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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mirena coil

105 replies

Dogzombie · 08/03/2024 14:21

Posting for traffic 😳
Could I ask for mirena coil experiences?
I have been suggested one today by the gynae. I have never taken contraception or had coil etc so I’m apprehensive. Mainly due to the increased breast cancer risk. Yes I’m a worrier.

OP posts:
Copperkryten · 08/03/2024 15:29

It changed my life. No more pmt, no more MASSIVE periods. I wish I'd tried it years ago.

Topseyt123 · 08/03/2024 15:29

I hated mine. I bled increasingly heavily for a year on it, with GPs always wanting to give it more time to settle. Heavy flooding periods were ironically the problem it had been meant to treat but it made them much worse.

This was during the Covid lockdowns so getting an appointment to get it removed was problematic.

Eventually, I had such a heavy bleed for several hours that I almost called myself an ambulance at 2am, when it finally began to slow down just enough.

I called the GP again the day after that and it was removed. Finally! I will never go near one again.

It suits some people though, and not others. I guess all you can do is give it a try, but if you really don't want to then don't let yourself be forced. It really can feel as though it is being pushed at you from all angles.

Hankunamatata · 08/03/2024 16:08

Had one put in as part of hrt at 40. Wish I'd had it one years ago. No periods, no longer anemic. It's great

Hankunamatata · 08/03/2024 16:09

It did take 6 months for periods to stop though. They were heavy and irregular until the 6th month point

AllTheWatersTurnedToClouds · 08/03/2024 16:10

Absolutely brilliant. I'm on my 3rd.

MinervatheGreat · 08/03/2024 16:12

Best thing I ever did.
No issues.
Stopped my heavy unmanageable menses.
Bit of cramping and a bit of spotting just after insertion for a couple of months but after that ….
Freeeeeedom!

SailingStormyWaters · 08/03/2024 16:14

This is my third one, l haven't had a period of any break through bleeding at all in 15 yrs. My periods were light but l suffered terrible cramps and pain even after having children.
Best thing l ever did, no side effects, just made life so much better.

WilloTheWispy · 08/03/2024 16:15

I had a hideous (unsuccessful) insertion experience. Involving 3 specialist practitioners at a sexual health / contraceptive clinic. Took over an hour and was bloody awful. Ended up, unsurprisingly, with an infection.
My GP practice keeps trying to get me to try again. Not a chance am I putting myself through that again.

Droolylabradors · 08/03/2024 16:32

Tried 4.

First one I didn't stop bleeding so no sex possible, so had it removed.
Second one the pain was incredible for weeks, think it was in the wrong place, gave up.

Third one 12yrs later for HRT, absolutely fine. BUT the level of fatigue that came with it was unexpected. I don't like sleeping so deeply and I don't like the lack of good dreams, it's always the unsettling ones.

Then the nurse accidentally pulled on m the strings during my smear test so it had to come out.

So I'm currently going through the heavy fatigue period again whilst the replacement coil beds itself in and the release of the hormone stabilises.

Also it doesn't override your ovulation so I still get PMT and ovulation pain.

No bleeding at all any more.

I wouldn't have one if I didn't need it for HRT though due to the deep sleep and finding it hard to motivate myself with the fatigue.

Droolylabradors · 08/03/2024 16:33

But don't believe anyone when they say the progesterone stays locally. It bloody doesn't!

Happyher · 08/03/2024 16:35

Best thing I ever did. Very heavy periods became scant and I had a better menopause experience than my friend. No issues at all with it

GlitteryFarts · 08/03/2024 16:41

Love mine. I'm on my second, was suggested by gynae due to heavy bleeding continuing 8 months after my fourth child. Stopped the bleeding immediately and haven't had a period since.
No side effects at all for me. When my last one was due to run out I booked in to have it replaced in the hospital gynae clinic rather than anywhere else as they do it all day every day in 'coil clinic' and it was swift and painless. I recommend them to anyone that listens!

Topseyt123 · 08/03/2024 16:43

Droolylabradors · 08/03/2024 16:33

But don't believe anyone when they say the progesterone stays locally. It bloody doesn't!

Totally agree. I had permanent PMT while mine was in and simply didn't feel at all like myself. Ever.

I don't think it stays local. I was always dubious about that claim. I never saw how it could because as far as I know my uterus is connected to the same blood supply as the rest of me.

whiteroseredrose · 08/03/2024 16:46

I'm on my 3rd. I had one fitted not long after DD was born so haven't had a period for nearly 20 years.

I haven't had problems with them being put in or removed but I've never had any gynae problems.

Sezanne · 08/03/2024 16:59

Made my mood very very low. Thought I hated my husband. I don't. But I do have PMDD and have realised I can't cope with additional hormones on top of my already bat shit ones. Many friends have had positive experiences though.

MrsFinkelstein · 08/03/2024 17:00

@WetBandits Hi 👋

I'm not a coil fitter (have managed to avoid doing the course so far - did Implant & NMP instead, and we don't have a great need for every Nurse to be a fitter here or for the Band 6, thankfully).

They were pushing Levosert for a while, but with Mirena now getting its licence for 8yrs it's more cost effective again.

Sezanne · 08/03/2024 17:00

Should have said, I do now have a copper coil, and although it makes my periods heavy it's been a good choice for me. Its been 8 years now.

ThisHonestQuail · 08/03/2024 17:01

I LOVE it! I have it for endometriosis. I got on awfully with the pill but have had no symptoms with the coil as the hormones are localised.

And I have family history of ovarian and womb cancers if that helps ease your mind.

FiftyNotNifty · 08/03/2024 17:05

I would marry mine if I could! No periods and now very straightforward HRT package, just gel. No pain, no weight gain

MrsFinkelstein · 08/03/2024 17:05

When I had my 1st put in I bled daily for about 5-6 months, initially heavy then progressively lighter, from 6-9 months it was progressively more sporadic before stopping altogether.

Get a very light bit of spotting once in a blue moon now, I've found it's made my moods much more stable, I don't get any PMS symptoms and my current perimenopausal symptoms are minimal.

I just wish I'd had it years earlier.

lollydu · 09/03/2024 14:38

I have a Jaydess which is like the mirena but less hormone smaller and only lasts 3 years not 5. I have no issues with it at all, very light bleed one week in a month (just spotting) and no more awful PMT.

OneFrenchEgg · 09/03/2024 18:06

I'm already taking progesterone which I hate as it cause spots every two weeks but I have to have it for HRT. So they suggested a mirena instead of tablets (which I always forget anyone). Assume this is a good idea.

2024withapositivestep · 09/03/2024 18:17

Just had mine removed after 14 months I have bled pretty much the whole time for 2/3 weeks a month! So just got fed up of it, caused me bad acne and pain during sex, and then when I went to get it removed the nurse said it wasn't in correctly so probably why I was bleeding and in pain! Ha nice 1

Mary46 · 09/03/2024 18:27

Positive here my 3rd. Agree not for everyone. Had a few cysts but they settled. No periods heaven. Im 50s

Geebray · 09/03/2024 18:29

Love mine. I'm on my second. Actually I think I should probably have it taken out now, as I'm probably menopausal. No idea, as I haven't had a period since the first one was inserted!