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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask your honest opinion on the Mirena coil?

84 replies

Potatoskin · 17/01/2019 21:04

I have Pcos, but my symptoms have recently flipped from no period for over a year, to bleeding heavily 3 weeks of the month. My gynea doctor thinks I need both hormonal and non hormonal treatment so has prescribed mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid, and the mini pill.

He did warn me that the mini pill is linked to weight gain and I'm currently mid weightloss so want to avoid it. He told me that the Mirena is probably my best option over all however I have heard alot of negative things recently. What are your general opinions/experiences on it (and is it painful)?

OP posts:
steff13 · 18/01/2019 01:35

I got pregnant on it and had a horrible painful miscarriage where everything including the mirena came out.

dancingbee · 18/01/2019 02:01

Hated it. Had cramps and mild bleeding erratically for the 6 months I had it in. I had it put it during a laparoscopy operation and ended up in hospital a week later with a suspected infection. Not sure there ever really was an infection, I think my body just hated the mirena as it never really settled down.
Hurt like @&!* when I saw the consultant and begged him to take yank it out. DH was in the room and still says he was sure I was going to kick the doctor in the head!

I've known other people who loved it. Honestly think it depends on whether your body takes to it or not.

Taytotots · 18/01/2019 02:06

My body decided to expel mine after a month (severe cramping and then it just fell out). Annoying as I needed something to stop heavy periods. My gynaecologist was very resistant to me trying another for some reason. Shame as it sounded like it could have worked very well and I didn't notice any side effects (in the short time I had it). I didn't like feeling the strings though - monofilament so quite scratchy.

Lalala89 · 18/01/2019 03:42

I'm on my 2nd and love it

Kinsters · 18/01/2019 04:24

I had the mirena coil for 8 years and that whole time would have said that it was the best thing I ever did. Now it's been taken out I can see that it reduced my sex drive, made sex painful and affected my moods. I wouldn't want to get another in the future but for stopping periods it can't really be beaten.

ClanoftheCaveBear · 18/01/2019 05:09

It gave me really bad anxiety. Sorted my periods though (I have endometriosis).
I had to have it removed due to the anxiety in the end.

Mayrhofen · 18/01/2019 05:14

I had one for six years, hurt to insert but that’s all, I bled for six weeks initially but then nothing for six glorious years. No pain being removed.

I had 💯 positive experience and it’s been out for over ten years now.

It was a shock to start having periods again when DH had a vasectomy.

PeachesandPie · 18/01/2019 05:18

Loved mine, no periods for the 5 years it was in, no worries about anything. Fell pregnant within 3 weeks of it being out which was great. Will have another when I'm done having babies, so worth it for no periods

HundredMileStare · 18/01/2019 06:16

Hated it. It did stop my periods but I had horrendous mood swings and no sex drive. I argued with my partner all the time, I felt a bit mad to be honest! I kept it for a year and during that time had more infections down there than I can count. After getting it removed within a week or two I felt back to my old self and never had another infection since. I now have the copper coil which is OK but I bleed heavily for 1 week in 3 when previously I had very light, 3 day periods.

titsbumfannythelot · 18/01/2019 18:25

This is interesting, I'm currently considering mirena and the majority of posts here are favourable.

Has anyone noticed weights gain as a mirena symptom?

Pulipatchouli · 18/01/2019 18:25

LOVe LOVE LOVE it.
First three months were awful.
After that, my many years of hideous PMT and grotesque periods are over.
Wish I'd have it many years ago.
It has transformed my life.

lerrimknowyouretheyir · 18/01/2019 18:29

On my first, had it put in almost 5 years ago. No problems. No periods. Was uncomfortable having it put in.

WeirdCatLady · 18/01/2019 18:35

I had the depo provera injection for about 12 years after I had dd. When I hit 40 they started getting twitchy about it (brittle bones in later life issues apparently) and suggesting a mirena instead. I had one fitted four and a half years ago and haven’t had a single problem with it. No periods, no cycle, back pain, pms etc. It’s uncomfortable to have one fitted but nothing that a day on the sofa with ibuprofen and chocolate didn’t solve. HTH.

ALongHardWinter · 18/01/2019 18:40

Absolutely no regrets. On my third and last one now (I'm 55). Had first one 20 years ago. I went from heavy bleeding with a lot of pain for 6 days each month,to barely any bleeding,just occasional light spotting,and no pain at all,within 3 months. An absolute god send IME.

FridasUnibrow · 18/01/2019 18:42

Worst thing I have ever been talked into having.
My GP pressured me to have one fitted for heavy periods (DH has had a vasectomy so not needed for birth control)
I know that many are saying that they have had positive experiences but for me that was not the case. During the 6 months I had it in I put on a stone in weight and it turned me into an emotionless zombie. My energy levels plummeted to zero as did my sex drive.
I've had it out a month now and am beginning to feel much more like my old self. Unfortunately there's no way of knowing if it will suit you without giving it a try I guess.

JennyOnAPlate · 18/01/2019 18:43

Mood swings, acne and zero libido here.

GassyAss · 18/01/2019 23:04

It's really interesting reading that other people lost their libido in the Mirena too. I went to the GP about this and she just dismissed me as being silly.
I've never been backed to her I was that cross.

shecamefromgreece · 18/01/2019 23:07

Love it. Swapped around six months ago from the copper coil and it is life changing.

2019StandingforWomen · 18/01/2019 23:09

I didn't find it particularly painful having it put in however I suffered from depression and weight gain whilst it was in so much so that in the end I asked them to take it out again. Again no problems getting it out but it just did not suit me.

2019StandingforWomen · 18/01/2019 23:09

Yes and absolutely completely lost my libido.

2019StandingforWomen · 18/01/2019 23:12

During the 6 months I had it in I put on a stone in weight and it turned me into an emotionless zombie. My energy levels plummeted to zero as did my sex drive.

Are you me? I couldn't believe what happened to me. I've never experienced anything like it.

Chosennone · 18/01/2019 23:19

Awful bastard thing! At first a weird funny1 brown period. Then settled down and fell into a weird cycle. Felt pregnant for a few weeks, nausea, tired and achey boobs did loads of tests! then the next 1 weeks even more tired but awful headaches/migraine. Had lots of tests and even a MRI on my brain! GP suggested anti depressants!! had the coil out ( eventually! it had migrated to my womb so and to go into hospital) and was back to normal within a fortnight!!!

Amani · 18/01/2019 23:21

HATED IT! Was in agony for weeks after insertion ( I did have a biopsy ‘down there’ at the same time) and had to go on three courses of antibiotics as I had also developed an infection. Could not walk, sit, sleep, do anything without being in so much pain. Such a relief to have it out after 6 weeks and it took 2 months after to recover from the whole ordeal..(had to have a scan to ensure there was no lingering damage too)

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 18/01/2019 23:23

I love mine, wish I'd got it years ago.

JudgeRulesNutterButter · 18/01/2019 23:26

I was a hormonal mess with it for about 6 months but just as I was about to give up things settled down, now I love it!