diff to say but think so. And not bled since insertion.

I saw that thread. And hid it. Not sure it was helpful just scary.

DorothyMantooth · 29/10/2013 08:43

I also had the mirena coil fitted during a laparoscopic procedure (due to endometriosis). I had it for 5 years and apart from a mild infection in the first couple of weeks I had no problems whatsoever. I had no periods for that whole time, which was great! We were TTC after it was removed and had no problems there either - had a BFP after 2 months Grin

I have also read the BASTARD mirena thread and while it's very funny in parts and represents many people's experience, it's not my experience at all.

LordPalmerston · 29/10/2013 08:45

LOADs of threads on this

its ace

Kerosene · 29/10/2013 08:47

Love it. I had ridiculously heavy and somewhat irregular periods - no bleeding basically since I had it put in (occasionally other period symptoms, but no blood). Wasn't pleasant to have it put in but not painful either, and the first month or so was a bit tiresome. Now I don't ever really think about it.

Comparing it to other contraceptives, I've had implanon twice before and that was ok, but I always felt a bit bloated and slow. Depo turned me into a psycho - constant screaming mood swings and no way to stop it - but I know women who swear by it. Could never remember to take the pill at the same time every day, so that was out.

Mosschops30 · 29/10/2013 08:48

I'm on my 2nd and I love it.
Had first one removed for TTC and got pg within 3 months.

Second one was put in under GA and I would deffo go for this option again Smile

No periods, no weight gain, no pmt I love it

tropical1 · 29/10/2013 08:58

I'm on my second, it was put in for very heavy frequent periods. On my heaviest days a super plus tampon only lasted an hour, I could never be too far from a toilet due to flooding. I had terrible cramps & just wanted to curl up in a ball, felt like my womb was dangling around my knees!
The dr suggested a hysterectomy but that seemed too drastic so tried a mirena. I had it put in at the family planning clinic, insertion was not too bad, i took some brufen before I went.
I now don't get any periods at all, just a tiny bit of a smear of blood occassionaly. I do get spots from time to time which are very painful, but have got Duac gel from the GP which clears them up quickly.
The Mirena coil changed my life & I would definately recommend anyone to try it.

MissGuineapigsInAPumpkin · 29/10/2013 09:02

I've had mine about 2.5 months. I had it done at the GP surgery. My main discomfort was from my bloody anxiety! It was uncomfortable when it was being put in, but the anxiety definitely made it worse. My cramping had pretty much gone by the end of the day and nothing since. I'm having my first period since, though.

forumdonkey · 29/10/2013 09:05

Changed my life Grin I love it. I got a letter last week saying as it had been in for nearly 5 years I would need it changing. I will only have mine removed if there is another one to put straight in its place.

It was very painful (cramps) for a good few hours after it had been fitted (and I'm no wimp and have had an ectopic pregnancy and 2 natural births) but once that went the bleeding got less and less until it was nothing for years!

WhoKnowsWhereTheSlimeGoes · 29/10/2013 09:05

I love mine, had it about 5 years. I had it to sort out heavy bleeding. I had a lot of light bleeding (more on than off) in the first few months, then it settled down, I maybe get one day of spotting every other month now, maybe use 1 tampon a year, otherwise just occasional panty liners. Insertion was more or less painless, I just got up and walked home after.

BetsyBell · 29/10/2013 09:09

For me it's been brilliant. I'm on my third. When I wanted to conceive I had my first one out and conceived before I had a period (within a couple of weeks Shock). I haven't had a period for nearly 10 years now! Bliss.

Take some ibuprofen before your appointment.

The strings feel long and uncomfortable at first but they soften up and seem to tuck themselves away rather than hanging down.

Cramps, tenderness and pains due to insertion were gone within a week or so and no worse than a period.

My periods gradually diminished over a few months and within a year they'd completely disappeared.

No hormonal weight gain problems - I did put on weight due to babies and biscuits but have been able to lose 50lbs while I've been on mirena (not because of mirena obviously!)

Having said that, if I'd experienced some of the side effects others have talked about on other threads I would get rid of it.

Needadviceandfast · 29/10/2013 09:09

Bad experience for me unfortunately.

I had it for nearly 3 years and it was fine for the first year or so (light, infrequent periods, no problems). But gradually it all went downhill. I became an angry mess, with horrific mood swings. I had recurrent thrush and bv, awful cramping pains that could occur at any time despite the bleeding being non existent by then. I constantly felt like I had pmt, with greasy skin, nasty painful spots and awful bloating. I cried every day and was literally a shell of myself. It was diagnosed as depression... But I had the mirena out in August and I have changed so much - now have the copper coil and I honestly think the mirena caused all of the above issues, despite at least two GPs saying there was no way it could be linked.

I have had bad experiences in the past with the pill and mini pill though, so I think hormonal contraceptives just don't work for me. Everyone is different but I would recommend the copper over the mirena.

Needadviceandfast · 29/10/2013 09:10

Oh I forgot the weight gain! BAD weight gain linked to constant, insatiable hunger!

TessCackle · 29/10/2013 09:11

I love mine, no periods, next to no pmt and lost the weight I gained with implanon.

sanityawol · 29/10/2013 09:11

Have had mine for about 18 months. It's fantastic, periods are down to a day or two and are very light. Don't even have to think about contraception.

Insertion was fine for me - no worse than a smear really and no pain afterwards. Had mine fitted when DS was about 6mo.

However, mine did take about nine months to finally settle down. In the early days I did have fair bit of bleeding plus a couple of flooding incidents. After that, it was spotting / light bleeding almost on a two days on / two days off basis which was annoying but not terrible.

Now I don't really register that it is there, so I suppose it's doing its job.

Chlorinella · 29/10/2013 09:13

Im on my second mirena , have had 1 in place since 2002 , had it for contraceptive , and because of my age this one is staying for 7 years not 5 , I love it and would heartily recommend getting one .
It is a bit uncomfortable being put in place , but worth it in the long run .

LaGuardia · 29/10/2013 09:16

Have the Implanon instead. Same results but no drama when it is removed/changed. The Mirena threads often become detached and having it removed with forceps is ABSOLUTE AGONY. Do not let anyone tell you any different.

TEErickOrTEEreat · 29/10/2013 09:17

I've had one for a year and I'm thinking about having it removed, except that would mean condoms which I hate.

It's never settled, I still bleed monthly and my PMT is worse than ever.

YMMV

Crowler · 29/10/2013 09:19

I love mine, it hurt like hell going in but I DON'T HAVE A PERIOD ANYMORE.

PiggyPlumPie · 29/10/2013 09:20

Am on my third and it suits me very well, very little bleeding.

Do get slightly more PMT wise but as I had zero PMT before its no big deal.