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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be scared of getting mirena coil?

84 replies

LittleRedRuth · 08/09/2023 10:42

GP wants me to have one put in due to blood clotting periods and worsening anaemia.

I’ve done a search on here and I’m terrified! My cousin also had a terrible experience and ended up in A&E after it moved out of place causing agonising pain

Surely there must be an easier way to stop periods??

OP posts:

Maryqueenofstots · 08/09/2023 10:44

I’m 17 years in, on my third one. They’re fine - remember you’re more likely to hear from people with problems than from people happily living without periods.

BayandBlonde · 08/09/2023 10:47

I think the horror stories are the minority.

I have the Depo Injection every 11 weeks, been on it 26 years with no periods (I am aware of the 'risks' of long term use). Not sure if this is an option?

TempName247 · 08/09/2023 10:48

I’m on the injection which as stopped my periods, I would also be terrified of the coil

Talipesmum · 08/09/2023 10:49

I only have my own experience but mine has been really great. Took a few months of a fair bit of bleeding (not really heavy, just not much break) but since then my periods are practically non-existent.

Nutsabouttopic · 08/09/2023 10:50

I've had the mirena in for nearly twenty years, obviously been changed a few times. I've never had any issues or problems with mirena. I got it in because I was having horrendously heavy periods. It is uncomfortable but not painful getting it in. It takes about five mins. Take some form of pain relief before hand and continue taking it for the rest of the day. I find smear tests worse. I have had no after effects. I do not have any periods with it. I know some women have side effects but until you try it you won't know how or if it will affect you

rusholmeruffians · 08/09/2023 10:50

I had one about 4 years ago due to fibroids, heavy painful periods and menopause symptoms. Before she put it in, the consultant said this will change your life. I laughed and shrugged thinking if only. But it actually did. Very minimal periods, very few (manageable) menopause symptoms now. Feel so much better for it.

Insommmmnia · 08/09/2023 10:51

I have an abnormal shaped uterus so having it put in was quite painful, but, I would and will do it again because its life changing enough to be totally worth the pain

luckylavender · 08/09/2023 10:51

Honestly was one of the best things I ever did.

GatherlyGal · 08/09/2023 10:52

It works for lots of people but not everyone. On balance it is a low-intervention option so probably worth a try?

I tried it 3 times which I now see was silly but the GP and also consutlant gynaecologists really did push it!

irregularegular · 08/09/2023 10:53

I've had the Mirena for nearly 20 years. I've had absolutely no problems at all and love having no periods. I have minimal discomfort having it in and out (tiny bit crampy feeling). But I'm not someone who really feels much when I have smear either.

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 08/09/2023 10:53

I had 2. It didn't agree with me but had it worked well it would have been brilliant. I had someone very good put it in and really wasn't that painful (sexual health clinic, she put in 3 of them a day!), it stopped my periods, removal was painless and easy. It gave me some bad side effects but pretty much all hormonal contraception gives me them so it wasn't specific to the coil.

cardibach · 08/09/2023 10:54

I had it for years, until menopause when I switched to HRT. Never any issues at all. Changed my life. And my sister’s. It’s amazing. Try it.

Angrymum22 · 08/09/2023 10:57

As the first poster said you only hear the horror stories on MN. For every fail there are probably hundreds of successes. If is was truly a problem it would have been withdrawn years ago. I had one for 15 years and save a fortune on sanitary products.
After years of endometriosis it was a game changer and I was able to live my life pain free and without dreading every month.
I had chronic severe anaemia throughout my 20s and 30s that no amount of iron supplements would address. The Mirena coil gave me my life back.
I don’t go around shouting it from the rooftops or create threads on MN because they would fall flat so maybe that’s why you only see negativity in MM because once you’re set free you no longer focus on period problems.

Thepeopleversuswork · 08/09/2023 10:58

I've been on Mirena for 20 years and it's changed my life. I had horrendously heavy periods when I was younger and awful PMDD. Mirena literally took these away overnight. I was someone for whom the contraceptive pill was a disaster: reduced me to a depressed, hormonal mess and I've had no problems with Mirena. I have no idea when I have periods any more and the PMDD has disappeared. I can't recommend it highly enough.

There will be some people who experience hormonal changes and a very very few people for which the coil may shift but the risks are tiny here.

I understand your apprehension but I really think the risks are negligible. Try it.

FLOWER1982 · 08/09/2023 11:00

I had mine fitted at the beginning of the year as my periods were so heavy and debilitating. I won’t lie it was quite traumatic having it put in.

I felt really hormonal for a month and regretted having it done. Over the months my periods got lighter and lighter and now they are non existent and don’t need to worry about them at all.

123Pippip · 08/09/2023 11:00

People have significantly varying responses to coil insertion.
I've heard of it being very painful for individuals and would never dismiss this experience as 'low pain tolerance' or similar unkind responses. It is painful or complicated for some people.
That said, it's probably more likely to hear of the negative experiences.

My personal experience having the copper non-hormonal coil fitted twice (once prior to childbirth and once after) was zero discomfort. It took seconds and the pain was a brief tiny pinch. Removal also fine.

Cosyblankets · 08/09/2023 11:02

For me it was extremely painful on insertion it felt like my body went into shock. However it wasn't for long and the benefits are more than worth it.
I will be asking for sedation next time

Crikeyalmighty · 08/09/2023 11:02

I started it at 36 - never had a single period since, not even spotting - am now 61 and post menopause - didn't have a single issue

tiutinkerbell · 08/09/2023 11:04

I'm on my second one and love it. No period, no pains, no worries about pregnancy. It's fab.

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 08/09/2023 11:07

I’ve had it for ten years and have found it brilliant. I find it more painful when it’s been taken out than put in but it’s totally worth it. My anaemia used to be so bad that I was having weekly iron injections, my periods were painful and my hormones were all over the place. I now have three or four days of light bleeding every few months and my moods are much better.

Nottodaty · 08/09/2023 11:08

It changed my life. I wish I had it sooner. Years of operations , heavy bleeding and pain due to endometriosis. Within 6 months (the first one does take time to settle, but it’s worth few bumps to be 8 years on and now on my second.

Yes it hurts for me removing and inserting - but once every five years to live a normal life I’ll take it.

BackT · 08/09/2023 11:11

Success story from me too. On my third now and it's changed my life.

Insertion isn't "fun" but it's fine

pumpkinpiee · 08/09/2023 11:11

I had one and the insertion was really painful, so much so that I actually screamed when it went in. Like a pp, I felt my body go into shock. I didn’t get on with it at all, my periods stopped which was great but I experienced dragging pain and cramping from mine throughout the year and a half that I had it. Saying that lots of people do get on with it, I don’t think you’ll know whether it’s for you until you try it

TheSecretHistoryOfGoldfinchTartt · 08/09/2023 11:13

I have one to stop flooding and it’s worked like a charm. No periods from day 1, and now given my age it is also used for HRT. It’s been a positive for me. I agree with PP it is when things “go wrong” you are more likely to hear women talking about them.

ElinorDashwood68 · 08/09/2023 11:14

I'm on my second, amazing. No more heavy periods or pain. A bit of discomfort when inserted and removed

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