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Original poster

Mirena, do I do it

88 replies

Changeee1546789 · 31/03/2022 04:56

Had some awful birth injuries after DD1 (3b tear, levator ani avulsion, nerve damage, spasm in my vagina that was treated with Botox). Settled down after DD2 and some great physio/gynae.

Fast forward and my periods have been HORRIFIC. Floods overnight etc. I just thought it was normal until my iron dropped so low that I had to have iron infusion. I am now on Tranexamic Acid but GP recommended Mirena.

After a lot of thinking decided to go for it, took the pills, the jelly, happy pill etc. GP could not get cervix to open anywhere near enough, gave up and said I would need to go to specialist.

Question is - is it worth it? I am conscious of not wanting to mess with my poor vagina too much plus I do worry about the side effects but my periods aren't exactly light (and TA seems to make them last longer) so always worrying about iron. Are there any other good effects of the mirena that could persuade me?

YABU: Leave things as they are, keep taking TA
YANBU: go to specialist and get the mirena for period free heaven

OP posts:
Chosenonesneakymincepie · 31/03/2022 14:55

Didn't suit me what so ever. Insertion was fine, the least if my worries. I then had a brown sticky discharge on and off for 4 months. Felt like I was in the first trimester of pregnancy all the time. Bokbs ached, nausea, exhausted. Doing constant pregnancy tests! Then the headaches and migraines became debilitating! Hated it and insisted on having it out as DH having a snip.
It was lost! Had to have an endoscopy to find it.
I am back to heavy periods and take Tranexamic acid and it is much preferable for me. I am very sensitive to Progesterone clearly.
Saying that, it might work for you.

NeedleNoodle3 · 31/03/2022 14:59

I have had 2 under general anaesthetic and they have been great. My periods were lasting nearly three weeks out of four and were ridiculously heavy.

NeverTooLateToSing · 31/03/2022 15:24

I would try it - and do give it 4-6 months to settle down. I have one as part of HRT & contraception and it is working brilliantly for me. The first 2-3 months there was a lot of spotting, true, and that was a faff, though easy to manage with panty-liners. Then it settled down. I forget I have it, now..

The insertion was tricky, but they got there in the end. It didn't hurt me any more than period cramps do.

I react badly to oral progesterone, so I was worried about the hormone component, but have had no side-effects.

(I had a copper coil in the past - it gave me the heaviest periods ever! Got rid of that after a year.).

Rachie1973 · 31/03/2022 18:14

Love mine. Had one between kids since the 90s so probably 5 or 6 now. No periods!

Don’t leave it in at end though, mine had tissue grow around it at 8 years lol. Had it removed and replace at 49 because consultant says research suggests the Mirena reduces risk of some uterine cancers in high BMI patients.

Roselilly36 · 31/03/2022 18:30

I am on my third and final Mirena, this one will take me through the menopause. Awful having it inserted, but so worth it, being period free has been heaven, my periods were awful, flooding etc. I would go for it OP. Good luck.

Cherryflavouranything · 31/03/2022 18:48

I avoided it for years, despite having endometriosis and very heavy bleeding. I react really badly to changes in hormones (the pill, pregnancy, pmt) so didn’t want to risk it. But in the end decided it would be the last thing I tried before surgery.

Insertion was totally painless. I bled (small amounts) every day for the first month, but after that no issues and almost no period. I would definitely do it again.

I was also worried about moods / depression, but it’s so nice to just feel constantly the same, no mood swings. Oh and I had headaches on and off for the first week but they stopped.

emmathedilemma · 31/03/2022 18:52

If it works for you it tends to work well.
If it doesn’t it really doesn’t and then you’re stuck with something that your GP will keep saying just needs time to settle down. And if you want it out you’ll probably have to wait ages to get an appointment. Unless it expels itself in a big meaty period clot.
Sorry, it contributed to the worst year of my life, I couldn’t recommend!

Darkstar4855 · 31/03/2022 18:58

I loved my mirenas!

