Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Prolesworth · 02/07/2010 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

differentnameforthis · 02/07/2010 10:51

Your doctor will NEVER admit that the Mirena causes all that, or even some of that! Mainly because they are expensive to have, so leaving it in as long as possible gives 'value for money' I guess. The patient leaflet they give you (when they give you it) is nothing like the drs information. There was a class action going on in America to make the manufacturers print the entire list of side effects.

Mine caused an infection, 3 different antibiotics over 2 weeks finally sorted. I have been advised never to have a IUD again.

My menstrual cramps now are horrendous & before I went on the pill I felt ovulation. Neither of these bothered me before. I would have very mild cramping around & during my period, which would abate on its own. Now I am popping painkillers for the duration of. The duration of my period has also changed. First getting shorter & now lasts almost a week. Average for me was 3 days.

My Drs said they couldn't remove it as they didn't know how. I had to pay a sexual health clinic to remove it.

differentnameforthis · 02/07/2010 10:55

"Apparently the hormone is so localised it doesn't travel elsewhere in the body"

Even tho is has been found in breastmilk!

differentnameforthis · 02/07/2010 10:58

IFancyKevinELevin PLEASE be careful about getting Mirena if you are prone to depression.

differentnameforthis · 02/07/2010 11:10

My friend has had her Mirena for 4 years. In that time she has really changed, huge weight gain, bloating, v depressed, huge mood swings...so bad that last year her & her hubby talked about separating because he just couldn't put up with not knowing who or what he was coming home to each night.

She didn't believe me when I told her it was her coil making her like that!

She had it out last month. She is a change character already!

She believes me now.

expatinscotland · 02/07/2010 13:35

"Apparently the hormone is so localised it doesn't travel elsewhere in the body"

Yeah, see, I never understood how they could say that because all parts of your body are serviced by the same circulatory system.

So hormones travel.

I had PND when I got mine fitted. The GYN consult had ruled out implant and Depo due to my depression, but she happily shoved one of these things up me.

My depression became suicidal.

Original poster
thatsnotmyfruitshoot · 05/07/2010 19:40

4 days to go until mine is out. Can't wait. My breasts are cartoonish at the moment and I have the biggest spot of my life residing on my chin. My hair is falling out everywhere too.

So sorry for everyone who's gone through hell on this, I think I've had a fairly lucky escape really at just 8 weeks of misery! Will definitely do the yellow card scheme, I think we all should.

OP posts:
weirdbird · 05/07/2010 20:22

Another who had the Mirena pushed on her, by the gynae who was meant to be treating me for unexplained bleeding, despite the long, long history of severe side effects to anything hormonal I was told that there were no side effects with the Mirena, I was ok for about 6mths and then it quite literally made me go insane!

Fortunately my GP recognised the side effects and took it out on the spot, but am still scared today by how it changed me.

I had a copper coil and yes I bleed more heavily but no other side effects, and yes at my fitting they tried to persuade me to have the Mirena instead.

Will be filling in that form myself

muffint · 05/07/2010 20:24

My GP said it prevents people needing hysterectomys - something about people having hysterectomys a lot in the past when their periods get too heavy - thus saving NHS lots of money. Maybe why being pushed so much? Just a thought.

goldenlife · 05/07/2010 20:32

Hmmm...so sorry to hear about your trouble.

Personally, I love my Mirena coil - I am no longer troubled by heavy blood loss and pain every month. BLISS!!! I have had it in for 3 years and never want it out! Oh, I haven't put on weight but that doesn't mean it could not have that effect on someone else.....and it obviously doesn't work for you, sadly.

Yes, it has probably saved the govt the cost of a hysterectomy but there again it has also saved me from having a hysterectomy so I am nothing but grateful .

Um..alarmed that someone got PG with it in though!!! I didn't know that was possible. Probably isn't at my age though.

myboysarethebest · 27/11/2010 20:36

I am adding my Angry experience here - just in case anyone is looking for more info.
Went for pap smear earlier this week - couldn't find the strings.
So now going to get a scan to see where it might be??!!!???
Then going back to GP/Gynae to get it out - not liking the side effects I've read about on here.
Just put low sex drive and tiredness to looking after children and work but not so sure now.....and a history of depression in my family.

LolaBellsAllTheWay · 27/11/2010 20:42

I had the mirena for just under 5 years and it was fab. Removed to fall pregnant with DD1, had it reinserted 3 months later and then I could have been you OP! It lasted 6 months and I then got it removed. Fell pregnant that week (which was impossible as I had avoided sex that week due to infection etc). I still believe I may have been pregnant when it was removed.

Nothing will make me get it again.

Spinkle · 27/11/2010 20:52

I have a large fibroid and had horrific periods. I left a trail... They went on for weeks at a time.

Was horrible.

Doc suggested mirena. I knew I had to play ball because what I really wanted was a hysterectomy and they wouldn't do that until I tried a mirena.

