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Original poster

How bad is getting the Mirena coil in

78 replies

Cazz10 · 31/01/2018 17:21

Iv given birth 3 months ago and had my first period last week it was so bad I ended up in hospital for two days they said the linning of my womb is so thick. I'm now on tranexamic acid to calm it down and postin..it has lightened down and hopefully it'll soon be over but now I'm being advised to get a Mirena coil in because of heavy periods but iv heard its really sore and the clamping feeling is bad just wondering has anyone had it done and how bad is it just so I can be prepared.. My doctor reckons mine should be no problem as iv had six children and my cervix is easy to find

OP posts:
NorksAkimbo72 · 31/01/2018 17:25

It's fine...had mine done in a morning appointment, went straight to work when I was done. I had what felt like period cramps for a couple of hours after, but nothing I couldn't cope with! I expect it might be different for others who may have had insertion difficulties.
Good luck!

dementedpixie · 31/01/2018 17:28

I took painkillers beforehand and drove to the supermarket for shopping straight after. I had light cramping for a few hours and then it was fine

yupbeenthere · 31/01/2018 17:28

In my experience it's very uncomfortable/painful for about 2 minutes as they open up your cervix and put the coil in but it subsides quickly. I had mild cramps for a few days afterwards but it was easily managed with paracetamol.

damelorente · 31/01/2018 17:33

I totally didn't even think about the possibility of it being a painful procedure when I went to my appointment! I don't know why but it just didn't cross my mind.

Anyway, when they open up your cervix it IS painful. Not unbearable but def. unpleasant for about 2 minutes when they put it in. Like super intense period cramps.

HOWEVER, it is 100000% worth the 2 mins of pain for 5 years of not having to worry about taking birth control/antibiotics knocking it off/hormonal changes (I got the copper coil). It's the best thing ever! I'll be on it forever.

damelorente · 31/01/2018 17:34

I would absolutely recommend you get copper IUD over mirena though.

HarrietKettleWasHere · 31/01/2018 17:37

I don't want to scare you OP but mine was (I don't think she put it in right to be far, I had I go private to take it out six months later) was NOT straightforward. I won't go into detail.

HOWEVER, I haven't had children and I have a funny shaped cervical position Confused apparently.

No one told me to take painkillers beforehand- I would take something before you go in.

pinkpopcorn · 31/01/2018 17:37

I found it pretty much pain free, just uncomfortable and strange and I was a virgin when I had it fitted. Just try and stay relaxed. Afterwards I was slightly crampy but not too bad!

So getting it fitted doesn’t always have to be terrible!

shouldnthavesaid · 31/01/2018 17:40

I had a lot of problems but I have gynae issues anyway , never had a child (or indeed intercourse) and can barely even tolerate a smear - had a full spinal anaesthetic and a night in hospital. Never tolerated it well at all. Was removed in a hurry after a couple of years. They tried another a few months later which was horrendous, no anaesthetic and consultant was a bit of a butcher.

Friend had one about a year after mine though, hx of +++ heavy bleeding (anaemia, blackouts resulting in fractures etc) due to fibroids, had it fitted in GP surgery and was absolutely fine with minimal/no pain and drove herself home. Think she still has hers, she said it drastically improved her periods. So if it works its great.

just5morepeas · 31/01/2018 17:41

I found it uncomfortable, but not painful.

Took a while to settle down afterwards, but I now have no periods, which is nice.

grasspigeons · 31/01/2018 17:41

It wasn't too bad going in.

I had period like pains for a few days. However I did get spotting/bleed quite a lot initially and I think it made me feel 'rubbish' for want of a better word for a long time. I nearly decided to get it removed when the rubbish feeling went. Maybe 6 months?

Then I basically I didn't get heavy periods/much period pain again which has been worth it.

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 31/01/2018 17:41

I was told to take a dose of ibuprofen about half an hour before the appointment.

Opening my cervix was uncomfortable and I felt crampy then. Actually putting the mirena in didn't hurt at all. I went home and had a cuppa and went back to work as I felt fine with just mild crampy period like pains for the rest of the day.

It did hurt when she slipped cutting the strings and snipped my cervix with the scissors, but I think that was a one off!

Sadly it didn't work for me and I bled constantly while I was on it. I put up with it for six months and had it taken back out again. Removal didn't hurt either - just the same with the uncomfortable feeling, a quick sting as it was taken out and mild cramps. Not trying to put you off and I do hope it works for you, but it's useful to know it's not a horrible experience if it does need to come back out.

