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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be uncomfortable by the thought of a Mirena Coil

71 replies

lozzylizzy · 23/01/2017 17:16

I went to the doctors a few months ago due to very heavy periods which are gradually getting closer together. At times I am changing a night pad and super plus tampon every 20-30 mins. I once got as far as the bathroom door. It is particularly annoying on school run and travelling to work. I had a blood test and I was anaemic and was sent for a scan of my uterus at the hospital a couple of weeks later where it was found I had fibroids.

The doctor that referred me basically told me to see the lady doctor about having a Mirena coil. I am not comfortable with the sound of some of the side effects and I have booked in to see the lady doctor. Has anyone had any experiences with any of the above and what procedures etc did you have to put an end (or at least alleviate the pain and loss at that time of the month)

I would rather sort the root of the cause rather than masking it with hormonal contraception when I don't need contraception!

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 23/01/2017 17:21

I had a mirena coil fitted years ago, for heavy periods, and it worked so well for me that I had another one out in when the first one ran out.

The first time it was put in was under general anaesthetic - I was having an examination under anaesthetic - but the second one was done in my go's surgery, and whilst it was a bit uncomfortable and I had a bit of cramping immediately afterwards, it was really nothing bad at all.

Within a month of having the first coil fitted, I stopped having any bleeding at all, and basically I haven't had a period since - I can't recommend it highly enough.

MunchyMunchkin · 23/01/2017 17:24

How large are your fibroids?
The Mirena is a good option with minimal risk but needs to be fitted by a specialist family planning doctor or gynaecologist if the fibroids are significantly distorting the uterine cavity.
There are tablet options and further operations you could have depending on where you are in terms of your family.
I would push for gynae referral based on the severity and anaemia.

OfficerMeowMeowFuzzyface · 23/01/2017 17:27

Firstly: "lady doctor"?!

Secondly: my periods weren't as bad as yours, but I was still surprised by what an improvement it was to my life when I had my Mirena fitted and my periods stopped. When you talk about the side effects, do you mean those listed by the doctor, or things you've read on the internet? I'd be careful with the latter: yes, some people have horrible experiences, but they're much more likely to write about those bad experiences than people who have good or mixed experiences. One really good thing about the Mirena is that it's easily and quickly removed: given how severe your current issues are, I would think it's worth giving the doctor's recommendation a go.

LavenderRains · 23/01/2017 17:31

Hi I've had a coil for 4 years. I love it. Like u I had very heavy bleeding and I became anaemic. I had fibroid too.
I had a colposcopy and scan and coil fitted on the same day. I was awake for it all and just had a bit of cramping. I had spotting for 6 months but since then no bleeding at all.
I don't need contraception but I would highly recommend the coilSmile

theaveragewife · 23/01/2017 17:32

My situation was exactly the same as SDT only I'm a year off having mine replaced (possibly two, can't remember right now). It has been truly life changing, the first 6 months I had brown blood spotting pretty much daily, but since then I have a 3-4 day period once a month that I can cope with using pantyliners for it.

LavenderRains · 23/01/2017 17:34

Forgot to mention. I tried transexamic (sp) acid tablets which cut the bleeding by half but still wasn't enough really.

Janey50 · 23/01/2017 17:38

All I can say is go for it OP! I had my first one 17 years ago,I'm now on my third,and hopefully,last one. Like you I had VERY heavy and extremely painful periods. When I had the first one fitted,it took a few weeks for the erratic bleeding to stop,but once it did,that was it! No more heavy bleeding,in fact very little bleeding at all,and hardly any pain.I have not regretted it for a minute.

steppemum · 23/01/2017 17:41

I am on my second merina, after extrememly heavy periods like yours. It has worked very well for me with very few side effects.
(but I don't have fibroids)

Antlily · 23/01/2017 17:45

I have one and like it (ish). Having it put in was incredibly painful, I think unusually so, I haven't had kids and I also have a tendency to faint after pain/falling over so that probably didn't help.

It did make my periods lighter but also longer (I'm currently on the pill as well for something else, and with that too it's bliss. No break through bleeding from running packs of pills together and no spotting from the coil)

warning if things easily make you feel funny but what made me love the idea of it was an article about 'cyborgs' putting tech into their bodies (eg being able to 'feel' magnet fields or a microchip to turn on lights when they enters a room). The article said that coils were essentially the first internal 'wearables' and woman had been at the for-front of tech for years before men caught on. It turned it from this evil bit of plastic that I had to control my fertility into a fantastic bit of science I was using so I could have control of my body.

Not sure if that will make you keener or put you off but try to remember people who like or love something tend not to write about it in forums especially if it is something as easily forgettable as the coil.

Cherylene · 23/01/2017 17:47

YANBU, but you have to check out all the other options.

Nothing is perfect, and you have to balance the side effects with what you are having problems with.

As I understand it, the following are used for heavy bleeding:

transexamic acid, or mefanamic acid
mirena
norithisterone tablets
ablation
hysterectomy.

Personally, I would hate a mirena but now I know more about it, I think it is probably the best option. It puts all the progestogen in the uterus where it is needed and you have less circulating round your body like you do with tablets (and you need more to make up for what is destroyed by the liver as you absorb it from the gut). If you are heading towards menopause, then you can use it as the progestogen part of hrt and use a patch or gel for the oestrogen (and not have to use cyclical hrt).

midcenturymodern · 23/01/2017 17:48

I had mine 4 months ago. I get spotting a lot, but my periods are what I imagine a 'normal' period is like so I can go a few hours without changing a tampon. I'm hoping it gets better but even how it is now is better than without the coil. I'm off my iron and I'm not anaemic.