Was awful at first. Sore norks. Greasy skin and hair. Crazy bleeding. Pain.

6 months later - fab. Like a new woman. It has literally changed my life. DH is pleased - he said it was like living in a slaughterhouse before.

Kitta · 27/11/2010 20:54

You don't need to get a GP to report the side effects you can do it yourself and it will amke a difference (I work in that kind of area)
Bayer make the Mirena, call them and complain, or just report the effects. They HAVE to pass them on.

promenade · 27/11/2010 21:18

One difference between the two coils that doesn't often get mentioned is that the mirena inhibits ovulation and many women will not produce eggs or have periods while it is in, the copper coil does not affect ovulation. Therefore it is less likely with the mirena for an egg to be fertilised. Both coils will stop a fertilised egg implanting. I think it is important that people realise there is a possibility of eggs being fertilised, even if they never then implant, as this may be important to them ethically.

If someone is uncomfortable with the idea of eggs being fertilised they can use the pill which stops there being any eggs or a condom which (not very reliably) stops the sperm and egg meeting.

choufleur · 27/11/2010 21:21

Mirena was horrid. no sex drive, spotty back, tender breasts and then pregnant and subsequent miscarriage. Copper coil has been so much better, although bleeding to start with was far worse than teh mirena.

tb · 27/11/2010 21:24

I had a Mirena and had to argue with my gp to have it taken out. She didn't want to do it on the grounds that it cost £65 and I would change my mind.

After bleeding for a year, sludgy dark red/black blood, too little for a tampon, too much for a pant liner, I had it taken out.

The gp later said I might have developed an infection when it was inserted, which would have called the bleeding. Funny, I never had this problem with the 2 copper coils I'd had before I had dd.

MaDuggar · 27/11/2010 21:26

I had my last one taken out as I was so fed up of the awful side effects! I really hated it :(

PamelaFlitton · 27/11/2010 21:27

Bloody doctors (and I can say this because DP is one).

I got the copper coil, was determined not to have the Mirena because I didn't buy this 'no side effects' bullshit, it's just common sense that it could give you side effects as it's got fecking hormones in it!

I have this look that I do with doctors, which is the 'You know you don't know everything, and I know you know so stop dicking me about'. Developed over several years practise on DP, works every time.

MaDuggar · 27/11/2010 21:35

My first I had for 5 years, no periods, a few side effects (mostly weight gain, hair loss & spots) but did not realise this was due to teh Mirena (no internet in those days)

My 2nd fell out, perhaps shortly after insertion (without me knwoing!) and resulted in my DS.

My third was awful - all the side effects in huge doses, depression, constant spotting, constant pain :( I lasted a year then had it removed.

oldraver · 27/11/2010 21:53

My doctor constantly tries to push Mirena at me despite me specifically saying I want no hormone laced contraceptive. Also as someone who has PCOS, Pill induced migraines and had Obstetric Cholestasis I SHOULD not have a hormone contraceptive pushed at me.

amijee · 27/11/2010 22:38

At the end of the day - calling it a mirena hides the fact that there are hormones involved - which have all the side effects of someone taking the pill. ( sometimes worse)

It is very good for heavy/painful periods but for straight forward contraception - the copper one is probably preferable

A1980 · 27/11/2010 22:48

The last time I used hormonal contraception, depo-provera injection was the hard sell. What a fucking mess that was.

Weight gain, constant heavy bleeding for the entire duration of the injection, I had constant soreness and it was painful to have sex as it can create a deficiency in oestrogen.

Did my GP listen.... NO! Wouldn't hear of it. I finally got referred to a specialist who said the depo causes that quite frequnetly and I had to have HRT medication to stop the bleeding et al. I never had it again.

By definiton GP's aren't clued up about this. They aren't specialists. My friend is a GP and she wishes she'd stayed a hospital doctor as she says GP's know little about everything and not very much about anything. Apparently once you're a GP it's pretty damn hard to get back out again.

myboysarethebest · 27/11/2010 22:59

Still causing a stir - wish I had researched it more before being inserted, but not long after ds2 and I didn't want another pregnancy.
Going to get this removed and just have a complete break, DP can wear a condom or stay away Grin

MumNWLondon · 27/11/2010 23:11

I have tried several brands of pills and on all had terrible IBS and headaches. Did persevere with the one that was least bad - didn't really make the connection with the IBS until I started taking after I had my DD - suddenly realised I'd not had any IBS symptoms during TTC, pregnancy or BFing and they'd all returned within days of starting to take combined pill.

Had mirena fitted after DS1 - no periods (bit of spotting in first 6 months) - periods back to normal after a couple of months - I was surprised by this as I have pcos and history of irregular periods.

Aside from the spotting no other side effect. Just had a another mirena put in 7 weeks ago (basically when I stopped BFing), admitedly have been on a very diet but have lost 18lbs in 7 weeks.