AIBU to ask about experiences of the hormonal coil?

[Mclaren10]

My GP was recommending the coil to me (mid 40's, family complete). Just looking for others experiences with it.

To make it simple, from your experience, AIBU to consider getting the coil?

UABU - It wasn't a good experience, I would not consider it again

UANBU - I would get it again, no major issues

Feel free to elaborate or say which one was good / bad.

5 years of pain and depression and doctors telling me some women just have bad periods. 2 years of no coil and funnily enough within a few weeks started to feel like myself again. This isn’t everyone’s experience.
but just know if you do have side affects you won’t be taken seriously.

I’ve had my coil in nearly 8 years now. They’ve maximised the amount of time they are kept in for (used to be 5 years) mine is the merina coil with the hormone. First 6 months periods were a bit more irregular but lighter then they disappeared. Haven’t had one since.
Still feel a bit hormonal few days a month when period would be due but apart from this I’ve never had any issue at all. was simple enough getting it put in, no more uncomfortable than a smear test. Would 100% recommend. Once it’s in, it’s in. No forgetting pills, having to remember 3 monthly injections etc

I’m on my second (and last, due to age) coil, I had to move off the pill due to high blood pressure.

Pros are that I don’t have periods (some spotting, but nothing major or frequent). Have had no issues. Apparently it can be used as the progesterone part of HRT - not sure how I would tell whether it is needed yet/ already doing something (I’m 48).

Main “con” compared to the pill I was on is that it does nothing for my spots, but that’s not its purpose!

I had several Mirena coils over around 15 years. Best thing ever for me ! It took about 10 months for my periods to stop completely, then - nothing ! I even went through the menopause without knowing as I wasn’t having periods. My GP did blood tests so could tell I was peri, but no symptoms. Then one day - done !

I had mine fitted in early Jan due to having extremely heavy and difficult periods. I did bleed for most of Jan and Feb after having it fitted, which was annoying (but expected. but periods have since stopped almost completely - one day of spotting last week, e.g.. For me it has been life changing. My skin has been a little worse than usual, but I was already probe to hormonal breakouts, so not markedly different for me, and I've been told it often settles down once you adjust to the hormone changea. Fitting was very uncomfortable - feels a lot like a smear but did take a little longer.

I'm on my third mirena coil - it's fantastic. I went from heavy periods that I had to double up a cup and pads for during the worst days, and constantly taking ibuprofen and paracetamol several days a month, to basically "I don't have periods". Amazing and worked really great for me. They do seem Marmite but I'm a love it!

I’m 45 and had the Mirena for nearly two years, it hasn’t been great but it’s better than the alternative (endo, heavy periods and awful pain) so I’ve persevered.

I still have light periods, but very irregular. They last around 2-3 weeks but can get another two weeks later, and then nothing for a few months. PMT is pretty bad, very sore boobs and mood swings.

When the 5 years is up, may go back on the Depo injection as that’s been the only alternative to really work for me.

Had three Mirena coils in a row when they were to be used for five years. No periods, no side effects, no problems with insertion or removal.
Apparently the number of hysterectomies has decreased since Mirena came on the market.

Bled for 5 months after it was fitted, then would develop bacterial vaginosis about every 6 weeks until I had it removed a year later. Would not recommend 😂

I tried the mirena and it didn’t work for me - but prior to that I’d never used hormonal contraception so just couldn’t get used to my own body chemistry and emotions feeling “different.” If you generally get on well with hormonal contraceptives, that might not be an issue for you.

I’ve had the copper coil for about fifteen years now and for me, it’s had no downsides at all (bar the discomfort during fitting - and even then, I cycled home after my appointment, so it wasn’t debilitating.)

ETA: if your family is complete, would your partner consider a vasectomy or would you consider tubal litigation?

I have had it just over a year, I take it as part of HRT (I am 45). I bled on and off (it was only light) for about 6 months and now stopped. I love it!

Make sure that all pain relief options are provided, if you are someone who finds smears painful/ uncomfortable. They normally offer the lidocaine spray as standard now, but there is also an option of a cervical block (3 injections). I had both of these and still found the whole procedure extremely painful. Luckily the nurse and doctor were very caring and compassionate throughout, which made the procedure (just about) bearable.

ETA: you can also use it as the progesterone part of HRT, so you won't need to remember to take the tablets!

Love it! Had a Mirena to help with endometriosis symptoms and have kept it for HRT.

The only issue I had was when a GP removed one but couldn’t fit the new one so I had to go to a specialist clinic.

I tried the Mirena coil but it caused mental health problems and made me extremely anxious and tearful. I had it removed fairly swiftly and was back to my old self within a week. Never again.

I'm also on my third one - love it. No periods in over a decade, no side effects. Getting it in/out isn't much fun but after the shock of the first one I know it's over quickly now. Has been a game changer for me, nothing else agreed with me.

I have mirena and am evangelical about it, it absolutely changed my life and freed me from heavy periods

I had mine fitted in January due to heavy breakthrough bleeding and whilst not completely settled yet I'm glad I had it. I suffered ginormous clots for a short while after which was 😳 also I have increased discharge which is normal apparently. The absolute best part is no pain anymore! I have fibroids and it must of been those fuckers but since the day after insertion I haven't had any pain at all. I fact, I didn't know I was in so much daily pain until I wasn't.

I'm on my 2nd merina coil and it's been life changing, no periods (mine were heavy and long) no side effects and no PMT. Insertion and removal a bit uncomfortable and caused some cramping but took paracetamol beforehand and was fine after a bit.

Thanks all for your experiences...yes, definitely seems to be like marmite.

I never got on with hormonal contraceptive...the GP said the dose of hormones is so small, it's doesn't have side effects but that doesn't seem to be everyone's experience.

I also have no issues with periods so don't need help with them.

Vasectomy might be an option.

Had one fitted when I had my endometriosis operation. Brilliant. No periods. Use it as part of my HRT although I take extra progesterone on top

Oh and I never got on with the pill at all

Another note for a copper coil. I begged for my Mirena coil to be removed as it made me feel so ill and low. The copper coil was amazing with no side effects.

It made me massively depressed, like couldn’t function depressed, completely killed any sex drive I had, made loads of my hair fall out which never grew back, and my periods carried on as normal so there wasn’t even that benefit! It was a massive mistake for me.

This is almost exactly me! I love my merina coil!

Personally loved it, not great getting it put in but when you’ve gone through childbirth, root canals and smears you just breathe and suck it up really!