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!

The Mirena changed my life in a good way. I had no side effects whatsoever and no periods at all, which was wonderful. It took a few months to settle down, but was plain sailing after that.

I had it put in when I was 46, under general anesthetic as I was having a few gynae things done at once. In Ireland where I live the guidance is that it can stay in for 7 years if it's put in after the age of 46. I had it taken out two years ago, at 54 (totally painlessly) and it was great because it had seen me through the menopause.

I'd definitely recommend it.

I had mine fitted 5 weeks ago.

I've been getting heavier and heavier periods for years and mini pill and trans acid didn't help.

I then bleed for 9 weeks. Some days spitting and some days flooding continuously. What was worse was I wouldn't bleed for 12-26 hours and so would think it had stopped and then it would just pour out if the blue. Golf ball sized clots dripping out of me one after the other.

Northisterone helped ease it but it would start again as soon as I stopped it.

Since coil I have spit bleed most days but it was getting less and less. I had a period 5 days after coil (24 hrs after finishing nothisterone) and it was fairly normal and lasted 5 days.
Now have another one which has thick lining (which is odd because it's meant to thin that!) but not really much blood. Day 3 currently and think if all going as it seems I'm past the worst and will lighten. Still fairly normal.

Can't feel strings so having ultrasound in a month to check it's ok.

I'm assuming by the way body is acting it's all I'm fine etc.

So far I'm happy with it. They say it takes 3 months to really make a difference and up to a year to make the full difference.

I was willing at the point I was at to give it a chance. Like you id reached the end of mh teather and anything couldn't be worse than what I already had.

I also have a Tilted uterus.

Not gonna lie the fitting wasn't pleasant.

But my iron count after all the bleeding was right down and even after a few weeks of iron and vit C it's still just under 9!

Like vampire I'd put on weight because my life is sponsored by Nescafé and cheese.
Now I'm feeling better I'm finding a healthy diet much easier and hope I can lose the weight I need to.

I’ve had mine 3.5 years.
No problems at all.
No periods at all first 2.5 years, now get monthly spotting.
I’ll be having another one after this as apparently they help with perimenopause. This one will be due out when I’m 45 so another will take me to 50.

I've had mine for 3.5 years too and it's been great. I don't get on with the pill or implant and I was running out of ideas, so I went for the Mirena shortly after having my son. The fitting was ok, a bit unpleasant but not too bad, and I had random spotting on and off for a few months, and then just no periods and no babies ever since. Yay. I get the odd bit of spotting once every couple of months which I think could be my body trying to have a period, as it tends to happen after a bit of bloating and greasy skin, but nothing major. Sometimes the threads move and they poke my husband but then it fixes itself and we're all good again. Obviously everyone is different but I've had a good experience.

Changed my life. Personally had no problems. From flooding & misery to nothing. I never want it removed 😂

It’s great. Eight years of no periods at all. I have gained weight, because it increases your appetite, but other than that no side effects.

Having it put in is pretty grim, but once it’s in you can forget about it.

I’m on number 4. Had fifteen years of no pain, resolved chronic, severe anaemia and saved a shed load of money on pads and tampons ( I’d get through the same quantity each month that would last most women six months).
The big bonus is that now I’m going through menopause it helps many of the symptoms and is classed as HRT so have estrogen patches to stop the hot flushes. It’s a win win situation.
I think that it is more effective in older women who are already starting to experience lower progesterone. I’ve noticed on similar threads that those who don’t get on with them are usually younger women.
Make sure you have it inserted by a GP who has done loads of them. The last one I had fitted took 10mins, and that included removing the old one. Also take a big dose of Ibuprofen (600mg to 800mg) about 30mins before your appointment, this seems stops the immediate discomfort in the 30 mins after insertion.

My only worry is if I just don’t get on with it and need it removed and we go into some kind of lockdown again they may refuse to see patients, what then? I will ask the gynaecologist about that.

I love it. Have had one for nearly 7 years. Have endometriosis and wish I’d got one years before. It is wonderful! Go to sexual health clinic to get it removed though, much easier than gp rummaging around....

I got mine fitted last November. Fitting was uncomfortable and cramping for a day or so. Nothing as bad as I thought it would be.

I had it as part of HRT and although I hadn’t had a natural period for a year and a half, the oestrogen I used for HRT had caused the lining of my womb to thicken and bleed. Although my oestrogen dosage is quite low, 1.0 mg a day, I have bled/spotted almost every month part from maybe 1. I had polyps removed the April before and they discovered signs of adenomyosis. After reducing oestrogen dosage and changing oral progesterone no change happened which is why I went with their advice, (menopause clinic) and had the coil fitted.

