To ask for your mirena coil experiences?

[Afternooninthepark]

Posting on here for traffic!
I’m 47 and have (stupidly) put up with heavy periods for 20 years, I have always refused any hormonal medication for fear of them.
The last 5-6 years my periods have been horrendous with very heavy periods on day 2-4 with clots, flooding and basically being left almost housebound during those days. I have tried the basics like tranexamic acid but that upsets my IBS. After gynaecologist appointments and scans it was determined that I have uterine polyps which is making the problem much worse.
I was offered a Mirena but after reading the absolute horror stories online and being an anxiety sufferer I decided time and time again not to go down this route.
I asked for an ablation, under a local anaesthetic to which the gynaecologist agreed to and said it was fine but unfortunately on the day of my operation the anaesthetist refused to do it unless under a general (I suffer for a month or so from dizziness and feeling awful after a general so prefer to avoid if possible).
Anyhow, a few years later here I am still suffering but as it’s only for 2-4 days per month I keep putting things off but I have a gynaecologist appointment tomorrow and I know he will push for the Mirena again as there really isn’t many other options to shrink the polyps. I have had them removed twice in surgery but the have grown back.
I am put off by the things I’ve read like constant pain, bleeding, breast issues, anxiety/depression/mania, acne and gp’s refusing to remove it etc. There was a thread the other day where’s someone had said of the 100+ women she knew with the Mirena only 2 had had a good experience with it! Things like this put me off.
I appreciate that when someone has a good experience with something they tend not to take to the internet to tell people and just get on with life when it’s mostly people with negative experiences who will do this and I personally won’t know for myself until I try it.
Can I ask for your honest experiences with the Mirena? The good, bad and the ugly!

I just had to check it wasn't an old post by me when reading your post! So many similarities.
I've had various period issues over the years. Always really heavy periods with clots. Had polyps removed which stopped mid cycle bleeding.
I had a blood test for another issue where they discovered I was and still am anaemic. They decided that the best way to get that under control was to stop the heavy bleeding was to have a Mirena fitted. Many drs over the years kept trying to get me have one, and I was very reluctant to have one. But I decided to finally give it a go. Queue still heavy periods, and bleeding in between again. Eventually after about 9 months my body had enough and at 5am expelled it.
I had the internal ultrasound and they discovered I have fibroids, which is probably what caused it to be pushed out.
I am now waiting for a hysterscopy examination to see what to do about the fibroids.
In answer to your question. If it's to try and stop the polyps from returning then I would try it. If you have fibroids, I personally wouldn't have one fitted unless the fibroids had been removed, and or are ones that don't protrude inside the uterus.

I had one but for contraception. It worked - no libido, depression, cystic acne and never stopped bleeding. Kept being fobbed off to have it removed and finally had to formally complain to get it taken out.

I suffer from GAD and the Mirena nearly destroyed my mental health completely.

But several friends and family members think it's the best thing ever and hasn't affected them.

So there is no right or wrong answer - you can only try it, if the advice seems correct for your situation.

I had one put in for heavy bleeding and clots. it was great, my bleeding was much reduced but I still got the occasional clot and after about 4 months the coil came out with one of the clots. had another one put in and the same thing happened. my periods are less clotty now and I am thinking of getting another one fitted.

I love mine. This is my second. I had the first before my children and now my second after 2. Best things ever.

I used to have terrible PMT. Full on dark thoughts about harming people and it would last 2 weeks of the month near enough. Now I’m much calmer and I have a slight spotting every month. It has changed my life

Thank you everyone for your replies.
You are all right, I won’t know how I will react until I have one myself but in all honesty I am scared, I have never had an hormonal medication ever, I have GAD and health anxiety and this compounds my fears (I’ve had many goes at tackling my anxiety inc several sessions of CBT and counselling but unfortunately it still remains strong and obviously feeds my fears I am fully aware of the vicious cycle I’m in).
For those that have asked why I don’t you trust the medics it’s because I simply haven’t had a great experience with many of the gynaecologists I have seen, several have have been very brusque, to the point one actually made me cry he was so offhand (I never cry in public!). They have pushed and pushed the mirena without giving me any other options, I had to ask for the ablation and specifically asked for it under a local, the gynaecologist went away for a day to two to find out if this was possible, came back and said yes it was fine. I was absolutely gutted when the anaesthetist refused to do it on the day, I was in my gown and had all the pre-op meds and was just about to be wheeled into theatre at the time. A complete waste of my time and theirs, not to mention what that did for my mental health.
Anyhow, I have the appointment with a gynaecologist tomorrow, will see what he offers and will go for the mirena if offered.

Amazing. Had one put in after my c-section with kid 2 so missed the insertion part, but it's been fab. No problems, never think about it. Good luck with your decision.

Mine's been great. No side effect and I haven't had a period for about 3 months now.

I had mine put in a year ago for similar reasons. I bled a lot for the first few months, and ended Up taking the pill as well for two months to try and stop the bleeding. After about six months my periods started getting noticeably lighter. It’s been a year now, and I have very little bleeding, can use panty liners instead of pads. It’s amazing, but took me a while to get there.

I'm on my third and it transformed my life.
My periods were very heavy and so painful and long.
Now I never have a period, haven't had one in years!
Best thing I ever did!

It has been life changing for me.
Took a few months to fall into place, bleeding hormones etc. I do seem to have put a little weight on. (And it won’t shift) but all of it worth it for me.
For me it has meant no crippling pain, heavy unpredictable periods , reduced PMT, I also no longer get the huge boil no head type spots anymore.
I know some people have had bad experiences but I would try and see what works for you.

