To be scared of getting mirena coil?

[LittleRedRuth]

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??

Look at the Sexwise website for more information on different methods of contraception.
As PP have said, women who have problems will certainly (and understandably) talk about it more than women who don't.
The only way is to try it and see: if it doesn't suit you, removal is a lot easier than insertion.
There is a smaller hormonal coil called a Jaydess, it lasts for 3years, that may be something to consider, though I don't know if it stops heavy bleeding in the same way as the 5yr coils.
It's your body, your choice.
The injection can stop bleeding (but it's not guaranteed) and there is a self -administered version so you don't have to go to your GP/pharmacist/GUM clinic every 12 weeks.
You need to be over 55kg and no history of osteoporosis as the Depo can thin bones though this goes back to normal once you stop the injection.

Has everyone here had their periods stop on the mirena? I had it in for a year and I still had a very regular 28 day cycle on it. It lightened the periods somewhat but they'd last 10 days instead of 5. So I was bleeding basically half the month (and I mean bleeding needing pads etc not just spotting).

The insertion and removal were uncomfortable and painful but nothing I couldn't handle. I'd say it's at least worth a try.

I’ve had two plus a failed insertion - first one was horrendous from insertion, I was kept in hospital for the night - and was removed eventually as was always very painful. Second failed insertion was equally awful.

Said for several years I’d never have another, no way; but then my gynaecologist advised it due to PCOS stopping my periods, for womb protection. Said it was either that or northisterone every 3 months.

Absolutely terrified of the insertion - however it wasn’t half as bad as I imagined. I was given local anaesthetic gel and an injection into my cervix which helped a lot. I was also given diazepam, and took cocodamol, so was a bit dopey. All I remember was a quick sharp pain - lasted seconds - then another, sharper, pain, and it was over. Remember lovely doctor saying to wiggle my toes which took my mind off what she was doing.

Mild period type cramping for a few days and some spotting for a few weeks but now I honestly forget it’s there half the time. Have to remind myself to check the strings!. It’s amazing. Suspect the first one was never in correctly, I think it was half out the entire time I had it, and that’s why it was so bloody painful.

I felt like you about the Mirena/IUD. Was never going to get one.

Then started having random periods and flooding (peri menopause), went to GP after I bled through to my clothing in work. GP advised Mirena, and I decided to try it as I was getting so paranoid about leaving the house.

I know some people have a difficult time having it inserted, and I'm not going to say it was pain free, but the GP who did it has done loads, knew what she was doing and it was ok and over quickly. Then I went home, took it easy - hot pad, painkillers, had quite uncomfortable cramping for two days, but not enough to stop me going to work or anything.

Flooding stopped straight away. Periods were still a bit random, but next to nothing of them, and by the time I had a new Mirena fitted this year, they were just a day or two of spotting. Changing to a new one was straightforward and less painful than the first one.

The only weird thing is period pain, when I get it, is more on the left now, but that's probably to do with the fact I had my right ovary removed.

I've had mine for 3 years. It was inserted under general anaesthetic because I was having other things checked. It has been great for me. Periods which were extremely heavy and long have stopped and it has definitely helped with perimenopause. You'll never know though whether it suits you unless you get it inserted. You'll just have to weigh up the pros and cons

Let me put it this way.

None of my female dr friends is using this as a preferred method of contraception
and i would never put one in my body.

I have the coil and I love it but I can't feel the string anymore and that does worry me 😅

I had a local anaesthetic for mine and it was ok. I was scared about it beforehand, but then it was fine thanks to the anaesthetic.

The doctor offered it and he said it was a wise choice, as it can hurt a lot otherwise.

I'd suggest requesting that (rather than try without anaesthetic). I took valium beforehand, which made it easier.

I haven't had a period for 20 years. I'm peri now so they may be stopping but I wouldn't know....

I’ve got one - post menopause HRT related adenomyosis. I was absolutely dreading it but it’s been fine. I put on a few pounds in the first couple of months but other than that, no problem at all

Was this immediately or did it take time
to settle? Consultant told me the same- he said in six months it’ll have all
stopped (I was bleeding all the time and this was meant to stop it) and never offered me a follow up as was so sure it was hormonal
and the coil would fix it all.

I’m 8 months in and getting a bit fed up of the varying length and amount of bleeding. Just had a months break, no bleeding for the last 4 weeks, other than that, I’ve bled the entire time since January.

Yesterday started spotting again. Cant take much more x

There are other options. I absolutely refused a coil as I haven't had kids, have a history of trauma and also a tilted womb. My pain threshold is very low as well. The consultant totally understood and I'm due to have an endometrial ablation instead. Worth considering.

I love mine, I'm on my second. No periods, no pain. Wouldn't be without it. I have had two children so not sure if this helps or not.

What do your doctor friends use for contraception?

That’s my next option they said. Im
only 34 and been having irregular and
unusual bleeding for 3 years now, gynaecologist insists it’s hormonal. Had a hysteroscopy so it’s not anything worrying with my womb, and ultrasound showed not my ovaries, but nothing really investigated with my cervix. Im
worried xx

Would this implant have a similar effect? Would you be less scared of having one rather than a coil? Perhaps worth asking the doc.

I'm on depo provera injections, no periods for me.

Vaginal ring is amazing, I like the fact that I could take it out if I stopped getting on with it. I've had the mirena and it was ok but I didn't get on with the hormones and then found doctors reluctant to just take it out. Insertion was awful pre dc for the mirena and fine after dc. I prefer the ring though.

Had mine put in in May and despite various gynae surgeries that meant it could have been tricky it was painless and has been a godsend for my heavy periods.
I did bleed lightly for 6 weeks or so but my periods are so much lighter now.

I’m on my second; the exchange was done under general anaesthetic as the first was hard to reach (3 attempts were made in clinic). Even though getting it replaced was a complete pain in the backside because of the need for a GA, I would still definitely have another. It’s a really good intervention.

It works for me. Insertion was as unpleasant as a smear, but over quickly - they put some numbing gel on your cervix first. Pre-emptive paracetamol helped. I had some cramping that day, light spotting for several months (not going to lie), but no periods, and then no bleeding at all in the years since. When this one runs out I'm getting another! And I'll stay on it for HRT too.

Don't be put off by other people's scare stories - only you will know what you are prepared to try.

I love Mirena. Total freedom from all of it.

DP ended up with absolutely crippling migraines for 3 months before she had it taken back out.

She gets them anyway, but while she had the Mirena in they were daily and way worse than her normal ones. Trying to convince her GP that it was the Mirena causing them was a nightmare, but surprise surprise, they vanished as soon as it came out.

I've had the copper coil fitted so can't comment on the mirena effects, but if you concerned about the fitting could you go to your local sexual health centre? I had three failed attempts at fitting the copper coil, two with my GP which was pretty painful and unpleasant. I got referred to the sexual health centre, saw the consultant, she did a quick initial exam and the nurse chaperoning started to make conversation and ask what I was up to for the rest of the day and before I had time to answer it was in, amazing.

Ive had coils for years, I think they're great. Mirena especially- no periods!!