Mirena coil

[jamtoast12]

Hi

I have recently had the mirena coil fitted and now wander if I've made a huge mistake!!!!!!

I have always been on the pill and had no problems at all, regular cycles, bleeding etc but I am lazy taking it (forget regularly) so thought it get the coil as I'm 36 and not planning any more children.

However I have read lots of horror stories about it so seriously wish I'd not got it. In particular, I have a family history of thinning hair and mine is already very thin and I have recently read not only all the horror stories about hair loss but also that the mirena is bad for people like me who may have androgenic hair loss.

None of this was mentioned at the families planning who basically didnt offer any advice at all or give even general information.

It's only been about 10 days but I don't want it anymore!!, I'm worried about getting it out and what they may say. I asked for it but genuinely wasn't aware of all the issues with it so scared to ask them to take it out as I know its expensive etc?

Any advice please! Thanks

I have had mirena many years am approaching 50, experiencing painful sex no sex drive! I am thinking of having it removed just a bit scared any advise please

Hiya really not too sure how this works but have had mirena fitted three times now been very painful having it fitted each time. I am nearly 50 and am thinking of having it taken out but very scared any advise most welcome! X

I've had a mirena for four weeks. I've bled lightly ever since it was fitted. I have muscle cramps in groin, legs, hips, my joints are all clicky and painful, even fingers and toes. and I tire very easily. My hair is greasy and I have zits. I have zero sex drive.

I feel like I've made a dreadful mistake. I am due for a check up in 2 weeks and I am considering asking for it to be removed. I really am at the end of my tether.

Hi everyone. My mirena coil was fitted I'm November 2010 after years of misery with painful heavy bleeding which was permanent for the last 18 months to it bring put in.I didn't like the idea but gynaecologist told me I'd run out of options,I have cysts on my ovaries and had a ruptured one that I was rushed into surgery for.Anyway I was told nothing apart from I wouldn't have any bleeding.On this basis I went ahead
The bleeding continued with the pain for months,I was miserably disappointed. Gp told me it takes up to twelve months to settle and know if it suits you
It took ten months but I do still have bleeding and cramps,I get such painful breasts this last 18 months I'm depressed I've gained loads of weight I'm bloated all round my abdominal region and I'm paim.
I'm November 2012 my smear came back abnormal. First time ever.For a whole year I had repeat colcoscopy and smear tests all were abnormal. This caused me major distress as my mum died from cervical cancer aged 46 when I was only 22. I'm December 2013 they spoke of doing a biopsy but I was due to fly abroad next day,it was put off om my return my results from that smear arrived,all was normal confused.com.
I don't know what's causing what whether the coils given me a problem or whetherbits coincidental. I'm worried especially as I read that false results were being given to patients at the hospital dealing with my results
I've been too depressed this year to deal with it I'm bleeding frequently have discharge which isn't infection but I've had bv since coil was put in. I'm very angry beyond moody I'm fat compared to how I was I'm two dress sizes plus up and bloated permanently,I've a colcoscopy appointment in November but really can't decide next year when.my coils five years is up whether to see how I am without it in.I'm 51 nearly and still not menopausal I was told I could have one I'm right through the menopause when I become menopausal. Like many others I was told nothing about this coil apart from.the fact I needed.it

Hi everyone, just registered to talk about the Mirena Coil. I am 56 and had one in for 6 years. Had it taken out 3 months ago and have since been having majorly heavy periods since. The doctor has now said that as I am still bleeding I should have a new one inserted. I dont know what to do as I didnt have any bleeding for 6 years, which I put down to my age, and now I am feeling terrible, back pain, stomach cramps, no energy. Any advice?

I also just registered to ask for advice about the Mirena Coil, I had it put in just under 6 weeks ago and really I've not had a day where I've not been bleeding or spotting, I've had lots of really bad headaches, and the last couple of days I have been really down and my mood has been terrible, I'm shouting at my dh and kids for no reason at all?! But I can't help it! I have never felt like this before! I got the mirena to help my heavy periods. After I had my ds 4 yrs ago I got sterilised as I knew I didn't want any more children as I suffered with pre eclampsia with my youngest two, worse with my last pregnancy, and the pill, depo implant caused me severe headaches, so I thought this would be the answer to all my problems, nope still struggling with contraception even though it's not needed! I think the only thing left for me to do is hysterectomy and I'm not sure if I want to go through that just now as I'm only 34! Any advice?

