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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my doctor should take my mirena out when asked???

244 replies

ScienceIsTruth · 26/11/2018 16:13

Just that really.

Went to see consultant today as still bleeding constantly 2 years after having mirena fitted for heavy periods, although not as heavily.

Asked them to remove it as it's not really helping and the side effects (no libido, etc) are really getting me down, and they've basically refused.

They want to try me on another hormonal medication for 6 months first, whilst keeping the mirena in (because I had trouble when it was put in!).
But there's a waiting list for this medication as it's an injection they have to do, and I'm looking at least an 8 week wait.

OP posts:
Original poster
ScienceIsTruth · 26/11/2018 23:06

I think they said the drug was called triptorelin, but they didn't tell me anything about it except that it should stop the bleeding, but could also have a negative effect on my libido. Tbh, I was so upset thru wouldn't remove the coil that I didn't think to ask much about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
ScienceIsTruth · 26/11/2018 23:11

I've had a try, but I can't reach high/deep enough to even feel the strings. Not sure if I have a longer vagina than average, lol, or if I'm just useless & doing something wrong!

OP posts:
JillyArmeeen · 26/11/2018 23:13

Triptorelin is what they use as a puberty blocker.
Please make sure you fully understand the side effects before you consent to taking it.
Seems daft to take what I understand to be a pretty powerful drug to stop the side effects of a coil you don't want?
Is that why they are giving you the triptorelin? Sorry if I've misunderstood but that makes no sense to me.

JillyArmeeen · 26/11/2018 23:17

Sorry op my tone doesn't read might in my last post.
I'm in no way implying I don't believe you at all, it just seems like a stupid course of action to take. Although I wouldn't be surprised.
I'm actually quite angry on your behalf. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
I would be desperate and upset too.

ImNotKitten · 26/11/2018 23:20

God this is disgusting. I would simply make an appointment with your GP surgery or a GUM clinic. Make sure you tell them the appointment is to have it removed. Don’t even mention the consultant or entertain a debate on whether or not you should have it removed. I would also make a complaint about that consultant.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 26/11/2018 23:23

Haven't rtft but when you do get it removed make sure you've abstained for a week or more beforehand. I wasn't given that crucial information, dd is 3 now....

Flyinggeese · 26/11/2018 23:38

sittingbythefire that's just awful, so sorry you went through that.

OP and others on here too.

I had problems with a copper coil and thankfully was able to have it removed fairly quibble-free. I do keep being asked at pill checks or other doc appointments to consider the Mirena. It's almost sinister how hard they push it. Definitely an agenda there. Awful.

NothingOnTellyAgain · 26/11/2018 23:47

Sittingbythefire that's absolutely fucking appalling.

If it wasn't that long ago putting I a complaint might help you feel even better than just telling us

TheDarkPassenger · 27/11/2018 00:54

I removed my own. It was pretty easy but I did pass out.

Sleephead1 · 27/11/2018 06:11

Where I work they do a clinic at the surgery but usually only once a month it's with a doctor and health care assistant and it's a specific clinic so is a wait but do you have a sexual health clinic near you as they are able to fit and remove coils and you just ring for a appointment

Pluckedpencil · 27/11/2018 06:17

I feel like there is some massive journalistic expose to be had on contraception. It would only take a few well placed questions via the freedom of information act.

NicoAndTheNiners · 27/11/2018 06:24

hey won't remove it, because they don't want to putt me under, but I told her I really want out out now, and they I don't want it anymore. She basically said: "No, we won't do it now, in 6 months we'll see you again and if the injection is not working and you're still having problems, then we need to go to next stage of carrying out ablation, & we'll remove it whilst we're doing that".

And at that point I presume you said "no that's not what I want, even though you've simply suggested an alternative I'm not going to agree to that and I still want it removed now"?

And she still refused?

Because if so complain. On the other hand if she made an alternative suggestion to avoid the risk of a GA (not sure why you need a GA plenty of people have them removed without) which you have agreed to I'm not sure what the issue is.

Blacktoffeecat · 27/11/2018 06:50

I have endometriosis and only have one child by CS. I had mine put in under GA but had it out at my GP surgery, it didn’t hurt- I’ve had more painful smear tests. Could they try taking it out before sending you for GA.

fieryginger · 27/11/2018 06:57

I had the mirina 2 times and the prostap injections twice too. I asked my second mirina to be taken out after 6 weeks.

Yanbu, he should've took it out. I didn't have any issues having it out in and having them taken out was easy, no pain for me.

NotBadConsidering · 27/11/2018 07:45

There are so many MN threads that are pilfered by lazy journalists, but if there was one that I would be ok with someone looking at this thread, listening to the stories, and making a huge noise about how awful women are treated in this context it would be this one (if OP was ok with it). It’s particularly relevant with the news about implants in general. So come on Guardian/DM journalists, where the fuck are you when it’s talking about something that actually matters?

