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Family planning

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Original poster

Please tell me about your experience with the mirena coil

34 replies

SolidGold · 01/01/2014 20:46

My gp has recommended I have a mirena coil fitted to help with heavy very painful periods. I'm 49 and can't take the combined pill. I don't need contraception as dh has had the snip, but just need to find a way of lessening the pain.

I have an appointment this month and will probably need a hysterectopy (??) - camera examination - to check there are no problems causing the pain.

Just interested in how people have got on with the mirena. Thanks

OP posts:

TessTackle · 01/01/2014 20:49

I've had mine close to two years now and I love it.

Occasionally sore after sex, but other than that no gripes. I bleed very very rarely; think spotting once every 3 months or so, and my pmt has improved massively.

Hath

Lottapianos · 01/01/2014 20:52

I had it. It was fabulous for the first 3 years - no periods, no bleeding, no cramps, nothing. Didn't know it was there. Then after about 3 years I started to have random cramps and spitting. I decided to have it removed and go on pill instead. The nurse I saw said that the hormones may have worn out much earlier than expected which could have caused the spotting, which is a massive worry from a contraception point of view.

Insertion was extremely painful but apparently I gave a particularly small and sensitive uterus. Removal was painless.

MothershipG · 01/01/2014 20:54

I've had mine for 9 years and love, love, love not having periods at all. It may have caused some weight gain or that may just be an excuse!

But if you search threads on here you will find others who've had really bad experiences with it so it does seem to be a very individual thing.

I'd say give it a go, it takes a few months to settle but if you get on with it you'll never look back and if you don't you can get it removed.

Basketofchocolate · 01/01/2014 20:58

Have had one for 4 years I think now. Love it. No periods for 3 years or more. Fab. Completely forgotten the horrors of that monthly PITA.

GlassTrees · 01/01/2014 21:02

I've had mine for 7 years now. DH had the snip a couple of years ago anyway so I have just left it in place. I've not had a period for 7 years and I love that. No PMT either. Now that the hormones are wearing off I do get sore boobs every month but so far have not had any spotting.

This is a bit TMI, but the only thing I have found is that it changed the way I felt an orgasm. It was as if at the point of orgasm my womb wasn't able to contract properly with the Mirena inside it and so it has dulled my orgasms for 7 years. This versus no periods made me keep it in but I am having it removed in a month or 2 and am eagerly awaiting to see if there is a difference in sexual feeling.

southeastastra · 01/01/2014 21:03

i had the copper coil for about 9 years and have just switched to the mirena, so far so good and happy with it, periods are hardly there it's great, but only had two months

Original poster

SolidGold · 01/01/2014 21:12

Thanks for the replies.

Is it as painful to remove as it is to insert?

OP posts:

southeastastra · 01/01/2014 21:28

in my experience it was totally fine

olympicsrock · 01/01/2014 21:34

Really painful to have inserted (took 40 mins and multiple attempts), then spotting every day for a few months. Now no periods at all for 16 months which is great. I'm not aware of it at all. All in all it has been good but the beginning was dreadful.

Squeegle · 01/01/2014 21:36

I had

Squeegle · 01/01/2014 21:40

Whoops, I had mine put in last January - I am 48 - due to incredibly heavy periods. It has been a godsend. The insertion was slightly uncomfortable, but no more than a smear test.

The only downside for me has been low level spotting for 3 out of 4 weeks. But at last that seems to be stopping. Apart from that it's been great, and can honestly say that it's changed my life as the heavy periods were so debilitating

Original poster

SolidGold · 02/01/2014 00:01

Interesting to hear positive accounts . Everything I found before was negative. I'm worried about depression (have had depression and suffer with anxiety), weight gain (contributes to depression/anxiety), heavy bleeding, bad pmt. also painful insertion.

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Original poster

SolidGold · 02/01/2014 00:03

I don't mind spotting - I have they now too often. But if the painful heavy periods disappear, I'd be over the moon. But not at the cost of huge weight gain, depression and bad pmt!

