Mirena & Depression - Five Fucking years of my life!! AIBU to have the rage?

[BeMorePanda]

I've been depressed for 5 years now. I've had depression in the past and have learned how to manage it very well, I know what signs to look out for and how to look after myself etc. Or so I thought.

Then shortly after DD2 was born I became fairly depressed. Not PND, more a general depression. And it became worse once I stopped BF. This was also around the time I left my abusive XP. So I attributed the depression to be living with an abusive arse (and suffering from gas lighting, very abuse, emotional abuse and a bit of financial abuse for good measure for several years).

I did have a wee surge of happiness after leaving him, but generally the depression continued. It was different than I had suffered before - more of a flat line depression.

My self esteem was rock bottom. None of my usual coping/self care tactics worked. I've been feeling so damaged. I've had 2 lots of counselling - nothing has really helped or got to the bottom of it.

Before having DD2 I was in a very happy place in myself, despite my rubbish relationship and difficult pregnancy. It now occurs to me that the only times in my adult life that I haven't been using hormonal contraception, coincided with me feeling normal, myself, happy, in charge of my life and not depressed.

Just last week I had a penny drop moment after reading about the Mirena coil & it's link to depression. And I realised I started feeling this way shortly after having it inserted after DD2 was born. I didn't notice the connection - at first I was BF and had all those happy hormones, I believed the doctor who talked of "localised hormones" etc, my relationship was rubbish and home life difficult and it simply never occurred to me that my "wonderful contraception solution" was actually an evil fucker, messing with me from the inside.

I thought I was one of the people who had got along with it - I loved having no periods, no hormonal fluctuations etc. I thought I had no side effects.

So I've been doing some reading around and I'm pretty sure that the Mirena is contributing to or even causing my unliftable low level constant depression.

It's been like living with a rock around my neck for all my daughters life. What a fucker.

And I just had a new one put in a couple of months ago. I'm making an appt to get it removed asap. Not once at any stage of the process of having TWO Mirena coils fitted did any one mention depression. When I talked to my GP about my ongoing depression Mirena was not mentioned or questioned.

I have read many threads where women have had acute reactions with the Mirena.

But AIBU to think I am not alone in this and there are many other women with similar revelations after a period of time being otherwise happy with the Mirena???

AIBU to think there is no joined up thinking in healthcare?

I had a year of absolute hell with the mirena.

Lost who in hindsight someone who had been a great BF... I was angry all the time, "hormonal", emotional, stressed, scatterbrained, couldn't sleep. I could go on.

As pp described, literally the day I had it out it was like a fog had been lifted. I really can't believe they don't warn you in the slightest.

Omg Hotfootit I totally forgot to mention the constant thrush - yy me too!

I am so many of us have had similar experiences- I am starting to wonder if Mirena coil may quietly disappear from the contraceptive marketplace , can't be much fun for nhs to be constantly putting them in & taking them out again.

I have a history of severe PMS (depression/anxiety kind) since puberty, and problems with the pill. Had a mirena for 3 years and cried almost daily and randomly: took it out around 2 years ago for MH reasons kand although I still have MH issues (longstanding anxiety disorder) it's been much much better and usually "just" the PMS.

The "localised hormone" thing is bollocks: the hormones go into your blood stream.

If more research on this was actually funded, bet this too would find a link between hormonal contraception and MH problems.

Trouble is condoms are not as reliable.

This is really interesting... I had my Mirena put in about 18 months ago. Brilliant for spontaneous sex apart from I have no libido, we've had sex in that period about 10 times!!

I'm covered in spots on my face, have put loads of weight on and just feel 'dead'.

I do feel more 'even' though... Before the Mirena I had 4 distinct weeks pms wise, one loving, one 'normal, one sex mad and one where I could easily have killed my dh.

If I get it taken out will I go back to being wildly different each week? That may be preferable to this constant 'deadness' though :(

Also totally forgot about the constant thrush and other strange goings on down there.

Every so often I'd get the most horrible of smells down there. I can't even describe it was so bad. Period x10 smell. And I could smell it fully clothed standing up. I still shudder at the thought of if I could notice it, so could others. I think that was the trigger that made me realise something was seriously wrong and it didn't agree with me.

Never had any issues down there, or in my head 4 years on.

I've literally only just read about the possible link (kids, work and life with lack of time!) but I'm really interested to find out if they have s proven link. I've had significant fluctuating depression for about 11/12 years and that's pretty much exactly when I got my first mirena fitted. I've had them since and I'm on my 3rd now.
Maybe I should get it removed. I'm pretty much menopausal now anyway. Even before the coil I'd go for several months between periods and after bloods they decided I was peri-menopausal even then.

I don't have the coil but I do have the implant which I think has similar drugs in it and I am debating having it taken out! I've been diagnosed with depression twice in my life - both times shortly after having it fitted.

I do feel like I'm kind of level at the moment - but still have quite a few down days and can feel myself spiralling downwards very quickly at time.

I think I'm going to have it taken out......reading this has just inspired me to do it!!

Thanks OP xx

hate progesterone is known to have sedating qualities, which can manifest as deadening your emotions, as you describe. It's also known to cause spots, greasy hair, hair loss.

