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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think if the mini pill caused me to bleed constantly, Mirena will too?

42 replies

PARunnerGirl · 15/02/2021 11:48

Because it is the same hormone, just less of it right? Whenever I ask this to a nurse or doctor, they just tell me no because “it acts directly on the lining of the womb”. I don’t understand why that makes any difference though and no one seems to be able to explain it to me. I’d like to go for Mirena as I am 40 and still on the combined pill due to bleeding constantly on the mini pilI, but don’t want to go through the whole fitting of a coil of I end up bleeding constantly again. am low risk on the combined pill due to being healthy weight, non smoker etc but I still know getting off the combined pill would be better.

Did anyone bleed a lot on the mini pill but Mirena was fine?

OP posts:

RagzReturnsRebooted · 15/02/2021 11:50

Yes my mirena gave me very light monthly bleeds and that was it. I bled more often and had more side effects on the mini pill.

Blublubblubbing · 15/02/2021 11:51

What about the copper coil instead? No hormones at all. I would have the same concern as you with the mirena coil. I have a copper coil and its nice just having my own cycle and no hormones

itsgettingwierd · 15/02/2021 12:03

I had constant periods everyday for 3 months after 7 months on the pill.

And severe bleeding rather than light bleed.

I'm on my second mirena as first came out with heavy bleed.

This one I have very little daily spit bleeding but I'm only 6 weeks in.

Original poster

PARunnerGirl · 15/02/2021 12:04

@Blublubblubbing The horror stories of heavy periods put me off even thinking about the copper coil! I wonder what percentage of people get on fine with it versus have heavy or more painful periods. Just having my own cycle again would be great.

OP posts:

Freetodowhatiwant · 15/02/2021 12:09

I am due to have the mirena for the first time in a few weeks and I have to say some of the potential side effects worry me. But it’s awful having really heavy periods too and the mirena can often prevent this. Also a lot of people have a great experience with it and just don’t come on forums like this because theyee busy leading their lives. No advice, just empathy.

raspberryk · 15/02/2021 12:12

All of the hormonal contraceptives act differently for me, don’t get on with the mini pill, took 4 types of combined pill to get one that suited, don’t really get on with the implant, once the mirena has settled I had very light or no periods for 4 years.

tinkerbug · 15/02/2021 12:15

I've taken the mini pill before and also have a mirena at the moment.
At first with the mini pill I had light monthly bleeds but after about 3/4 months I stopped bleeding at all. (Which was wonderful, I used to have very heavy periods and flooding).
I had the mirena put in in October, and after a couple of weeks of settling down I now have a light monthly bleed. I prefer it to the pill as I don't have to remember to take it every day!

Belfastbird · 15/02/2021 12:16

I had constant bleeding on minipill but it completely went away on mirena (I've just had it removed afterc2 yes though due to awful acne, 2st weight gain, thinning hair & facial hair growth!) Copper coil resulted in v heavy v long periods.
I just want to go back on combined pill but over 40...

Belfastbird · 15/02/2021 12:16

Oops 2 years

MaddeningtheUnhelpful · 15/02/2021 12:19

I'm on my second mirena (first removed as I fell pregnant ha!) but I don't have periods at all with them. I'm loving life period free

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 15/02/2021 12:22

I'm in the same boat op. I'm being pushed to try the mirena for heavy periods but I bled constantly on the mini pill and I refuse to try it, especially as I won't be able to take it out myself. The medics will want me to try it for 6months plus to let it settle too. Mentally I couldn't cope.

I can tell they are frustrated by my refusal but they don't seem to accept that a side effect is constant bleeding. It's the marmite of contraceptives - my friends are roughly 50/50 love or loathe!

Original poster

PARunnerGirl · 15/02/2021 12:24

Stuff like this is so hard to decide because everybody is different! If I specifically look at the two posters who did have erratic bleeding on the mini pill that never settled down, it seems like Mirena was better. I guess it’s not a big data set though

OP posts:

LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag · 15/02/2021 12:24

I never got on with either the pill or mini pill including constant bleeding but had the mirena for years and it was a life changer; I still had periods but they were very light and often lasted a day rather than the full week of constant heavy flow that was my normal cycle. A friend stopped her periods completely.
Nowadays I have nothing because I had a sterilisation and removal of my womb lining a year ago which has been bliss.