Go to sexual health to have it fitted, they are much better than GPs.

NumberTheory · 31/03/2022 19:01

Would the contraceptive implant work to Alene your issues?

I have been out off Mirena by some of the issues people have had with getting them removed. But when they work for people they seem to be excellent.

ShanghaiDiva · 31/03/2022 19:01

I had similar problems and was also required an iron infusion.
Mirena worked for me: no more periods.

JudgeRindersMinder · 31/03/2022 19:02

I’ve had 1 period since I had my first Mireya in 1999, and that was when I had it removed to get pregnant, I was pregnant in the first month after removal. I now have one for the progesterone element of HRT.

I’m well aware that I could be the poster girl for mirena though, I haven’t had the birth experience you had.

H1Drangea · 31/03/2022 19:25

Had 2 over 11 years or so ( went to the GP asking for my tubes to be tied as I didn't want to be taking the pill forever )
Best
Thing
Ever

00Aybee · 31/03/2022 19:38

Never had a coil before , avoided anything with hormones due to thyroid issues .Anyway a dream being fitted , no afterpains or discomfort . Mine was going great , had it put in 3 months after giving birth to DD, 2 light periods and then non . Turns out I became pregnant with it in ! Now 21 weeks pregnant with a 10 month old.

PennyPenguins · 31/03/2022 19:39

Do it! I'm on my second one now. I have very very light periods. Barely needing a liner for 1-3 days.

Original poster
Changeee1546789 · 31/03/2022 19:45

Wow thank you for all the replies I have read every one. Might have to go for it and hope I am in the life changing group.

OP posts:
Gonnabegrandma · 31/03/2022 19:51

Can’t comment about birth injuries but for heavy periods is a miracle ! Well the first 6 months weren’t great I have to admit still had heavy flow and flooding ( I’ve had blood transfusions due to blood lose and anemia ) after those first months I never had a period for 5 years it was a life saver . And I could go out and not worry not be embarrassed ect . Good luck whatever you choose

justanotherremainer · 31/03/2022 20:41

I think it might be worth giving it a try OP.

I don’t do well with hormonal contraception but was willing to give it a try because so many women rave about them.

There’s no way of telling if my back pain is caused by the coil of not, I just need to take it snd and see if the pain goes away.

Good luck, hope it works for you.

Thewindwhispers · 31/03/2022 21:21

Google Mirena litigation first.

DoubleYouOhEmAyEn · 31/03/2022 21:23

Mine was also life changing. Can't recommend it highly enough.

AllSo · 31/03/2022 21:48

@Thewindwhispers

Google Mirena litigation first.
Oh that sounds worrying!
Original poster
Changeee1546789 · 31/03/2022 21:51

@Thewindwhispers

Google Mirena litigation first.
@Thewindwhispers thanks. Before I do, is this a legitimate thing or akin to the anti vax movement?
OP posts:
ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 31/03/2022 22:00

I wasn't period free with mirena, I hated not knowing when periods would be coming when you can predict it better with the pill or not being on anything. Also, when doc removed coil for me he didn't ask if I had abstained from sex for an entire week prior when apparently he should've, because I had only abstained for 3 days before the appt 🤨 my youngest son is almost 7 now and was entirely due to the coil being removed. I used to joke that while he's definitely my husband's son, the doctor made us pregnant!

FirstFormAtMalloryTowers · 31/03/2022 22:06

I had light daily bleeding for 12 weeks afterwards but since then nothing. It is bliss.

Insertion was not a walk in the park - but 10 mins of discomfort beats heavy painful monthly periods.

Gynaecologist inserting it said it is harder often if you have not given birth vaginally.

Newtothis2017 · 31/03/2022 22:13

I get the depro injection now. Amazing. Had the coil taken out after 6 months as terrible mood swings

Hueandcry · 31/03/2022 22:40

Mine went awol & had to have it removed. Very painful & wouldn't have one again.