Hello

I've been on the depo injection for many years, tried the implant, lasted 6 months before I had to have it removed as my emotions were all over the place. Went back to the depo and now have to change due to the potential risk of osteoporosis later in life.

Has anybody gone from the depo, with no periods, to the mirena coil with out incident or bleeding?

I used to suffer terrible periods but the depo stopped that. I'm scared from reading the threads about my periods will come back :-(

Any advice welcome

Hi I have read a lot of horror stories about the coil and am truly terrified this little device is going to cause me ill health... I am having it fitted tomorrow... I am in the edge of cancelling the procedure.... HELP x

Hi all
I am 45 and had the coil fitted to help with my increasingly heavy and irregular periods. I have always been very lucky with periods but the last few years they have become very irregular and I have started clotting. I was on the combined pill for 2 years but then that stopped working and I was told "at my age" that I had to come off it anyway.
I had the coil fitted at the end of May and was told there would be some irregularity over the next 3-4 months. I was given a leaflet and the staff were patient and friendly. However, I have bled almost constantly since the thing went in - sometimes I need tampax and sometimes I only need a pant liner but I dare not go without anything. My breasts have been really sore on and off and I get stomach cramps although they are not so bad that I need painkillers. I know everyone is different but I didn't think"irregular bleeding" would mean constant bleeding! I also don't remember anything in the leaflet concerning spots (which I also seem to get now having pretty been much spot free all my life!) or sore breasts. On the plus side there was no pain putting it in and I only needed a couple of pain killers that day to stave off the cramping. I am going to stick with it for at least 6 months as I think it is the only thing that will help with my periods - just hope this bloody bleeding/discharge stops at some point!!

I had my merina coil fitted 2 months now and I am still bleeding I've had 3days of very mild spotting and the rest of the time its been painful and although its not as big as before I'm still getting smaller clots and horrendous cramps I'm using hot water bottles and paracetomol and ibuprofen but its still painful most of the time. It's making me really tired and I'm incredibly bloated its depressing everytime I walk more than ten minutes I get cramps and bleed more as to with riding my horse I can't do that atm it hurts too much I had my check up and the coil is in place and had a ultrasound which found the lining of my womb is thick I was told things should settle down soon but I'm not sure how much longer I can take being perminantly on my period and it doesn't look like slowing down anytime soon I've been prescribed utovlan a ten day prescription and its meant to stop ur period by the 3rd day well its the 3rd day and I'm still as heavy as I was last week have I made a mistake? Is this coil not meant for me ? I've read this whole thread and the majority of women haven't had much of a problem just a few periods and spotting mines horrendous I want to stick it out for at least 6 months but I don't think I'll last that long if it stays like this much longer is there really light at the end of the tunnel I'm thinking maybe push for a hysterectomy I'm 40 next year and have a boy and girl I don't want anymore kids I'm old lol maybe I should consider a hysterectomy

Some of these comments really scared me so wanted to post a positive comment about the Merina Coil. I had it fitted today for heavy periods and have to say it was completely painless. I had it done at my GP surgery. He used a local anaesthetic gel and it was over in less than 3 minutes. I'd got into a bit of a state even though smears don't bother me but there was no need. No after pain either. Hope it works, the next few months will tell.

The mirena causes serious damage to the female body, and the only way to get rid of these side effects for good is to remove the mirena and take natural supplements, herbs and foods and consider natural therapies that will eliminate estrogen dominance, help restore the balance of progesterone and estrogen hormones, and detoxify the body from all the toxins present in mirena such as silicone and copper. mirenadetox has been immensely helpful to my recovery and I seriously recommend it

Balletmum - I also found the fitting fairly painless, although took paracetamol and ibuprofen half an hour before! I'll find out on Monday what the removals like, though. I've been bleeding (mostly just spotting) for about 12 weeks (2 stretches of 6 days without) and have had enough. I had it fitted in December and had my first post-partum period in may and it's carried on til then...

had one fitted on Wednesday to try to sort out my problems with bleeding. Fitting it was ok but since Sunday I have had quite a bit of abdominal pain - bad enough that for the first time in 34 years of having periods I've had to go and buy Feminax. I'm hoping this goes away soon otherwise I'll have to have it out.

After reading a lot of comments on here and on other forums about the Mirena Coil side effects, I thought it was important to share with others my own experiences.

First of all, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.
Not everyone will react in the same way and there is no telling for sure how any individual will react.