It’s a nuscience to be honest with spotting. Lasts for maybe sometimes for up to 8 days, starts light, then bright red one day and then more darker other next 5 or 6 days. I spoke to an advisor in July and she said it can take up to a year to stop, just what is already there is shedding. Not sure about the bright red blood though. I wish it would stop so I didn’t have to wonder what day it is going to start and finish.

I’m 51, I don’t think it has caused mood difference or weight difference; eating a bit more rubbish than usual and not moving enough for me, has caused that, not the coil!

I would give it a go, and if it really doesn’t suit you, you can review it and have it removed.

If anyone has any advice or experience for me regarding still spotting heavily/bleeding, please fill me in.

Mine is super. I was having really irregular, incredibly heavy periods - passing clots the size of my palm sort of thing. Now I have a lightish period at the start of every month and my libido is much higher (I may have been getting quite low on iron).

I seem to be in the minority. Two years and I still have horrendous heavy and painful period. I am taking mefenamic acid for the pain and tranexamic for the bleeding. The periods are probably shorter, but they are irregular, and fuckig awful. I want it out but I had it put in as i have heavy and painful and painful periods without it but I'm worried they will be worse.

Not sure what to do.

I put on weight from it and th3n I got pregnant. I thought I was the one in a million chance and then came on here and saw that loads of women get pregnant with it in.
I’d never go near one again.

I've had mine six months or so, the first few months I had light periods and still had mood swings. It has settled down and I'm now having no periods and no noticeable mood swings. Happy with that!

Mine was absolutely brilliant and it changed my life for that previously dreadful week every month. I’d had IVF and putting the coil in was nowhere near as intrusive as that. I had slight stomach cramp after that then nothing. My periods were instantly transformed - they were extremely light or non-existent. Plus it took me through the menopause with very few symptoms (obvs this could’ve happened anyway, I’ll never know). My only regret is that I didn’t have it many years ago. Out of my few friends who’ve also had it, I don’t know of anyone who wouldn’t swear by it.

The appointment is coming up in the next half hour. I may ask first if I can be referred to a menopause clinic. I have asked my gp as I am 47 and have had many peri symptoms for the last year or so. She refused because she says I am not peri due to the fact I still have regular periods, regardless of the other symptoms! I’m hoping the gynaecologist may be a bit more knowledgeable on that subject and hopefully I can then discuss all of my options with someone specialising in peri and menopause issues.

Just had the telephone consultation. The plan is for an ultrasound to check on the polyps, then a hysteroscopy to remove the polyps (that’ll be my 5th one!) and insertion of mirena at the same time.
It was such a whirlwind call that I forgot to ask if it’s ok to have a Mirena if your a aura migraine sufferers like I am.
Anyone else have a Mirena and are aura migraine sufferers? Does/has it had any impact on these?

Satisfied people tend to report less than unsatisfied so probably why you read so many bad experiences in the other thread.

I have to say, I had it to control ridiculous periods like yours & it caused me terrible pain as it had slipped, just didn't have the anatomy for it. Was a fight to get it removed too.

Make sure your DR is advising it for the right reasons, not just because its cheaper/easier for the NHS to manage longterm

Hi op I am an aura migraine sufferer and I have a mirena coil. Because the hormones are much lower dose than alternatives like the pill, and also more localised, being released 'on site' so to speak, it's absolutely fine to have this coil. I had mine fitted 2yrs ago due to horrible periods after having my second child, and it's honestly been great. Worth saying that I came very close to having it removed after 2m because I was still bleeding and emotional. My doctor said it was likely too soon to have settled down and persuaded me to give it another month, and I'm so pleased that I did. No issues at all since, no periods, no side effects.

I didn’t get on with mirena had already tried different contraceptive pill, implant, ablation
Nothing stopped my heavy periods or hormonal issues -
Once I’d tried mirena they agreed to hysterectomy when I was 38 I’ve never looked back
I even found my sex drive again!

Kamma89 He did mention an ablation which would be my first choice but they will only do it under a general at my local hospital and I need a local as I don’t do well with general anaesthetic, I could get it done under a local at a private hospital but I can not afford it so I think (done lots of research myself) the mirena is really my only option, either that or put up with it u til menopause which I’ve tried to do but have had enough tbh.

I didn't get on with it at all. Constant stomach cramps. I told that they would subside with time but the cramps coupled with the fact that DH didn't find it comfortable either made me get it removed.

I was told...

How long did it take for those who had one for the sporting to stop and periods to lighten?

I e almost had continuous spotting for 4 weeks with a period In between.
Now have another period and although bleeding itself isn't massive floods today and yesterday Ive lost a lot of 'clots'. But whereas before it was blood and like golf ball jellies this is thick and hard clots which are obviously uterine lining.
I've lost about 10 of those.