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General health

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Original poster

MIRENA COIL OR YASMIN?

17 replies

slinkyboo · 02/09/2010 17:33

Sorry for the capitals but I need advice desperately.

The concise version: I've been on Pill for eons. Most recently on Yasmin - tolerated very well though have put on weight (but that might be my piggish tendencies ). Am also on Sertraline (AD) for recurring mild depression. Want to get away from hormones, ideally, so am contemplating a coil. Would like copper but worried about heavy periods that seem to be expected with it. So now thinking about Mirena but wondering about its tendency to cause feelings of lowness which would not sit well with my tendency to depression anyway.

Any advice? If I've tolerated Yasmin (combined Pill) does that mean I'll have no probs with Progesterone-only coil (Mirena)? Or does Prog-only cause more cases of depression?

Shall I just try the copper coil and see how I get on??

Help

OP posts:

Original poster

slinkyboo · 02/09/2010 18:18

OP posts:

Original poster

slinkyboo · 03/09/2010 08:52

one last bump.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 03/09/2010 09:00

TBH, I would not try Mirena if you have any inkling of depression, especially hormonally-linked depression like PND.

You can try copper.

But Mirena was a 'mare for me.

I'm on NuvaRing now whilst waiting for DH to get the all-clearn from vasectomy and it's working so well clearing up my skin I think I might stay on it.

But still we're both glad he had the snip because we never want any more children, each of us.

TitsalinaBumSquash · 03/09/2010 09:05

I have suffered a lifetime of Depression and i was having PMT so bad i was getting violent and irrational during my period. My periods were agony and i was having so many hormone related symptoms that it was really effecting my life. I got a Mirena Coil in Feb and it has been the best thing i have done, Periods have all but stopped and the other symptoms have got better and my depression hasn't got worse at all.

MollysChambers · 03/09/2010 09:07

I think you need to speak to your doc. My undestanding is mirena is a lower dose hormone than the pill. I have a mirena and have had no problems with it but I don't have depression. Also although mirena lasts for five years it can be removed at any time. Fertility returns pretty much immediately so I would (tentatively) suggest that would be the same with state of mind if there was a problem. Speak to your doc though.

expatinscotland · 03/09/2010 09:08

Oh, yes, beware! They'll all tell you how low dose Mirena is it can't possibly cause side effects. Believe you me, it does!

Do a search on here and you'll see that!

If it ain't broken, don't fix it! I'd stay on Yasmin and try a diet and more exercise and see how you get on first.

Original poster

slinkyboo · 03/09/2010 10:24

Thank you all. I really appreciate the replies.

I think I am leaning towards staying on Yasmin for the time being. We are moving abroad on the 1st October and maybe it's not such a great time to be trying something radically new. My appointment to have the coil fitted is next Weds, which only leaves three weeks-ish to sort out any problems with it...or struggle to do so in a different country with a million other things to do!

Expat is right about the diet/exercise...I did lose 6lbs last year through just that, and I was on Yasmin.

So...off to doc to stock up on Yasmin. Thank you all, again

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neytiri · 03/09/2010 10:30

i have a mirena, on my second now, so have had one in for just over 5 years. have to say, for me, it works. no side effects plus my migraines have reduced in frequency. but like molly said, i also have no pre-existing depression. have had a copper coil too between dd and ds, much preferred the mirena.

pilates · 03/09/2010 11:05

I am waiting for my mirena to be removed, together with fibroids (which I didn't have before the mirena was fitted). It doesn't suit everyone and didn't me. Bleeding all the time, no cycle and feeling very low.

moragbellingham · 03/09/2010 12:16

Having been on Yasmine/ combined pills for twenty odd years I thought the Mirena was a suitable alternative.

Read up about the side-effects very thoroughly though.
I got virtually everything going physically and mentally! And a ten month continuous period.
Fantastic.

yesway · 03/09/2010 12:23

I had a mirena fitted yesterday.
I read far too much online before hand - the internet is awash with people attributing every known symptom under the sun to their mirena.
Sadly people who love it don't bother coming to its defence.
I decided to go for it on the basis that the research is very positive with only statistically small numbers of people having problems. And any problems from progesterone are likely to be the same or less than being on the pill as the dose that gets into your blood is so much lower. ( I suppose the lack of oestrogen may make for different symptoms).

Ultimately if it is a disaster I will get it taken out. In the mean time I'm looking forward to saying goodbye to my periods and not having to think about pill popping for a few years. (although I am still taking the pill for 6 weeks just in case it falls out before the check - I really don't want any more children!)

pilates · 03/09/2010 12:45

Good luck yesway, hope it suits you. Good idea about taking the pill before your check up, because when I had a recent scan to check the mirena was still there the hospital told me to take added protection because mine wasn't in a good place.

yesway · 03/09/2010 13:32

Oh my god! where was it!

Gigantaur · 03/09/2010 13:35

i don't suffer from depression but i was a miserable moody cow when i had the mirena in.

jellybeans · 03/09/2010 13:39

I have had 2. First one I had removed after over a year thinking it had caused my weight gain and spots. Turned out they were down to something else and I got the same after my next baby at the same time I had the mirena last time. In other words some people may think the effects are due to the mirena (and in some cases they will be) but they are just coincidental.

I have family history of depression and had PND and have been fine on mirena. It stopped my very heavy periods. My (mild) acne has stayed the same as have my migraines. It is so nice not having awful periods every month that left me unable to go out and not to have to worry about pregnancy or the finality of being sterilised.

I would think the mirena is safer as it is like having 2 mini pills a week whereas the combined pill is more hormones.I tried the Yasmin but got terrible migraines on it and stopped after a few days.

pilates · 03/09/2010 13:53

yesway - don't know, but like you do not want anymore children so gave me a bit of a fright!

Original poster

slinkyboo · 03/09/2010 16:14

Very interesting...I guess it all comes down to the individual and what suits them. I have a good friend who is very happy with her Mirena, another friend had nothing but trouble as soon as it was fitted (headaches, backache etc). I have got on very well with Yasmin, other women have side-effects.

For me, it is a case (as expat said) of 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' or however the adage goes.

Why oh why, though, is there NOTHING that men can take??? Why is birth control entirely on our shoulders? (Apart from vasectomy, of course...)

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