BuggerandBalls · 27/11/2018 09:11

I had very similar - mirena for heavy bleeding (eventually turned out to be adenomyosis).

I had side effects very quickly - inexplicable weight gain despite being on a diet, mood swings, excessive pmt, greasy hair, acne, and was bleeding pretty much all of the time (and my periods were still heavy). I gave it a couple of months, then couldn’t take any more so went to my GP to ask for it to be removed. They refused and suggested I give it time to settle in. After 6 months with the same symptoms I went back again and was told that the mirena doesn’t cause side effects like this, and she again refused. I tried again a couple of months later, with no joy.

I eventually had to go to a sexual health clinic, as my doctor absolutely wouldn’t agree to take it out.

ClaryFray · 27/11/2018 09:16

Sadly this is common I had to have mine removed at a sexual health clinic because my practice refused and the wait list for hospital was too long.

It's to expensive to waste and that's why they like to keep them in as long as possible. Complain.

chaosisaladder · 27/11/2018 09:17

Journalists should write about this, but I doubt it'd get enough traction because let's face it, women are still absolutely second class citizens.

Men would not have to endure bullshit like this, it just wouldn't happen. They couldn't handle the male pill trials, let's not even pretend like they could cope with the pain of insertion of a coil and then any side effects as a result of it.

We still pay tax on sanitary products for God's sake. Our reproductive system is just a nuisance apparently.

dontalltalkatonce · 27/11/2018 09:30

If you read the leaflet that comes with the device, it can definitely cause negative side effects and does in about 15% of users. But you won't hear that from doctors.

This is about women being forced to endure medical treatment they no longer consent to.

GinaLinetti99 · 27/11/2018 09:52

This thread makes such sad reading.

Interestingly, Peta Todd was posting on Instagram about this recently as she had a mirena fitted and then had a severe allergic reaction to it. They STILL didn't want to take it out.

I've had 2 mirenas. The first I had removed due to TTC and that was no issue. The second I had fitted after DC2 and endured a year of near constant bleeds. In that time DH had a vasectomy, so I went to have the mirena removed and the GP dissuaded me. I went away and rebooked with a different GP, who took it out without hesitation and was really proactive about making an action plan in case the bleeding continued.

GrabEmByThePatriarchy · 27/11/2018 09:57

This is why many of us will never use LARC. Given that LARC is more effective than other methods of contraception, and thus leads to fewer unplanned pregnancies than eg the pill or condoms, one wonders how much these refusals to remove coils and implants is indirectly costing the NHS.

WellThisIsShit · 27/11/2018 09:58

Please try and get it taken out by another hcp.

I haven’t had a coil but I have had to stop reading this thread for a bit as was getting too upset. Remembering from years ago when I had an appointment after heavy continuous bleeding for months (after being put on the pill, but my GP refused to let me stop taking it and being young I went along with him). I went into the consultants appointment and ended up having std tests done without my consent, and laughed at by the junior doctor when I asked if he was going to do anything else. It was awful and I never went back. It was the way he just casually trampled over my rights to my own body, and didn’t give a fuck how I felt about it, or the minor detail that he didn’t actually help medically st all. I felt so fucking violated.

dontalltalkatonce · 27/11/2018 10:13

That's terrible, Well.

pumpastrotter · 27/11/2018 10:22

These stories are horrifying. I'm actually booked in to get a copper coil in the new year but I'm reconsidering it.

Just to add about taking it out yourself - when I did mine, it came out very easily, no worse than a tampon, so reading back the other posters who did it and felt pain makes me think mine was already dislodged. I probably could've gone to a clinic as at the time we had good access locally but I freaked out and had to take it out that day (I have neurological issues and had read similar stories linking them to the Mirena) but now they've closed almost all FP/GUM clinics by mine, nearest one is only open Friday mornings and the next nearest is over an hour away - where I'm waiting 2 months for an appointment.

@Robert97 go fuck yourself, pal. When men can have plastic contraceptive implants inserted up their arses that makes their mental health and PMS so bad you're suicidal more than half the month, bleed irregularly, migraines, makes your skin break out, your hair fall out and all whilst you can feel it poking your insides when you move, then your opinion will be valid.

Lougle · 27/11/2018 10:41

I took my own out. It was as easy as taking out a tampon, tbh. The Doctors don't use any special gadgets to take them out, they just grab the strings and (gently) pull. They are designed to fold inwards and slip out when they are tugged, just as they folded up, then unfolded, on the way in.

Some people will have embedded coils, and those people would experience pain and resistance when they their hcp tugged on the strings. If pain and resistance was felt, they would be referred to hospital for an ultrasound scan.