To think the Mirena IUD aid an amazing invention

[avocadochocolate]

Got my 3rd Mirena fitted today.

First one was so I did not have to set my alarm in the night to change my sanitary protection. I was bleeding for 7 days every 14 days. I went from that to no periods at all.

DM has the same problem in the 1980s and has to have a hysterectomy. I'm so happy to have avoided major surgery.

Now the Mirena is part of my HRT and it is the safest way to deliver the progesterone element.

Posting because I have seen a lot of posts from people who have not got on with it and I guess you are more likely to post if you are dissatisfied. The doctor I saw today inserts 400 a week!

They really should check the position of your fibroids before they put one in
I lost my 2nd in April and consultant could feel my fibroids of my palpation of my womb

My DM’s became dislodged and made its way up to her uterus. She was in horrendous pain (said it was worse than birth) and needed surgery to remove it. A friend of mine ended up pregnant using the coil because hers also became dislodged and she had no idea.

It’s put me off the coil completely.

Asking as due to get mine fitted next week and I absolutely cannot have another baby!

Don’t rely on the coil (or any other method of contraception but especially the coil - I know two women who’ve conceived with a coil in place). Combine methods but also track cycles and avoid fertile period if you really must not get pregnant

Side effects of the Mirena nearly ruined my life (angry, depressed, no libido and painful cysts on ovaries). It worked as contraception though, as my husband wouldn't go (and couldn't get) near me... Unfortunately it was years before I realised the source of my problems.

Glad to hear it works for some though.

I'm on my 2nd and absolutely love mine too. Never get periods or any kind of period pain and given how I seemed to get pregnant at the drop of a hat when not using contraception it obviously works well in that way too (at least for me)

Love mine too, I had it put in 5 years ago aged 40+ for very heavy periods causing anaemia. I've also got fibroids.
I had spotting for 6 months which was much better than debilitating clots.
After 6 months nothing, not had a period since. GP says it can stay for a couple more years to act as some HRT
I've had no side effects that I've noticed

I literally had hours of intense uterine contractions every day. Lost my job. Doctors still wouldn’t remove it and when they tried they couldn’t get it out. Was referred to have it removed under sedation except there was none and the sadist attempting the removal has completely messed me up.

I know some women who love it, but I know that when it’s bad it’s often very very bad. I would gladly have taken it out myself if I could have (know quite a few who have!)

It was amazing until the side effect of pregnancy showed up after years of using it. Other than that, it was great!

I didn't get on with it but I never did get on with hormonal contraception

I've had the Mirena coil pushed on me for the past 6 months or so by the specialist and I've managed to stand my ground as I'm worried about the risk of headaches. Obviously the chance of ovarian cysts haven't been mentioned When I was on the pill I used to get headaches like clockwork every month. The not being able to get it removed easily puts me off hugely. I've tried pretty much everything else HRT wise but they all seem to have side effects I don't like

I love it too, I'm on my third. Having conceived dd on the minipill I wanted something more reliable. And what's to miss about periods?

Mine is fine but I preferred the pill so I could run it together for holidays. My last one went swimming and I had to go to hospital for them to fish it out with giant tweezers. That wasn’t much fun. Otherwise it’s been fine.

For me, it’s resolved the extreme pain. What finally decided me was sitting in a really hot bath, clutching a hot water bottle, crying. Having a Mirena was the best thing I could have done. I rarely have pain, periods are loads lighter. I’m very thankful we have such things available in this country.

Great till they fail

When I was on the pill I used to get headaches like clockwork every month
Me too. I stopped taking the pill in my early 20s because of that and had copper coils until I had the Mirena at 40.
It never gave me headaches, or any other negative side effects.

I'm so jealous it's worked for so many of you! Was desperate for it to work, as had a heavy painful periods with awful migraines. It sent me a bit strange, moody, periods stopped but spotted throughout the month still had migraines.

Stuck it out for 1 year and then had to give up, now got the copper coil still have heavy periods but at least I'm not behaving strangely (paranoia, crying, etc)

I'm on my 5th and they've been truly life changing for me. I was referred to gynae due to scar tissue after 2 c sections and they suggested the Mirena as they were trialling them as an alternative to hysterectomies on younger women. I've never had any issues with mine, as they have been inserted and removed at either gynae or the sexual health clinic at the local hospital. Now that they don't treat over 25s there, I had to have this latest one fitted by my GP who admitted that mine was only the 4th she'd done.... and don't I know it. I have nothing but pain since insertion - I get horrid contractions as if my body is trying to expel it, PMT like I've never had in my life and it just doesn't feel right. I am putting off asking for a scan to see where the hell it is as I'm expecting problems.

So my opinion is that they are as good as the person fitting them, to be honest.

Totally agree OP and we are in the huge majority. You only hear about the few bad experiences online. Statistically it's one of the safest and most reliable methods there is, and not having a period is an excellent bonus.

not having a period is an excellent bonus.

Interestingly while i was on the IUD it was the only time when I had my period like clockwork. Without hormonal contraception my periods would be about 3 times a year. With mini pill they were completely gone. With IUD they come exactly the same time every month.

Mines been fine too. Very light periods, sometimes I skip one which unnerves me a bit so I keep a supply of cheap pregnancy tests to reassure myself (always negative!). Cramps are a lot better and I will definitely be getting another in 2 years when this ones run out.

The fitting was a breeze also, done at the family planning clinic as GP had a long wait for an appointment.

Hated mine it was meant to stop heavy very painful periods but it did nothing. Periods were actually worse. I had it out after a year.

Eventually after going to gynie doctor for many years they gave me hysterectomy.

I had one put it after the progesterone only pill was a nightmare of bad side effects. The nurse assured me it wouldn't be that bad to put it and I wouldn't get the same bad side effects. Genuinely its ruining my life. It was the single worst pain I've ever felt in my life, the procedure took ages and it felt like no one in the room was listening to me at any point. Since then I'm having to spend days at a time not moving and barely conscious because of the pain. Of course this all gets minimized by the gps and getting it removed is a trial because the NHS seem to consider saving money more important that a womans own wishes it seems. I'm glad that some people have a great time on it but its destroyed my trust in doctors. I know I'm bitter, but its more over the way I feel women aren't listened to over their own health and bodies that the actual side effects. Those I could handle if I knew they had ever actually planned on following through with the "you can get it removed at any time" malarkey.

I had a hideous experience. Non stop bleeding for six months, lost so much blood it made me anaemic. I begged doctor to remove it after four months but he refused as he said I had to give it at least six months. On the dot of six months i got it removed and bleeding stopped straight away. The nurse shrugged and said it just doesn't suit everyone. You should proceed with caution.

No periods for nearly twenty years, what's not to like.. Be due to get my last one fitted next year. Have experienced a bit more bleeding ng/spotting over the last year or so but would hate to think how bad bleeding would be without it.
Also quick to conceive when I wanted to try for another baby. Out one month, pregnant the next..

Totally agree OP and we are in the huge majority. You only hear about the few bad experiences online

Did you mean to be so dismissive? There aren’t only a few bad experiences but even if there were, are they not worth considering before deciding? I guess GPs (with their financial incentives) and gynaes certainly don’t seem to think so!