I had the Mirena Coil fitted back in 2010. I asked for some contraceptive advise from my Doctor and queried about reducing the heavy periods I was experiencing. I attend and worked at a lot of festivals then, so finding something that will reduce periods whilst camping was more than ideal.

Fitting:
Having the Coil fitted was quite painful and uncomfortable. I was told that once it had been fitted, I would be able to go straight back to work, no problem. However, I was cramping all day. Possibly some of the worst cramps I had ever experienced. It was more than just the usual cramps, these were more sharp. I kept having to sit down and curl up. I followed Doctors advice before the fitting took place and took paracetamol, but this didn't really do a lot.

After:
Quite soon after having the coil fitted, I noticed a change in my behavior and mood. My libido almost instantly went out of the window. I did try with my other half, only one night my hormones seemed to go into over-drive and I embarrassingly ended up crying during sex! For honestly no apparent reason too. I felt down a lot.
I was spotting and having irregular periods for about 6 months after I had the coil fitted. I did expect this to happen. Eventually my periods became lighter and lighter and after a while stopped all together.
Although I did not have an actual period, I was still cramping around the time that my period would normally take place. Unfortunately the cramps were much more painful than normal. I even had this checked out by my Doctor to ensure the coil was still in place as the pain was quite intense at times. Not even paracetamol was working for me. I had a few x-rays, but everything was where is should be, it was just my body cramping more because it didn't like the foreign object that was put up there ..which I feel is perfectly understandable!

1 year after:
My mood swings were more intense than ever. I cried a lot more. I also cried at things I wouldn't normally cry over, like adverts, songs, chic flicks etc.. This is normal for some, but not for me!
I found my Job a lot harder to deal with. Anxiety levels went through the roof! I couldn't even get up in the morning without feeling sick.
I started suffering from panic attacks and my mind would not shut off. It was on panic overdrive!

2 Years after:
I quit my Job. I can't guarantee that the coil was the cause of all the anxiety, but it definitely wasn't there before I had it fitted!
I went up 2 dress sizes too. I heard that the coil can cause weight gain. My diet and activity did not change since having the coil fitted, yet i was noticing a considerable weight gain. Bye Bye size 10! -Also noticed thick dark hairs growing under and around my chin. So plucking away at my face became a daily routine.

3 years after:
Things did start to settle but definitely not 'normal'.. I became more used to the mood swings. I'm lucky to have a VERY tolerant partner who put up with me throughout all of this!! The cramps were not as intense and it was absolutely fantastic not having to even think about a period. I didn't have to carry around any essentials like tampons in my bag as a 'just in case'.
However, my libido was at an all time low. I had no interest in sex and actually found it quite off putting.
I went to get help about this as this was really putting a strain on my relationship with my partner. The Doctor said that it was unlikely to be the coil, but they wouldn't give me any further advise which was unhelpful. I also asked about the weight gain, but they also said it was unlikely to be the coil. I mentioned the depression and anxiety, the answer was also 'unlikely to be the coil.'
No alternative help or therapy offered!

4.5 years:
I had enough... The crying and depression was getting worse. My partner was pleading with me to consider having the coil removed as he had noticed a change in my character since having the thing fitted. I was reluctant to have it removed, as the doctor was so adornment that the coil had nothing to do with how I was feeling. I just figured we were going through a rough patch and maybe we should even re-consider our relationship with each other!
I read many other forums and read about everyone else's side effects. There were some side effects that I had experienced more strongly than others, and some that I had not experienced at all. As mentioned before, everyone is different! But reading about what others had experienced confirmed that having the coil removed would be a wise idea.
I had to see 1 doctor and 2 nurses in order to finally book the appointment to have this coil removed. They were all very reluctant to take it out. This was what I wanted and it was MY body, yet they initially refused to take it out.
Eventually, I gave up and lied to them. I said I wanted to have another baby. And it was only after I said this, that they took it out of me. FINALLY!

This really annoyed me. Not one doctor would help me with my anxiety and depression when I had the coil in. And when I finally had enough, not one doctor or nurse would take the thing out of me!

From a medical point of view, they cannot confirm if the symptoms you feel are related to the coil for you as an individual. They are also reluctant to remove them as they are quite expensive in the first place!
But I had no warning from any doctor about any side effects (like what I experienced).
The coil certainly did its job. I didn't get pregnant and I didn't have any periods anymore which is fab! However, I feel that if I looked this thing up on forums and saw what other people were experiencing, then I may have reconsidered and gone with another form of contraception instead.
Maybe I shouldn't just take the Doctor's advise from now on!

