Merina Coil?? Help!

[Jeannie151]

Hello Mumsnet folk...I am in desperate need of advice. I just turned 40, I have twins (11) and a singleton (9). and the hubby and I are not looking to have any other children...unless we lose our minds. :)

Since I had my youngest, my periods have gotten worse. Specifically a week before my period my lower back starts to ache...and for a week, it gets increasingly more and more painful until I am in tears, have my period and then I go back to normal. This basically wipes me out for 1.5-2 weeks out of the month.

I went to the Dr and he said it was best to try to stop my periods all together with the Merina Coil. In high school (I'm American) I was on the pill to try to ease cramps, but it ended up having me gain weight and I was bad about taking them on time. So they gave me Depo Provera, which sent me into a downward spiral of depression and I gained a lot of weight. I had to go on anti depressants to be able to be a normal person again.

Since then I have been very anti any birth control that I have to take. I've read a lot of horror stories about the Coil, which I am due to have fitted this coming Tuesday, and now I'm really worried. Generally if something has a side effect on the side of the box, I get it. Basically I'm now scared to death. I'm not worried about the insertion, it's the side effects.

If you have had the Merina Coil, can you let me know how you have gotten on with it? Thank you so much in advance!

Jeannie x

I have never had a Mirena but did have a copper coil. I did not get on with it. The main problem I hear people having with a Mirena is that they react to it and then they won't remove it so you're stuck with it. At least with a pill, you can stop taking it if it doesn't work.

I'm not sure what I'd recommend. Has anybody suggested looking at why you're in so much pain? Can the contraception side of things fall to your husband with either condoms or a vasectomy and then you take steps to find out why you are struggling with your periods and how this might be managed most effectively?

We have just been using condoms...and that's fine. I haven't been on the pill or anything else. The reason for the Merina is to stop my period so that I don't get the horrid back aches, and cramps once a month. :)

No I understand that

I was just wondering why they hadn't looked at why your periods are so much worse since having your 2nd. 2 weeks a month in pain isn't acceptable, clearly. My response was based on the fact that you don't seem to get on with hormonal contraception and thinking out loud about what you might do instead to cover both bases. There are two separate issues. Adequate contraception (which you have sorted) and the pain issue. The Mirena is an unknown and it might be brilliant but your past experiences of hormones suggests it might not. I'd want them to establish why the pain is there and try and fix that instead of using another hormonal method to mask it.

If you're happy that your caregivers would remove the Mirena if it doesn't work out, it might be worth trying it. It may be different in America. Here, they are very reluctant to remove them for you and I have had friends told they need to wait another 6 months to give it chance. You might not be treated that way.

I live in Oxford, UK, and have been here for 13 years, so I think I would be under the non removal clause. But I will talk to the Dr before I get it put in with the condition that if I am not doing well and want it out...then I'll get it out. Thanks for that! x

I've had similar experiences with hormonal birth control and tried lots of different pills the last one of which caused depression.

Since the birth of my DS I've had increasingly painful periods and my GP has given me painkillers called Mefenamic acid, these have been brilliant in helping me manage the pain and he has now also referred me for an ultrasound scan and blood tests to begin to investigate why they are so painful.

I refused the merina as I've had friends who have had bad experiences and GP's who have been reluctant to remove them once fitted.

I love my mirena!
Far less side effects than the pill, almost no bleeding and very even moods.
I can't recommend it enough.

I'm sharing a similar conudrum to you. I have a history of gynae problems and yesterday saw a new consultant who thinks I probably have endometriosis as well as a host of other problems. All of which would be pretty much stopped if I have the mirena coil. I though have not got on with hormonal contraception before (both types of pills). I did have the mirena fitted for a year (about 12 years ago) and it did solve some of my problems, however whether it was co=incidence or not I did have an increase in anxiety whilst it was in, but I have suffered from anxiety for decades. Since then I suffered from PND following the birth of my 2nd child, and have spent 6 years battling depression and panic attacks, I am still not great. So I am worried about the mirena triggering a worst depression.

But the consultant has assured me that if I am not happy it can be taken out . I am probably going to have it fitted next week when I have a hysteroscopy as otherwise she was suggesting another laporoscopy which I am too panicky to have done atm, and if it did reveal endometriosis then she would still be reccomending the mirena.

I would be asking them if they are able to remove it immediately should you ever want to, and for whatever reason.

Sorry I forgot to add the consultant said that I stand far less chance of having side effects from the hormone in the mirena to the pill or injection as the dose in the mirena is so small (as it is placed exactly where it needs to be) and also it doesn't go round your system in the same way as a tablet or injection does.

Had the mirena for eight months, horrid thing. I bled almost constantly, when I wasn't bleeding I was spotting blood, and this horrid discharge, which apparently is something to do with the hormone in it. It thickens the mucous membranes or something according to the nurse. I have never really had any discharge so I found this hideous to live with. I'm skinny and struggle to gain weight, but I put on half a stone which is the only good that came of it! DP said I was moody. I definitely had less patience.

It can be good for some people, I would make an appointment to have the thing taken out the day you have it put in...ie an agreement that they will remove it if you request.

The Mirena didn't work for me - I gave it 9 months as suggested by my GP, but from the start I had 2 x 5 day periods a month with accompanying PMT. I didn't gain weight but after about 6 months my mood started to dip. I gave it another 3 months, but periods got heavier and pain came back so I decided to have it removed.

I am pleased I gave it a go, as I know it can be life changing for some people.

Tutu...yeah you have exactly what my Dr is saying to me. Endometriosis and other issues, which can apparently get fixed by the coil. Depression/panic attacks that I have had are under control...and worried that they will surface again if I get it. But I guess I can just get it taken out!

I had twins from second pregnancy, periods became increasing heavy and more frequent - bleeding for 10 days out of 20.
Had the Mirena fitted 3 years ago and now get spotting every 3rd month but not enough to warrant using sanitary protection.
Try it, I know many people, including docs, who use it and love it.

I have had the mirena for 5 years now. I had not used hormone contraception for years as I hated the pill.

For the first 3 months the mirena coil was awful, I had horrid spots and constant light bleeding. I was considering taking it out, then at 3 months it changed. All the side effects went away and I pretty much forgot I had it.

My periods have not stopped but are very light and are every 28 days as before. Getting a bit more random now but I put that down to age not the coil.