I've had mine for three years now and it's been great. I was very wary about having one, but my heavy, painful periods due to fibroid have become very light and pain free. I wish I'd got one decades ago! My best friend has had a similar experience.

On the other hand, my cousin had one and regretted it. It didn't cause any problems in itself, but she had a nightmare trying to find someone who would remove it when she decided to try for a baby! It was absolutely ridiculous, her GP told her they didn't do it anymore and someone else had the contract to do it now, but that company hadn't actually taken it over yet. She ended up paying someone to remove it, if it had been causing other problems it would have been awful waiting for months being passed from pillar to post!

I bloody loved mine. No periods, no migraines, no weight gain - it was fab.

However I have a severely tilted uterus so getting it fitted was awful. I would love another but can't to through that again

I had one fitted last year, after several years of dithering, I too was put off by reports of hideous side effects, mood swings etc.
After forgetting to take my mini pill on a couple of occasions, I decided to bite the bullet and get the mirena.

It's great. A few cramps initially, a bit of bleeding during the first couple of months, but since then has been brilliant.

Mind you, I've never had bad reactions to any hormonal contraception (have used many different combined & mini pills) so that may well be why I'm fine with it.

The insertion was a bit sore, the removal 3 years later was largely painless. My periods on it were infrequent and light. I got no side effects. I had it removed when my husband had a vasectomy

I had a mirena a couple of years ok, all great for first few months then I started irregular bleeding, then non stop bleeding and clots and the Mirena was expelled along with a palm sized clot. I had several gynaecologist appointments and at each one I was pushed to get another Mirena (I didn’t want one as didn’t want it to fall out again, me not realise and then get pregnant). I had scans and was told I had fibroids. Booked for an ablation, went to surgery, woke up after and they hadn’t been able to do the ablation due to the shape of my uterus. I’ve now had a hysterectomy (still have my ovaries), best thing ever, no bleeding, no pills and absolutely no chance of getting pregnant.

As much as I still don’t want one, I’m going to take the plunge and go for it.
Jorisbonson I too have a very tilted uterus, hopefully that won’t cause too many problems, I’ve had three hysteroscopies and was ok with those so fingers crossed this will be ok but I’ll dose up on pain relief beforehand.
TwoBluFish I would love a hysterectomy and would happily rip out my uterus myself if I could but they won’t even consider one until I have at least tried the mirena!

I had the mirena in for two years before having it removed. Mine was also fitted for very heavy periods but while it reduced the heaviness, the periods remained and still lasted 10 days. I had the same level of success with tranexamic acid but without the side effects (I easily lost a third of my hair) so had it removed. No regrets about having it out.

Everyone is different so my experience may not be the same as yours. For what it's worth, I have tried twice to have the coil and my body has physically rejected it both times. However, in my circle, I am the minority and everyone else gets on fine with it. You could be like me, or like them.....but you won't know unless you try.

I got one about 18 months ago for exactly your symptoms. It was inserted at the same time as a surgical procedure for endometriosis so it was actually done under general anaesthetic. But negligible periods, no PMS, no cramping, no clotting, no horrendous pain, no flooding, no lying on the bathroom floor too afraid to move away from the toilet. Complete and utter life changer. I'm 41 and didn't have my first child until I was 33. I wish I'd used a Mirena for all those years pre-kids.

I bled lightly for months and months but it’s settled now and honestly it’s the best. I had little choice because I developed complex hyperplasia due to pcos but it’s made a big difference. Insertion was fine and no cramps etc.

I had one for very heavy bleeding (after 10 years of trying lots of other solutions) and had to have it taken out after a week because of the pain - I was having contractions and trying to get rid of it! But even if it does turn out to be painful or have other side effects, you can just have it taken out. One of its major advantages is that it’s instantly reversible. What have you got to lose?

My gynaecologist told me she has a three stage approach : Mirena first, then ablation, then hysterectomy as a last resort. After the Mirena debacle, I went back and we agreed on an ablation - her clinic does them with microwaves. Just to reassure you in case you do go back again, it’s perfectly possible to have it under local anaesthetic, though most women go for general. I had mine under local, with gas and air, and although it was painful, the pain only lasted 90 seconds in total. In the three years since, my periods have been much lighter, what most women think of as normal (mine were so heavy that they would never have stopped completely after an ablation) and my life and iron levels have been transformed. It’s been completely worthwhile, and as I’ve now reached an age where I’m in perimenopause, even if my periods gradually get heavier again, they’ll stop well before I get back to where is was.

Don’t be put off by horror stories about the Mirena or any of it. Not all gynaecologists are as good as mine, and I saw one who put me off seeking help again for 10 years at one point, but the care, and the help, is out there.

Had it for a few months, then out (on the day I asked for it to be removed) because I didn't really stop bleeding, which seems to be my reaction to any hormonal contraceptive.

Fitting was uncomfortable but quick, taking it out was nothing.

Mirena has been a mixed experience for me but I'm now on my 3rd and glad I stuck it out! I had horrendous periods hence getting one in the first place and with each one I've put up with constant spotting for up to a year after the fitting. However I've then had 2-3 years of extremely light/no periods at all which has been amazing.

The last one had to come out early because I developed a polyp so unfortunately they don't always prevent them.

The best thing for me has been it smoothing out my PMT and mood swings. Contrary to others with a very different experience, I feel much happier and calmer with the mirena than I was when I didn't have one!

Everyone is so different in the way their body responds it's really hard to say whether it'll be the right thing for you OP. Worth a try IMO