I recognise what you say about your 4 week PMS cycle, as I was just the same. If you can afford it, many private gynaecologists are happy to treat your PMS with oestrogen, usually taken during the second half of your cycle. You can take it in tablet form, or transdermally in a patch or gel.

Also I'm tired all the time, can go to sleep in the middle of the day for hours, not great when I've got2 dc and a full time job!

Can you take it out yourself??

hate yes, progesterone is known to make you tired as well.

I wouldn't recommend removing it yourself, though.

MaQueen... That is crazy, I have never heard that re treating the pms, have struggled for 30 odd years with it and dd (11) has just started her periods and seems though she may have the same :(

Have private healthcare so will google now, thank you, seriously, this could be life changing for me

This article just popped up in my FB feed - timely.

https://broadly.vice.com/enus/article/the-racist-and-sexist-history-of-keeping-birth-control-side-effects-secret?utmm_source=broadlyfbus

You won't get the treatment on the NHS, unless you can get referred to a specialist PMS/Menopause clinic?

But, have a look at Prof Studd's (he's my consultant) website www.Studd.co.uk and read what he has to say about hormonal depression and progesterone intolerance. I think you will identify with so much of what he says.

I have always suffered with PMS and sadly it looks like my DD is going to be the same. There is a strong genetic link, unfortunately, so she will have inherited it from me (my Mum, her sister and their Mum all suffered with bad PMS).

More effort is needed to get the message out there, and stop women suffering needlessly in silence.

I had mine taken out today, had it done in my local family planning clinic. My doctors were useless with me wanting it out, 1 doctor putting them in and only works 2 times a week. Appointments to see her are gold dust.

Had mine since last July, as had long heavy periods and killer pmt.

Took me a long time to realise that the coil was causing so many problems. Headaches, nausea, spots, weight gain. Felt like crap all the time, like the whole world was on my shoulders. Snappy and was in a contest temper. My sleep is all over the place.

Now that's it out I'm hoping to start feeling better soon.

They really do need to give out more info on the horrible side effects this can cause. They also need to start taken us women more serious when we say that we want it out. It's our bodies and our choice!

Thought I'd give it a go myself and couldn't find strings!! Thank god I haven't had any libido... Drs appt as soon as I can I think

I have been reading the information from Professor Studd. It's so interesting. I have often wondered myself whether I have bi polar or bpd as my mood, thoughts and feelings fluctuate so wildly. Sometimes within the same day.

I am sorry to be so blunt but how much does a private consultation and on going treatment usually cost? I have never had private treatment in my whole life so could not even think of a ball park figure.

Sorry if this has already been shared but I read it this morning and thought of this thread.

broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/the-racist-and-sexist-history-of-keeping-birth-control-side-effects-secret

And now I see it's a few posts above mine! Oops!

I started the pill at 16/17 - 'just in case', to be responsible. Coincided with onset of depression and weight gain. I was given no warning about any side effects, never mind mental health.

Astonishing that we carry out mass hormonal manipulation of a sizeable percentage of half the population yet ask so few questions about it and concerning that it often begins while young women's bodies and brains are still developing.

Are we less fertile since the advent of hormonal contraception? So many people I know are having IVF, makes me wonder if it's the synthetic hormones persisting in women's bodies, and getting into our partners, or even affecting male embryos/foetuses and infants.

I would have been happy with ANY of the medical professionals I have seen over the last 6 or so years asking if I had a history of depression or if I was indeed actually depressed?

I would have been happy if, when I saw my doctor and other professionals about depression, they asked me about what birth control I was on (if they CBA to look at my medical records).

If this had happened I would have then been in a position to make the connection, or been aware of the possibility of a connection, myself a lot earlier, even if they were unprepared to do so.

There is no joined up thinking going on, and the mis-information we are told (localised hormones, very safe etc) totally dismisses the 10% of women who have side effects (I suspect its higher), many of them life altering.

10% with side effects is huge and GP's and other health professions must be aware of these people.

Are we less fertile since the advent of hormonal contraception? So many people I know are having IVF, makes me wonder if it's the synthetic hormones persisting in women's bodies, and getting into our partners, or even affecting male embryos/foetuses and infants.

Interesting thought

Are we less fertile since the advent of hormonal contraception? So many people I know are having IVF

Even if we are, as a population, less fertile since the advent of hormonal contraception, that's not necessarily because the synthetic hormones themselves are damaging fertility.

Before hormonal contraception, it would have been harder for a young woman in a sexual relationship to avoid pregnancy, after all.

So it could be something as simple as women have more control over their own fertility -> more women put off having children because they don't feel ready / don't get pregnant accidentally at a youngish age -> average age of TTC rises -> fertility problems increase with age -> more IVF

gosh I just had a quick google on birth control hormones in water & life cycles etc - it's hard to get a clear balanced POV.

It seems its a polarized areas with fundamental religious groups determined to show us scientifically that contraception is the root of all evil, vs pharma funded studies telling us everything is fine and it's all good.

We need some good unbiased science. I guess this is why the Copenhagen University study was so newsworthy - even though it is has flaws, and more research is required, its the best we have for the moment.

Could be, but it doesn't seem like there's much interest in finding out.