GlitchStitch · 15/02/2021 12:34

I'm in similar boat. Currently severely anaemic due to heavy periods so need to try something different. I bled constantly on the combined pill, now bleeding on the mini pill. So not really sure how a coil would be any better?

Winditbackagain · 15/02/2021 12:37

Pill made me bleed more often than not and the mirena coil has just given me light periods , more like spotting.

Loodally · 15/02/2021 13:01

A doctor told me that hormone based contraception wasn't suitable for me, due to me either bleeding constantly or becoming extremely depressed whilst taking it.

Last October I started what i thought was a normal period but then it went on and on and became unbelievably heavy. I was doubling up on san-pro, using the super heavy flow products, and flooding through everything within 30 minutes. It got to the point where I was struggling to leave the house. I was also so anaemic that I was having problems catching my breath.

I saw a consultant gynaecologist at the end of December for a hysterescopy and a mirena coil fitting.
Like you, I was cynical about the mirena and didn't think it would make a difference but it most definitely has. The bleeding is now down to slight spotting and I feel 100% better than I did prior to having it fitted. I really didn't think it would work, judging by my previous experiences with the pill and the Depo Provera jab.

It's definitely worth giving it a go.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 15/02/2021 13:09

I bled constantly on one POP, another one was fine (I can't remember which ones, unfortunately).

I didn't bleed at all with the Mirena or with Depo Provera (although I did put on a large amount of weight with that).

IliveonCoffee · 15/02/2021 13:11

I had the mini pill and now on my second mirena. I've not had a period on either (am slightly worried when I come off finally, aunt flo is going wreck merry hell in revenge).

Anyway. Although the mini pill didn't stop your period, there is still a chance the mirena will. Possibly what they are trying to explain, is the mirena is kind of double acting.

It has the hormone benefits as the kind of main selling point, but because it sits similarly to the copper coil, it has similar lining disruption benefits too.

FoxyTheFox · 15/02/2021 13:21

I hated the mini-pill as it turned me evil. I had nonstop bleeding, mood swings that took me from seething rage to hopeless despair but nowhere in-between the two, constantly sore breasts, nausea, and acne. Mirena was more of the same in terms of bleeding and mood swings and I found it very difficult to get it removed, the GP and nurse both refused to remove it until I'd had it in for a minimum of 4-6 months. It was only when I told them I would rip it out by myself that they reluctantly agreed to take it out but even then made me wait four weeks for the appointment to do it. From things I've read since then, I'm not the only one who has been refused a removal when it didn't deliver on the promises made before insertion.

Depo was rubbish too, I got pregnant on that one!

DunravenBadger · 15/02/2021 13:24

Not sure what your AIBU is so can't vote. But I've always struggled with the mini pill. The mirena is fantastic though. I didn't have any periods for the first year. Then the last 3.5 years I've had a couple of days of light bleeding (well, more old blood type stuff really) every month and that's it. As someone who normally really struggles with hormonal contraception, I'd definitely recommend the mirena.

wirldsgonemad · 15/02/2021 13:37

I have the marina coil and don't have periods. Not sure about the mini pill.

Username12353784 · 15/02/2021 13:51

I briefly took the mini pill once (onlyfor a couple months) and I bled constantly but I have had the mirena for 4 years and it’s completely stopped my periods. I can’t say for sure really as I didn’t have long term experience of the mini pill but when I did try it I bled for 2 months. With the mirena I haven’t had any periods at all, no bleeding at the start or anything so it’s definitely worth a go I think op.

I love the mirena. I’ve tried it all - the pill - headaches and it turned me into a crazy lady, implant - bleeding constantly, mini pill - as above! But the mirena is excellent.

RandomMess · 15/02/2021 14:20

The combined and mini pill never properly controlled my bleeding.

Mirena I spotted daily for the first 6 months and then had week long light bleeds each month. I eventually had womb ablation!!!

Croprotationinthe14thcentury · 15/02/2021 14:32

Yes I had exactly this. Went on the mini pill after having my dd and bled constantly. After a year I decided to give the Morena coil a try (on the advice of my GP) and I lightly bled constantly for around 6 weeks after I had it out in and then it stopped. I now bleed lightly for around 5 days every 27 days.

Croprotationinthe14thcentury · 15/02/2021 14:33

Put in, not out in.

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