2 weeks after removal:
Libido is back! smile ...and i have a smile on my face. Anxiety has also decreased.
I haven't seen any noticeable signs of weight loss yet, but it has only been two weeks. But over-all I feel more 'normal' again.
It will take a little longer for all the hormones to return back to how they were before the coil so I still have a way to go yet. But I have noticed a difference in me. My periods are not back yet, no idea when they will come back (this part i'm not looking forward to as much)
So fingers crossed, I get my life back very soon!

I wish this worked out better for me. And I wish I was one of those lucky few who had absolutely no unwanted side effects what-so-ever!

Would I recommend it to a friend....??? Probably not.

Hi,
Maybe I should have been here before.

I had mine fitted this afternoon.

Consultant said there'd be a scratch.... he's obviously never had one fitted!! It made me tear up, nurse told me not to get up for a couple mins, just to calm my nerves down.

Now I know 2 of my friends have had the coil in and have had no problems, so when my doc suggested it for me since having an ovary removed and heavy clotting periods, it can help by reducing periods to lighter, possibly none existent. My friends periods stopped.
It was sold to me, I'd not known/heard any bad effects from it, until reading some on here.

It seems like it is, as someone mentioned, like marmite.

I'm hoping my body likes it, after getting over the initial insertion.

I'm also right at the end of my period, and I felt like the consultant had hit jackpot. !! .. is it better to be inserted at the end of a period? Idk?

(Tmi coming) I've had some spotting , little clots of blood, and a bit of slime., could be the lubricant gel from the insertion working its way out?? Who knows?

Anyway, ibuprofen taken, going to have some paracetamol before bed and see how it goes.

Oh.., I have to see my gp in 6wks check see if all ok.. and consultant said he'd cut strings short? Wasn't aware there'd be strings. Like I said..maybe should have done more of my own research before hand.
Seems like I just went in on my 2 friends positive experience and gp recommendation.

Let's hope its a good one.

OH BOY I NEED ADVICE, I have a daughter aged 25 who is severely autistic, non verbal with behaviour problems. Hanna has been suffering with her periods for a number of years and after literally begging my gp, a blood test was done which 'they said' confirmed PCOS, no treatment offered and after having an adverse reaction to the pill, I was told nothing could be done. My heart absolutely breaks for Hanna, her periods are far too heavy, along with mood changes, anxiety etc which on top of her autism, has been really hard on her. I had to basically complain to the gp in order for her to have a scan. the scan showed 'they say' a very healthy womb?? anyway after pushing again, I saw a consultant today, the most arrogant,, condescending man I have ever met! the one and only course of treatment he offered was the merina coil , he said obviously she will need a general anesthetic and she wont feel a thing? after reading all these posts, I am scared to death for her! Hanna already has behaviour problems, she has terrible mood swings already, she has gained 7 stone in the past 4 years and developed acne at the same time. hanna has been pulling her hair out for more than 5 years. this consultant today, said she does not have PCOS and she should have this coil, I honestly don't know what to do, Hanna cannot tell me when she is hurting or when she is unhappy or poorly, should I put her through this?

Sorry to read all your bad experiences. I am on my second mirena coil, unfortunately I bled all the time on the pill, as it didn't work for me and was fed up with using condoms.
This lower dose works for me. No weight gain, no bleeding etc.

Interesting to read all these comments! My story:

Fitting
I had the Mirena fitted about a month or so ago by a trained nurse in a Sexual Health unit in a hospital. She was AMAZING. Spent lots of time with me talking through the different coil options (because of my history of heavy periods, she advised against the hormone-free copper coils). She had a little 3D demo tool which showed the size of the womb and the coil - you could touch it. The fitting was painful, but over very quickly. An extra nurse was called in to hold my hand during the procedure and check I was OK whilst the other nurse was at the 'business end'. The nurse told me that before they fit, they have to do a quick check for the size of your uterus and this might feel quite weird "as it's touching a place that's not normally touched". She wasn't wrong! It made me retch briefly. There was a sharpness of the clamping open of the cervix, the insertion of the Mirena was pretty painless itself. They put a light local anesthetic on the cervix before the procedure which helps.

Afterwards, on the day
I had cycled to the clinic. They told me that, no I should not cycle home! I hadn't really thought about this. Luckily I live only 10 minutes walk away. I had cramping and bleeding afterwards. The clinic gave me some painkillers which were specific to uterus pains (stashed them away for future periods!) and they worked quite well but mostly I just wanted to snuggle up in bed.

