Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mirena coil

30 replies

Rubyupbeat · 30/11/2023 17:10

Hi there
Not sure what group to share this on?
I am just home after having the second bunch of polyps removed in 3 years.
The gynaecologist has recommended to have the mirena coil fitted as it will help to keep the polyps at bay.
I am looking at other peoples experiences with this coil, preferably after the menopause, I am nearly 60.
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Rubyupbeat · 30/11/2023 17:11

Polyps in my uterus

OP posts:
Fatbirthdaygirl · 30/11/2023 17:17

Wasn't good for me. It went awol & I had to get it removed in hospital as they needed to find it 1st! I was in a lot of pain but my gp didn't believe me that it wasn't where it was meant to be. So, for me, never again!

CarrotCake01 · 30/11/2023 17:24

I had the mirena coil put in after the birth of my child. Partially for contraception but mainly because I wanted something that would reduce my excessively heavy and painful periods.
I've had it in for over 4 years now without issue although the first couple of days were sore.
No unexpected pregnancies though, no complications and I think I've only had a period 2, maybe 3 times.

Not sure if its a very different experience though at a different age, I'm only 31.

Findapath · 30/11/2023 17:27

Mirena has been fab for me. On my third, it’s seeing me through menopause. There are mixed views though and it doesn’t suit some. My experience is it gets a bit harder to remove/ change as I’ve got older - dr had to basically put on a mining helmet light last time and it was weird and sore. But over quickly and no periods for many years.

WorriedMillie · 30/11/2023 17:30

I have one (pre-menopausal) to treat hyperplasia and I haven’t had any issues with it
I have a fair few friends of a similar age as me who have them without issue
I have a friend in her 60s who had one fitted last year for post menopausal bleeding and it’s been fine for her too.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 30/11/2023 17:34

Had my fifth mirena fitted yesterday. Had my first fitted to deal with severe endo when I was 36 and I'm now 53 and have been advised to continue with it as part of my HRT treatment.

It's been a god send. Not had one period since I was 36. Before that I was in excruciating pain and bleeding heavily every two weeks and flooding regularly.

BrownTableMat · 30/11/2023 17:36

Love mine. I’m 45 and peri and I’ve had it in for 6 months and now get light periods and slight spotting instead of massive floods, and it’s providing the progesterone element of my HRT. It did take a gynaecologist to get it in, though, as two GPs couldn’t get my cervix to cooperate, and that was a bit painful. I also have a friend who’s post menopausal and swears by hers too.

Hankunamatata · 30/11/2023 17:38

Iv had it put in as part of hrt. Wish I had it years ago. Stopped all heavy bleeding with menopause. No side effects

Moredarkchocolateplease · 30/11/2023 17:41

I've got one for my HRT.
Its fine. I don't love it or hate it. It's better than utrogestan.

TherapyRocks · 30/11/2023 17:42

I’m on my second & am peri-menopausal. The first one didn’t stop my periods, they just became lighter. The second one has pretty much stopped them completely. Absolutely no regrets, do find the putting in place painful for a day but totally worth it.

Moredarkchocolateplease · 30/11/2023 17:42

Prob not relevant for you OP but I was disappointed to notice that I still feel it when I ovulate, I still have a week of period cramps and I bleed though not as much.

MatildaTheCat · 30/11/2023 17:53

I’m on my 6th Mirena so I guess you could say it has suited me. It’s now for hrt purposes. However the last one was exceedingly painful to insert. The nurse told me afterwards that ‘oh yes, the cervix does stiffen up after menopause’. So I’d want some sort of anaesthetic for another one should it still be recommended.

Having said that I now use oestrogen cream vaginally so that might help keep things supple. Oh the joys.

Rosebud21 · 30/11/2023 18:12

I'm also on my 3rd Mirena, & it's been great for me. It was initially inserted to manage increased heavy menstrual bleeding with perimenopause. My periods stopped which was fab, my fibroids resolved. This coil now is part of my HRT management.

