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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think GP's should be far more clued up about Mirena coils and their potential side effects?

97 replies

thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 01/07/2010 11:17

Because according to my GP, my rapid weight gain (10 lbs in 7 weeks - eek), painful breasts, teariness, hair loss and permanent bloated feeling can be nothing whatsoever to do with the fact I've recently had the Mirena put in. Not even if the symptoms have only come on since having it fitted, and are exactly what always happens when I try the pill or any hormonal contraception.

Aaaarrrggggh. I originally went in for the copper coil, and felt a bit arm twisted into trying the Mirena - now I'm stuck feeling rotten until they can (grudgingly) take it out. Why does my GP think she knows my body better than me? It's so frustrating, especially as I asked about side effects before having it done and was told how extremely rare they were!!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 01/07/2010 11:24

They hard sell that Mirena, too, in FPCs. And BS side effects are 'extremely rare'. At least 15% suffer from them. Hardly 'extremely rare'.

Mirena was a nightmare for me.

Stand your ground. Don't let them fob you off and tell you it will 'settle'.

Get it swapped for the copper even if you have to be extra firm.

Colliecross · 01/07/2010 11:28

Mirena was great for me and I lost weight not gained it. Different things work for different people.
You gave it a try, they shouldn't delay taking it out - why are they?

Original poster
thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 01/07/2010 11:30

Thanks expat, I just don't get why they won't be upfront about all this to start with so we can make an informed choice. I would have known it wasn't for me, as just looking at an artificial hormone seems to bloat me to an E cup.

And I did have to insist on having it removed in the end (was on the verge of threatening to try and do it myself if not). She just raised her eyebrow and sighed. I found the Family Planning lot so much more helpful tbh, and they seemed to believe me, so am going back there to have it done.

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 01/07/2010 11:31

Another one who Mirena was great for - no side effects at all, loved the fact my periods stopped.

Not so happy when I got pregnant on it though.

Deep distrust of all contraception now, so don't use it.

But yes OP if you want it taken out, they shouldn't just say 'wait for it to settle' or any such crap. It's your body, you know how you feel.

Original poster
thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 01/07/2010 11:33

Wow, collie, am at that! I think Mirena would be fab if it just agreed with me. The convenience of it all is perfect, it was no issue having it fitted and I love it in principle, just not in me. One week to wait and then I'll have it swapped. Counting the days.

OP posts:
ant3nna · 01/07/2010 11:34

I had to be extremely insistent to get my copper coil. The nurse practitioner kept on and on about it in my contraceptive consultation even though I kept repeating that I didn't want to consider any forms of hormonal contraception and knew that depression (which has been made worse by hormones in the past) was one of the side effects.

Even when it had been agreed that I was getting a copper coil, during my high swab appointment, the nurse tried to get me to switch to a Mirena. Then at the actual fitting the doctor asked again. So frustrating.

I do have one now though and the stupid thing is that it cost the NHS £12-ish rather than £80-odd for a Mirena and my coil lasts 10 years rather than 5. I just felt like shouting at the doctor that I was actually saving the NHS money.

Original poster
thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 01/07/2010 11:37

I went in for the copper coil originally but was told repeatedly Mirena was vastly superior and would stop my periods (which I think it probably is, and does for the majority who get on with it).
Has the copper coil been ok for you, ant3nna?

OP posts:
IamBatman · 01/07/2010 11:41

Yes they tried to push the Mirena on me when I was breastfeeding and told them I didn't want anything with hormones in.
I was told the hormones would stay 'localised' but have plenty of other information which says that the hormones have been found in breast milk. I had to really inist I wanted a copper one.
Does anyone know why Drs are so keen to push the mirena on everyone?It makes me very suspicious

expatinscotland · 01/07/2010 11:56

I had a practice nurse try to push that Mirena on me and well, DH is sterilised.

Salbysea · 01/07/2010 12:02

My 8 week check was basically just a mirena sales pitch by the nurse (apparently there's no side effects and I am a silly numpty who was thinking of the old style coil from years and years ago )

nurse was not interested in my medical worries, incl those that made sex physically impossible. None of my other concerns were given any time and she never even looked at my CS scar even though I mentioned oozing

the only way to leave her office was to agree to take away the Mirena leaflet even though I told her that it was a waste of (part of) a tree as it'd go straight in the recycling

friend's who've had the mirena have gone a bit.... then back to normal once its out

why are practice nurses pushing them so much?

mizu · 01/07/2010 12:03

I had the Mirena coil pushed on me too and it was put in after I had DD2 4 years ago. 18 months later I had it replaced with a copper coil which makes my periods, which were already heavy, even heavier but with the Mirena even though i had light periods i felt down a lot of the time and had headaches. When I had it taken out I felt great.

I remember saying to the doc that i had been on various pills before and all had made me feel shit but she said the hormone in the Mirena was such a tiny amount it wouldn't affect me.