The week after
I felt as if I could feel the Mirena inside me. I continued to have light bleeding and some cramping for about a week.

A month after
I had a period a couple of weeks after insertion (around the time I was due) which was slightly lighter than usual though lasted a record 8 days. I've had cramping and continue to feel that I can feel the Mirena inside me, though don't know if this is just because I know it's there and have slight cramping. I have felt rather tired (hard to gauge whether more or less so than before). I have had lower back pains and sciatica down my bottom and legs which does seem to have ramped up considerably since having the Mirena fitted. I have no libido - possibly due to cramps and low energy. A week or so after my period, I had some more spotting.

What next?
I feel like I should stick it out a bit longer, but reading some of these posts I am concerned that there are considerable side effects that were not pointed out to me at the time of insertion. I was looking forward to 'worry free' sex but have not felt like I've had an libido :( I'm also concerned that I am continuing to bleed and this is bringing my iron levels down considerably, enough to give me low energy. I've never got on with taking the pill but hoped that the low level of hormones in this coil would not affect me so adversely...

Some GP's really seem to be PUSHING women into having a Mirena Coil. It's a form of bullying.
I get the 'talk' every-time I visit my GP, but there's no way I'm having something put in my body that will then be stuck there for X amount of years. And I have heard lots of women say that their libido disappears with Mirena. like I need that
At least with a pill or a patch or a gel, or condoms, if it doesn't agree, you can try something else, or adjust doses, but you're stuck with an implant.

Please ladies, don't let yourself be bullied/coerced into having one fitted if you're not 100%sure about it.
There are MANY other options around. I don't know why they keep pushing the coil. There must be a reason. Fulfilling quotas or something?
Maybe a GP could enlighten us.

I suppose it's not technically an implant, but it's still a foreign object 'lodged' there.

I have made the decision, after much research and soul searching, that My daughter Hanna (25 and severe autism non verbal) will not be having this coil, in the end it came down to one thing really and that was' would I have this done myself'? the answer was no! and if its not good enough for me (hyperthetical as I had a hysto 5 yrs ago,) then it wasn't good enough for my daughter. I firmly agree that there is some coersion on the part of the consultant. I had the feeling I was being bullied on my daughters behalf and although he said he had read her notes, im pretty damn sure that he did not take this into consideration. I actually took a phone call on Thursday, just 6 days after her appointment, which said that they had a cancellation for this coming Monday and could Hanna attend, I said no, nurse seemed rather bemused at the fact that I had changed my mind and tried to talk me into speaking to the consultant which I also declined. I will be seeking a second opinion, I have heard far too many horror stories regarding this coil, yes there are many success stories too, but I feel the negs outweigh them. I hope and prey that I will find the correct treatment for my daughter.

ottyonion, even if you cancel this appointment, there will be plenty of other opportunities to have it done, (if you decide to change your mind at some point).

I have cancelled 3 TIMES now (and asked them to take me off the list), but I still end up getting phone calls asking when I'm going to go in to have it fitted! .

I hope you find the right treatment for your daughter. And even if you eventually DO decide to go with the Mirena Coil, at least you will know that you did all your research and weren't rushed into making a decision.

Toodledoo678 thanks for your input, funnily enough I did get the impression that I hadn't heard the last from the hospital, they wanted me to talk to the consultant again or they even offered to get me another consultant. I really don't think I will be changing my mind though, as I worry Hanna would need a general anaesthetic each time it needed to be checked, put in etc. I will be getting a 2nd and 3rd (if needed) opinion.

I had a mirena for four years - from the minute it was put in no pain, no pmt, no periods. Ok the insertion was grim but it was the best thing ever. Until - for no reason - it slipped. Long story but had to have it removed and because of everything that happened was too scared to try again for a year.

Just got another one put in. Have never experienced pain anything like it in my life. Then cramps and twinges for a few days then two weeks later excruciating pain for three days then a period. Pain - like bad period pain - on and off since then. Bled for a week but lighter than usual then spotting for another week. Convinced it's coming out. Almost like I can feel something - a bit like a tampon that's not been inserted fully. Really uncomfortable. Meanwhile tired and hungry all the time and have put on weight. Only been five weeks - due a check next week. I know it can take 6-12 weeks to settle but the way I feel now I just want it out asap. Anyone experienced anything like this? Is it really worth another six weeks of misery in the hope it might calm down?