DollyTubb · 30/11/2023 18:28

I was encouraged to have a coil fitted by my GP and a Consultant, as well as a friend who is a GP, for heavy and painful periods. I had it fitted under a general anaesthetic because I have no children. It really didn't suit me, the periods and between-period bleeding got worse, and the pain was constant. I had it removed after 2 years and had a depo provera injection instead which absolutely changed my world; no periods, no pains; no tender breasts; no mood swings. I took it through the menopause, and after coming off it (at 52) had just one more period, and that was it. I appreciate the coil is fantastic for many women but there are a significant number for whom it causes more problems than it alleviates.

FirstTimeTTC989 · 30/11/2023 18:28

I had one for years. Regretted not getting one sooner! Inserting it was painful but only for a few seconds. No issues whatsoever. Extremely light to no periods. No side effects really - some spotting and a bit of acne in the first 3 months but that settled down.

Moredarkchocolateplease · 30/11/2023 19:37

Those of you who've had them for a long time, did you find that the ovulation pain and cramps disappear? I'm five months in and have all the period side effects every month without the relief of the bleed at the end of it.

DollyTubb · 30/11/2023 20:38

No, my pains and cramps never disappeared. That was 2 years having the coil fitted.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 30/11/2023 20:47

I have had all of mine done under a GA because I've never given birth. As I said upthread I had my fifth done yesterday - did have to be quite forceful with the consultant this time who seemed to think I was just being a coward. The previous two consultants agreed readily. The first consultant who did the first two told me he would never attempt to insert without a GA on someone has never given birth.

athingofbeauty · 01/12/2023 01:26

I had polyps in the uterus from 26 on and got my first Mirena in my 30s to keep them down (after several myomectomies which were really just a fancy non-pregnant version of a D & C, plus two children)... now on my 5th coil. It has worked to keep the polyps at bay. I will say the coil didn't entirely stop my heavy periods, but it did make them much more manageable. The annoying thing was that because I'm now in my 50s my local NHS sexual health clinic wouldn't put in the 5th coil and I had to wait and wait to go through a gynaecology referral -- so stupid, a waste of hospital resources, and aren't uterine polyps a sexual health issue? But to reassure you, yes, the coil worked. I have had no trouble with insertion or removal without pain relief, despite also having what is called a "tipped uterus" ie the cervix apparently points back instead of front...LOL the things we learn about ourselves. Good luck, OP, I'd say go for it.

nameychanger5678 · 01/12/2023 01:33

I had no side effects and it cured my heavy periods. I had nothing. Fab.

However, unfortunately it also gave me horrendous vulvovaginitis which my GP refused to accept was linked. I saw someone else and had it removed and within days all the redness and pain had gone.

It’s a roll of the dice for every woman.

Xtraincome · 14/01/2024 10:03

I know this is an older thread but I am considering the coil. Intermittent bleeding, heavy periods and it was recommended to me a while ago but I was being stubborn.

I cannot cope with the insane weight gain of depo-provera again! Had to stop the jabs due to lockdown happening as I needed a dose.

Anyway, this has been informative thanks. Might get that appointment in sooner rather than later.

TheSnootiestFox · 14/01/2024 10:30

Well, I don't wish to put you off @Xtraincome, but I had one put in to stop my heavy periods, and all I did was bleed a little bit every day instead of a lot once a month. Went on for a year and then I lost it. Had to be scanned to try and find it but it had just gone awol. I also put 10kg on. Never again!

Moredarkchocolateplease · 14/01/2024 10:52

@Xtraincome I don't get any bleeding after 7 months, just dirty discharge for 6 or 7 days. And bizarrely my cramps have eased this month.

Still have absolutely shocking PMT though, wish there was a way of shutting down my ovaries so I don't get the hormonal fluctuations.

I would say try the mirena and do what I did which was make an agreement with the GP that they will take it out as soon as you ask if you feel it isn't working for you.

borntobequiet · 14/01/2024 11:06

I had one fitted at age 64 to control bleeding and for the progesterone part of HRT. I was reluctant to have it, but it worked and I’ve subsequently had it replaced under GA along with a hysteroscopy).

Ostagazuzulum · 14/01/2024 11:17

Had it years ago as contraceptive. No issues I can remember. I've had it recently for menopause and it's been awful. I'm in pain a lot and have bled non stop for three months. My mental health has declined rapidly and I've had some odd side effects. It works great for some people, for me, I'm desperate to get it out (just trying to convince doctor)