Original poster
thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 01/07/2010 12:14

Exactly the same, mizu. Apparently the hormone is so localised it doesn't travel elsewhere in the body

There's an awful lot of us with similar symptoms, I can't understand what the point is in denying them. Why not just be clear about the fact it suits some people, but not others?? I also felt that my concerns about hormonal contraception were completely disregarded.

I've never had heavy periods before, so I'm hoping that the copper coil won't trigger these. We'll see. The incessant dribbling on Mirena is really annoying though. I'd almost rather have one heavy period and get rid of it!

OP posts:
Kaloki · 01/07/2010 12:26

Another one who it was bad for. Had it removed about 6 months ago and my periods are still not back to normal (irregular and painful). Despite being regular as clockwork since my periods started at 11 before the coil!

Dropdeadfred · 01/07/2010 12:31

I hated the mirena coil...it stopped my periods but after a few months i was desperate to have one to feel 'normal' again. I bloated, felt tearful, had terrible mood swings...so much so that my husband has agreed that I should never have hormone contraceptives ever again

Kaloki · 01/07/2010 12:35

Forgot to say, I was also told that it has no lasting effect and my body would be back to normal as soon as it was removed.

ant3nna · 01/07/2010 12:44

thatsnotmyfrootshoot, my periods are heavier than they used to be and I get painful twinges a lot on my heavy days. The first two months I had it in I spotted almost constantly then when I started to get proper periods again I would flood and have to empty my mooncup at least every 2 hours. My periods have always been heavy and painful so I don't mind too much. However, I do think that they might be starting to settle down as my body is getting more used to the coil.

I've had it in since January and it has messed up my cycle (changed from 28 days to 35) but overall I am happy with it.

tyler80 · 01/07/2010 12:51

Doctors are just as dismissive of side effects of the pill. I got told I must just have been eating more and not noticing. Yes, highly likely that I just happen to eat more when I'm on the pill and all that excess weight goes straight to my breasts.

The thing that worries me is doctors are so dismissive so highly unlikely to report these problems as side effects that the statistics don't reflect the true situation.

IFancyKevinELevin · 01/07/2010 12:58

An interesting OP for me, as I am going in to discuss heavy periods and what to do with the doc on Friday.

I don't want a coil or tablets and keep being told to loose weight.

I lost 4 stones and my periods, which used to be every 3 months and last for 8 days then came every month (hooray I thought) but at the same intensity as the 3 month ones, leaving me utterly exhausted. I loose bloodclots the size of satsumas and as I am returning to a new full on job in a new company I cannot afford for this to happen.

I suffer from depression too, so this is a worry. The doctor has mentioned the Mirena so I know this is the road he wants to go down.

Trouble is I'll be in another country, doing my job by the time the side effects kick in!!!!

Olifin · 01/07/2010 13:14

Interesting thread! I have had my Mirena since last August and may have had some side effects- weight gain and mood swings. It's hard to be sure though because I have been suffering from MH issues for some time and have been taking ADs since xmas....it's hard to know what might be attributable to the Mirena and what might be just the normal me/side effects of my ADs.

I definitely have had more incidences of thrush though. Had previously only had it once in my life (during pregnancy) before having the coil fitted and have now had it several times. I also had a really hideous infection called bacterial vaginosis (ick) which required antibiotics. Also get lots of intermittent, trickly bleeding which is entirely unpredictable and seems to have no pattern.

A while ago, I told the GP I wasn't sure it was right for me and asked if I could have it removed. She strongly advised me to give it more time to see if things settled down. Like others, I have had the Mirena pushed on me for the last few years (since I had DC1) and was practically laughed out of the clinic for asking about the diaphraghm. 'No-one uses those anymore dear!' They were also completely unwilling to discuss or give me any info about natural family planning.

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 01/07/2010 13:19

My MW is on a mirena drive - I said I wanted copper and she said I got got it the wrong way around with how I thought they work. Sorry to hijack, but can some clarify copper tends to kill off the sperm and mirena stops fertilised eggs implanting? I have depression, and also want to veer away from anything that mainly works on preventing implantation, couldn't give a hoot about stopping periods and I was sure copper was what I wanted, but I swear my MW is working on commision!

tyler80 · 01/07/2010 13:30

Both are supposed to prevent implantation which is why they can be fitted as an emergency contraceptive if a condom splits etc. The mirena also secretes hormones which stop the womb lining building up.

Prolesworth · 01/07/2010 13:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 01/07/2010 13:52

Apparently, some surgeries get paid for fitting these Mirenas. Not sure if it's true or not.

Copper is the one that prevents implantation.

expatinscotland · 01/07/2010 13:53

I was fobbed off for 10 months before getting that fucking Mirena out.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 01/07/2010 14:08

it has suited me very well , but took 7 months to settle - pain/spotting. I persisted because I couldn't see an alternative and wanted to have no periods (and I have No periods)

But it does intrigue me as to why, given the weight gain and other side-effects people are describing they don't fore-warn and then take the thing out.