Bufferingkisses · 23/01/2017 18:05

I have the same as you. Heavy bleeding caused by a large fibroid in my uterus. The problem is that your normal period irritates the fibroid and causes it to bleed heavily so it's not really the same as heavy periods. I had a mirena for a year but had no reduction in my bleeding. We also tried various drug regimes, hormonal and otherwise to no effect. However different people react to hormones differently so don't be put off trying.

For me the next step is hysterectomy or full resection of the fibroid then endometrial ablation because I have finished my family some time ago.

Insist on a referral to gynae to discuss all your options and a proper plan to deal with your symptoms. Just "popping a coil in" is not a good enough response to these symptoms. It is NOT the same as heavy periods, you have an unusual (although common) growth that is bleeding heavily each month and causing you problems. Don't be fobbed off.

Dieu · 23/01/2017 18:24

I recently had mine taken out, and had no plans to get another, as my marriage broke down within the 5 year period and my sex life became non existent
However, I am now back to normal periods for the first time in years, and I had forgotten how HORRENDOUS it is. Heavy bleeding which leaks onto bedding and clothes, stomach cramping, etc. I would consider getting another.

Original poster
lozzylizzy · 23/01/2017 18:27

The term lady doctor is what the doctor I originally saw said. Whether she is the specialist in fitting them but I thought he was really understanding before but then when I got the results back I felt like he was fobbing me off.

Then I have had a couple of occasions where the receptionist would only give me a telephone call from the 'lady doctor' and I have missed the call because of driving/work etc etc and I cannot ring back as she then has a patient or isn't in the surgery any more. I have finally got an appointment for Wednesday morning.

I haven't really had a list of side effects from the doctor. I have just looked it up online. In fact I have looked fibroids up as I didn't really get a proper explanation to what would happen next.

All I know is it gets on my nerves and they are now every 3 weeks, getting more painful and I suspect growing bigger! At the scan I had one at 5cm and one at 1.8cm so not grapefruit sized but not pea sized either.

I have tried the acid before which didn't agree (felt like I was having palpitations) and i tried the contraceptive pill for a week before my period to reduce the flow but it made no difference.

OP posts:
Twinmummyjojo · 23/01/2017 18:31

I'm on my second mirena coil and it really has been a blessing. The second fitting had to be done with a guided ultrasound and I have a severely tilted uterus making the attempted fitting a painful disaster. I had heavy irregular periods always made worse by scar tissue after a botched c-section. I am totally pain free now and I don't have to remember to take contraception! I would definitely recommend

Original poster
lozzylizzy · 23/01/2017 18:35

I had a c-section 3 years ago and it all went wrong whilst healing and have heavy scar tissue too so I don't know whether this contributes to it all too. I don't need contraception as DH has had a vasectomy so no more children for me either

OP posts:
OhhBetty · 23/01/2017 18:43

I have a mirena and it's amazing. It's really worked for me and now my periods are literally 2 days of spotting a month. Obviously that doesn't mean it will work for you. But it doesn't mean it won't. Give it a try, you can always have it taken out.
Please just call doctors doctors. Their anatomy has nothing to do with their ability to do their jobs.

OhhBetty · 23/01/2017 18:45

Unless you mean gynaecologist? In which still don't call them lady doctors. Even if that's what the original doctor referred to them as (apparently)

Bufferingkisses · 23/01/2017 18:49

Go to your appointment on Wednesday armed with the attitude that you wish to fully discuss your options with a gynae specialist. Polite, firm, don't take no for an answer.

DameXanaduBramble · 23/01/2017 18:51

On my third. Couldn't work without one. Has changed my life.

Original poster
lozzylizzy · 23/01/2017 18:55

I only referred to the doctor as such, not because I wanted to refer to her as that but because he was so dismissive of me afterwards as though periods, fibroids and mirenas weren't his place to discuss in great detail so I would obviously need to speak to another female. It is hard to understand the tone of a post on here.

Not quite sure where in this case I implied the ability for the doctor do their job???

OP posts:
SootSprite · 23/01/2017 18:56

I have a mirena. I used to have the depo provera injection (which was fab, no periods, no pms, just one injection every 11 weeks) and was gutted when the GP told me I was getting a bit old (was just over 40) and would have to change. The mirena scared me, there are such horror stories on the internet about it.

Popped in first try, had cramps for a few hours but nothing since. No period, no pms, nothing. It's brill! (I don't need it for contraception either)

I'd definitely ask to see a specialist gynae, but don't let the Internet horror stories out you off the mirena. HTH 😊

Original poster
lozzylizzy · 23/01/2017 19:00

Thank you everyone by the way....I am that busy banging on my manners seem to have escaped me.

I want to sort it but I also don't want to put on weight and be a hormonal libido-less grump to live with (more so than now!!)

OP posts:
ChocolateHelps · 23/01/2017 19:03

I had awful heavy periods because of a bloody fibroid. It was one that was suitable for removal which had done under GA a year ago. Stopped awful heavy periods straight away. From 15 days bleeding to 3 days a month. The docs wanted to put in a coil at the same time but I'm really glad I refused. All I heard on ward after the op was Docs telling women to give it 3-6 months for things to settle down as they'd had the coil put in. I think they see it as an easy option and a one size fits all. Much husband has had a vasectomy so I really failed to see why I would need a coil straight after the fibroidectomy....and I was right, for me

Scholes34 · 23/01/2017 19:07

Gained weight with the Mirena, but if it's a choice between that and heavy periods, it's a no-brainer. Had one which took me through the menopause and out the other side with no issues. Weight is slowly coming off now.

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