Paperdoll16 · 31/01/2018 17:43

It did hurt when she slipped cutting the strings and snipped my cervix with the scissors, but I think that was a one off!

Can't wait for my coil exchange on Monday! Grin

killingtime9198 · 31/01/2018 17:44

I have opened an account purely so I can comment on this post as I feel so strongly about it! Please do NOT get the copper coil if you suffer from heavy periods. I suffered from heavy periods and had the copper coil put in, as when the doctor asked me if I wanted the hormonal or non-hormonal (copper) coil I chose 'non-hormonal' as it just sounded preferable not to fill my body with hormones - he didn't explain the results/differences of the two options to me.

The copper coil made my already heavy, painful periods heavier and more painful. I then had to have the copper coil taken out and replaced with the mirena a few months later to rectify this. Having it put in wasn't pleasant - I took lots of painkillers as well as diazepam the doctor had prescribed me as I was very anxious about it (having recently had a termination) but the friend who was with me says I appeared to be in some amount of pain. That said, cramping after was minimal, and I have had no issues with it whatsoever since then (I've had it in about 2.5 years now) - I also barely have periods, only light spotting - no pains, and do not suffer the hormonal side effects of periods at all any more (I think this is because the hormones are localised to your uterus so do not effect your mood? I could be wrong here though!)

Given that your Dr has recommended the mirena and the reason you are considering this is heavy periods I doubt that he would recommend the copper coil, but just wanted to issue a word of wording!

Good luck and hope it all works out!

Original poster
Cazz10 · 31/01/2018 17:48

Thanks so much for all your wonderful responses I was just so nervous and expecting this awful feeling and pain fingers crossed it'll be ok.. Also wondering does it cause weight gain?

OP posts:
MozzchopsThirty · 31/01/2018 17:50

Hideous I have mine put in under general anaesthetic

Auldspinster · 31/01/2018 18:18

Just to echo what others are saying. Discomfort as they open the cervix like a menstrual cramp. I had a lumbar puncture last week and weirdly it reminded me of the discomfort of the cervix dilation, same dull pressure.

Auldspinster · 31/01/2018 18:19

I'm on my 4th mirena btw.

Surfingwhippet · 31/01/2018 18:19

damelorente i suspect it's to make the periods lighter rather than for contraception

Bunbunbunny · 31/01/2018 18:27

I found the measuring of the womb but really uncomfortable but it was a few seconds. Coils are very underrated, I do strongly recommend you get them fitted at a women’s clinic not a gps, they’re much more experienced in fitting them

KimmySchmidt1 · 31/01/2018 18:27

It’s fine - not as bad as a smear test or a sweep if you had one for baby.

Mirena is fabulous contraception - all the obstetrics doctors and nurses use it because it is so convenient and effective. Definitely worth the slight discomfort not to have to worry about periods, mood swings. Or remembering to take anything!

helenoftroyville · 31/01/2018 18:31

Getting by it put in the as pretty painful. It didn't agree with me at all, I developed acne (after having clear skin my whole life) having it taken out was a nightmare....the walls of my uterus had kind of grown around it so it couldn't be removed (they tried...and it was so painful)

I had to go under anaesthetic and have a D&C to have it removed.

NotAgainYoda · 31/01/2018 18:36

I found it excruciating the first time. I was 3 months post (second) birth and my cervix felt like it went into spasm. It was as bad as labour. I also had spotting and had nagging pain for about 6 months and was on the verge of having it removed

BUT

I have had 3 Mirenas now and I'm glad I did it. No periods is a blessing

In your shoes I'd take pain relief beforehand just in case eg codeine

My cervix is not that accessible

user1473878824 · 31/01/2018 18:38

It’s really quick but a little bit painful, but over in 30 seconds. And once it’s in you never have to think about it again (well, for a while anyway). I’ve had three now and it’s always far worse in my head! I did pop three Nurofen half an hour before the last one though to take the edge off. As for weight gain I react in the worst ways to everything and I’ve never found it a problem. Good luck, you’ll be fine!

MrsMaxwell · 31/01/2018 18:38

Hardly felt it.

Getting it out once it has “disappeared into the cavity” is another matter entirely Grin

LEMtheoriginal · 31/01/2018 18:38

The last one I had put in just before Xmas was the most painful experience of my life. It took the Dr 45 minutes and I was in agony. It is now incorrectly placed and I'm having cramps. I don't know if I'm keeping it or not but they won't be touching me without sedation.

My first one went in easily and I asked the Dr if he had done it yet!