Cerazette not working, copper coil or Mirena?

[G3m81]

I'm currently taking Cerazette and having bad side effects. I feel bloated, my skin has suffered, I've put on weight and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to lose it, I feel depressed and my sex drive is non existent.
My GP has suggested the Mirena coil and said it contains less hormones and they are localised so less side effects but I'm not sure. I've also been looking into the copper coil and I'm swaying more towards being hormone free but I do like the fact cerazette stops my periods. Has anyone come off cerazette and had any of the coils fitted and found them better?

[eyeoresancerre]

I love my copper coil. Takes a few months to settle down eg more painful periods, bit of bloating for first couple of weeks. But I like no additional hormones and it's a great form of contraception. I didn't want the Mirena coil as feel dreadful with extra hormones
If you've any questions just ask.

[G3m81]

How long roughly did it take to settle down? I have no idea what my cycle will be like after coming off cerazette and I'm a bit nervous about going from no periods to the possibility of heavy periods. I can't even remember what my periods are like naturally because I've been on some form of hormonal contraception for so long.

[Pinkblueberry]

I was given cerazette after having DS because I was breastfeeding - I only lasted 4 days on it, it made me feel like I had morning sickness all over again. I’m back on mycrogynon now which I always used to take before - can’t you ask for that instead? Obviously everyone reacts differently to things but I have no side effects with it, my periods on it are light and you can take them back to back if you don’t want to bother with periods.

[1WayOrAnother]

Mirena for me! Love it, practically no periods at all. Had spots for about 6 months but nothing too hideous. Just had my mirena replaced with another one after 5 years. I couldn't cope with the copper, periods were far too heavy.

[G3m81]

I should add I can't have the combined pill so it's basically between the copper and Mirena coil because I don't fancy the implant and I know depo makes you put on weight.

[Roselilly36]

I am on my 3rd Mirena, would recommend, I had the copper coil before but my periods were really heavy. No periods with the Mirena, fab.

[eyeoresancerre]

Periods not any heavier but last a day longer. I'm peri menopause so can be a bit erratic anyway.
Cycle length stayed the same too. I know some people react badly to it but I feel clear headed & much less teary so for me it's been great.

[RicStar]

I am in a similar place but cerazette made me bleed every day and turned me into a crazy lady, so I am scared mirena which is the same hormones might do the same I am not really keen on copper coil either but think I am going to have to try it. I am too old and fat to go back on microgynon which is annoying as it was fine for me.

[coffeeagogo]

I've had my copper coil about 2 years now and it has been a life changer. I could never take hormonal contraceptives so relied heavily on condoms which always worried me after having a couple of mishaps.

Definitely my periods are heavier, more the first 2 days but tapers off quite quickly. I don't have an cramps or pain at all. As I was 40 when it was put in, I can just leave it in till menopause so not refitting in 5 years. I am very happy with it.

[Theseptemberissues]

I have a copper coil now, periods are heavier but shorter. Really happy with it!

[DianaTremaine]

Mirena has worked very well for me. I suffered debilitating menorrhagia and I can honestly say Mirena changed my life. I still get periods but they are very light.

[G3m81]

Thanks for all your replies. I think I'm going to give the copper one a go, if it's terrible then I'll try the Mirena. It's going to be nice to be hormone free after all these years!

[eyeoresancerre]

Good luck with the process, hope it goes great. Come back if you've any more questions.

[G3m81]

@eyeoresancerre thank you

[KitchenDancefloor]

Sorry, not sure of your circumstances but is a vasectomy for your OH an option? Sounds like you could do with letting your natural hormones reset for a wee while. Ignore if I'm way off beam with where you are with your family planning.

[G3m81]

@KitchenDancefloor I'm working on that one. I've told him if whatever I try next doesn't work it's his turn next!

[KitchenDancefloor]

I found repeating the message about the effect of female contraception on the libido did the trick quite nicely with my OH. It took quite a long time from 'okay' to booking the appointment but was worth the wait.

[Sunshineandflipflops]

Ihad a copper coil for about 8 years and although I found the insertion horrendous (no idea why as I'd had two children), it was fine until 8 years later when I started to get a lot of spotting so had it removed. My periods were no heavier than pre-children but as I'd been on the pill so long it's easy to forget what your 'natural' cycle is like.

My OH had the snip but now we are separated I'm having the contraception issue again and the mini pill just isn't suiting me (i'm 41 so not really allowed the combined pill). I'm considering the mirena but so scared about insertion and it messing with my cycle.

[LoopyLu2019]

I've switched from the mini pill (over the years I've had multiple brands) and before that I was on Depo. Totalling 7 years on progesterone only hormone based contraceptive. Now on copper coil (3 months in). I didn't realise the fog of my mood was down to progesterone, I have more mood swings now given I'm back to natural hormones, but there is a sense of fog lifting, almost like progesterone was giving me a bit of a depressive cloud - nothing serious and I've only noticed it was there since I've come off it. Insertion of coil was no issue, little uncomfortable for a few days, forget it's there now. Period wise they're returning, not yet as heavy as I remember my natural periods being 7 years ago. I chose copper because I'm prechildren and I wanted my body to get back into the swing of things ready for when I want to ttc. Rather than have the potential long wait for fertility to return when I want to conceive. No doctor is going to be giving me the excuse "give it time to return back to normal" if I have any signs of fertility issues. I was also sick of having a huge appetite and weight gain. Haven't lost weight yet but appetite has definitely reduced, so hopefully weight loss will come soon now I am getting on track.

Post children I will probably try mirena as I would rather not have periods, dose is very low compared to pill, and much more localised.

[G3m81]

Just an update, I talked everything over with my doctor and had the copper coil fitted on Tuesday. Fitting wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated and so far it's been good but I'm aware it's early days. It was nice to have a doctor who actually took on board all the problems I'd been having with cerazette and she advised me not to have the Mirena because it produces the same side effects as the mini pill. She told me to finish my pack of cerazette so Sunday is my last day then hopefully I'll be able to have a hormone free 10 years without any problems.

[eyeoresancerre]

G3m81 - how's it all going now your a few days on? Hope things are settling down. I was so bloated the first week but by the next week I felt better. Does take a few weeks to settle.
I

[G3m81]

@eyeoresancerre things are going okay thanks. I'm not bloated but I do keep having random cramps, probably doesn't help that I've finished my last pack of cerazette and I'm having a withdrawal bleed. It's my 4th day without cerazette and I already feel less bloated, fingers crossed I can actually loose some of this weight I put on now.

[eyeoresancerre]

Ah that sounds promising. I did feel pretty good when I stopped taking the pill. Felt like I was "me" again. Craps are pretty normal I think but they are a bit random. Mine settled after about week 3. Good luck with it all.

[LizzeyBenett]

Cerazette is progesterone and so is the mirena so probably not the best choice maybe a copper coil would suit you best ? I just got a Mirena fitted today never had a coil before just be prepared it's not pleasant but only lasts a few minutes 😖 I'm ok with progesterone it's the estrogen I can't use .

[G3m81]

@LizzeyBenett I had the copper coil fitted over 2 weeks ago. My doctor said it would be the best choice for me, if this doesn't work then I'm being sterilised because I can't go back on the mini pill with all the side effects.