OP posts:

SilveryMoon · 02/01/2014 00:12

I've had mine for 3 years now I think.
I had PND after having both my children and my parents suffer depression so think that's a factor that I am likely to, but don't think I have been affected in that area by the coil tbh.
I have a very low pain threshold and my cervix is apparently in a difficult position (I'm sure I remember them saying they needed to turn it during labour with ds2, but i was out of it on G&A so might be mistaken, but I don't think so), and yes it was a bit painful going in, but was ok. I groaned a bit, but don't think it was too bad.
I had some pain a few days later and bled for a bit, but again, noting really bad.
I was bleeding heavily every single day for a whole year before they did this, and now I still spot all the time, I have to wear a liner daily, but in terms full on periods that's very rare. I can bleed a reasnable amount for a few days every now and then but it's pretty random. Sounds ike a nightmare but muvh better than what was happeening.
I hear that removal is not as bad as insertion which is a relief.
Go for it. Just take some paracetamol half hour before and keep taking it for the next couple of days after and hopefully it'll settle down for you quicklyl.

DramaAlpaca · 02/01/2014 00:22

I'm same age as you & have had my Mirena for three years now without any problems. It has literally changed my life.

I had it put in under general anaesthetic because I had a hysteroscopy, D&C & a polyp removed at the same time, so insertion was totally painless. I was very sore for about three weeks afterwards, but since then have had no pain & no periods whatsoever apart from a small amount of spotting in the first few months.

I am susceptible to depression, but I don't think the Mirena has affected that. I think it might have contributed to some weight gain, but that could be just because I am a bit greedy . On balance though, I'd rather be a bit heavier than have my life ruined by extremely heavy periods.

I would definitely recommend it.

Original poster

SolidGold · 02/01/2014 00:27

I have to admit I had one 15 years ago and at the time had no problems. But now it's been suggested again and I researched online and I only found negative experiences. It scared me. obviously I'm older and different.

Last time it was very painful and difficult to fit. I'm dreading that. But I'll it up with it if I think it's worthwhile.

OP posts:

Original poster

SolidGold · 02/01/2014 00:31

I suffered an ectopic pregnancy with the mirena last time, so had it removed under general anaesthetic whilst sewing up my ruptured fallopian tube, and couldn't risk using as contraception anymore due to increased risk of ectopic.

OP posts:

POTC · 02/01/2014 00:51

I had one and only had it in for 4 months before having it removed. Irregular heavy spotting and pains made me go back to the contraceptive injection instead. Doc said it doesn't work for everyone but I know lots of people swear by it

POTC · 02/01/2014 00:52

Original poster

SolidGold · 02/01/2014 00:57

Thanks POTC. I can't have the injection due to migraines I think.

OP posts:

Belize · 02/01/2014 00:58

I've had mine for just over a year.

Had it fitted under GA as I had a funny shaped cervix/small womb - pain free from that pov. Didn't need much in the way of painkillers afterwards.

Funnily enough my boobs get sorer than they ever used to and I do get the odd bit of spotting. The last couple of months I've had a few cramps and heavy legs but nothing like as bad as full on periods which were hellish pain wise for me.

All in all definitely a very positive experience. You can have them fitted under local anaesthetic too - the GP tried this method but because I didn't give birth naturally plus reasons given above it was too difficult to fit hence the GA.

UnicornsNotRiddenByGrownUps · 02/01/2014 01:19

Mines was put in very wrong and I ended up hospitalised. A different scenario but a friend also was very very ill because of how it was inserted too!

Original poster

SolidGold · 02/01/2014 01:34

Sorry to hear that Unicorn Did they perforate something? I hope you and your friend are ok now? I'll ask about the chances of that happening.

OP posts:

UnicornsNotRiddenByGrownUps · 02/01/2014 15:36

Yes both of us had perforations of different kinds and both now made a full recovery! Horrible! But we're both probably the 'rare' cases they tell you about.

Hopasholic · 02/01/2014 15:45

I have mixed feelings about mine. I've had it in for 3 years. The upside has to be, no periods/reliability/ The downside, some months the pain/engorgement in my boobs is horrendous. I have to sleep in a bra and they are so tender I have to hold them up when I take my bra off. This doesn't happen every month though although I do develop a sore lump on my breast bone each month which then disappears.

I am waiting for DH to have the snip so I can have it removed but can live with it, for now!

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