Mirena coil & menopause

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Sorry posting for traffic.

I’m 50 and have had the Mirena coil for 17 years. It’s brilliant for me and has stopped monthly bleeding completely.

I’ve done a lot of reading about the mirena and menopause and what I’ve read suggests there is no link between Mirena coil and reduction in menopause symptoms.

I have no idea whether I’m menopausal or not as I have no classic symptoms of menopause- the most obvious one being disruptive / cessation of periods (which I wouldn’t know because I haven’t had a period for so many years). However obviously being 50 I would expect to be entering menopause if not already.

I do experience brain fog / forgetfulness but put it down to stress.

I’m interested in other’s experiences.

i had no symptoms at all. was great.

I'm not a coil user, but my pills stop periods entirely. I'm wondering whether to try stopping taking it - the guidance seems to be that you should be safe to do so at 55, but I've not quite got there yet. I have night sweats, so one reasonably identifiable menopause symptom.

The progesterone in a mirena can mitigate menopausal symptoms for many. I’d suggest HRT - if the coil is still ‘active’ it can provide the progesterone element, otherwise they’ll remove and you take progesterone and oestrogen (gel or patches). It’s not just about menopause symptoms. HRT is protective against. osteoporosis and dementia. Look up Dr. Louise Newson.

I was told to keep mine in as, um, it worked to counteract endometrial thickening which might be triggered by my Tibolone prescription.
Which I asked for to help with various physical and psychological menopause symptoms.
(I may be misremembering the details).
Neither the GP nor I have mentioned it in the decade following that appointment. Now in my late 50s, I suspect I would not be having periods anyway.

It certainly hadn't stopped me from having menopause symptoms, even though I'd not had a period in nigh on 20 years.

That’s very encouraging ladies, thank you 🙏

Following as I'm in the same boat. 51 no real symptoms other than occasional brain fog and stress but there are other factors that may have caused that.

It helps in as much as if it stops your cycles, it eliminates the worsening PMT, which can be associated with peri-menopause.

It doesn't help to protect against osteoporosis, cardiac disease or Alzheimer's, which some research finds supplementary oestrogen as HRT does.

Mirena is only clinically used in HRT to keep the womb lining thin, as oestrogen can cause it to thicken, potentially increasing uterine cancer (with the bonus of being contraceptive).

However oral or other forms of progesterone, like Utrogestan oral capsules, can have a calming, sedative effect in some women, though not Mirena, I don't think.

This kind of thread is what I love MN for. As it happens I just got my 4th Mirena installed yesterday. The three previous were not for contraception but for preventing flooding bleeds.

This time, my GP specifically prescribed it as part of HRT. Usually HRT includes both progesterone and oestrogen and the Mirena is the progesterone side as PP have said, to ensure the uterus lining doesn't overgrow. Generally you can't have oestrogen alone as HRT for that reason unless you've already had a hysterectomy.

I was deeply annoyed that the NHS Sexual Health Clinic in my area flatly refuses to install the Mirena for HRT. They said they only do it for contraception, even though NICE recommends it as part of HRT and so does the manufacturer. I ended up going private just to speed things up (but it costs a fortune). If you can get it on the NHS, go for it.

I can't talk about menopause but just wanted to mention about brain fog. I had the Mirena for 5 years (age 36-41) and ended up getting it taken out as I was struggling with weight gain. However once I had it taken out the big thing I noticed was that my brain fog disappeared (it wasn't something I had been concerned about, was just surprised when I discovered it wasn't there anymore). It was nothing to do with menopause either as I'm now 48 and still not having symptoms.

I'm on my third Mirena and found out that I am post menopausal. I overheated a bit but other than that had very few symptoms.