Mirena coil vs endometrial ablation? Any advice welcome please.

[Sarannie]

Hi, I'm 45 and have been having horrendous periods for a while now - flooding, v painful and I'm anaemic most of the time as the iron pills can't seem to keep up.
I've been for a gynae appointment today and the Mirena coil (which I've had before) was heavily pushed at me. When I had it before I bled all the time, not much but enough to be very annoying. I had it removed after 8 months. The consultant said I should have persevered but I couldn't stand it any longer.
The other option was endometrial ablation and she said 'only 75% of our patients are happy with the result....'. and seemed to be trying to put me off it.
She took a uterine biopsy (which hurt like hell!) and said result would be 4 weeks.
I asked for time to think about it as I'm so unsure about having another Mirena.
Any advice on either would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Gynae's around the country seem to be really pushing the Merina, im starting to think they get some serious commision for them!!

I thought you were going to say this was your first go, in which case it would be worth trying the Merina at least. But Im guessing you arent planning any more children? and if the Merina made you have problems before it will again. Lots of people have problems with it. So id try the ablation.

I've been in the same position as you. Previous attempt at the coil made my bleeding worse so I refused to try it again.

Had ablation 6 weeks ago and am very happy with it. Period last week I didn't even need panty liners, slight smear of blood on wiping was it. Though I know over the next few years this may increase. Drs said to me and the research I found suggested over 90% of people were happy with it.

I've just read your post and you are describing me about 18 months ago.

I had fairly heavy periods like you around then and at my smear test was offered the Mirena coil. I decided to have one and during the time I had it in (6 months), spotted continually, had breast pain and felt foggy headed. When I had it removed I felt relief but unfortunately my periods returned and gradually got worse. One lasted over two weeks and I then had to take a pill (norethisterone) to stop it. I also got through a lot of tranexamic acid tablets.

I'm 43 now and had an endometrial ablation in April last year. Since then I've had very light periods, lasting 5 days. I really recommend it. I would urge you not to have another Mirena. Before I had my ablation the gynaecologist said to me that the Mirena is pushed by the NHS because it's a cheap option.

I did think carefully about having an ablation done as it meant having no more children but I have had four and really couldn't see myself having any more. My gynaecologist offered to clip my tubes at the same time as becoming pregnant after an endometrial ablation is dangerous.

I honestly have no regrets. It was the best decision for me.

By the way if you're not happy with your consultant and sense you are being pressuried into something you don't want, you can see another. You are entitled to a second opinion.

I wish you all the best x

Ablation over Mirena, IMO.

Stand your ground. She wasn't the one bleeding for 8 months.

I haven't met anyone who's not pleased with ablation, provided it's not that heated ballon/water method.

Mine was done by thermachoice which is the balloon and water method and I'm happy with it.

Wow!!! Thanks so much for such brilliant replies. Yes I think I have up my mind and I agree the NHS do appear to be pushing me towards their option, the cheapest.
Thank you all

I'd vote for ablation as well if you've already tried Mirena. I had Mirena for 3 years, it was fine to start off with but then I found I was bleeding for almost 2 weeks each month and it was filling me with hormonal rages and depression for a week before that. I had ablation done (Novasure) a couple of months ago and it's been amazing (see other ablation thread further down).

I think you've also been given duff statistics on the ablation option - I was told it was about 80% of people are happy with Mirena (which to be fair I was for a couple of years) and 90% were happy with ablation. I've heard someone else say they were being pushed towards Mirena recently as well so it does seem to be a trend amongst consultants at the moment - mine was fab though and agreed that I'd exhausted pretty much every other option and he was happy to do it.

I had the abalation three years ago, never tried Mirena.

I still have a very slight period, hardly worth mentioning, no pain or flooding.

100% happy with the result.

I feel so much bettter without the constant anemia.

I had Novasure ablation almost 2 years ago and the result has changed my life from heavy bleeding/flooding, pain and low iron levels to virtually nothing each month. I know I still have a period but no bleeding with mild occasional twinges that don't need pain relief.

Initially GP/Nurse (nhs) was trying to persude me to try Mirena but said nothing of possible side affects but as soon as I said I had private health care, got immediate referral to Gynae consultant who said Mirena was not an option for me as I had previously had a bad experience with a coil several years before. He promoted Novasure as the best thing provided I had finished my family (was 45 then) and gave me 95% success rate of reduced bleeding and 50% chance of no further bleeding.

For me, this was the better option as I didn't want the mirena and extra hormones in my body.

Would recommend you research EA for yourself. I also got to talk a nursing sister at the hospital I went to, who had also had an EA - and she worked with the consultant who performed the procedure.

NHS and private health had different views on the treatment for heavy periods.

Hope this helps.
x

Thank you ellieday that is very interesting. Fairly certain I will go for the ablation. Just waiting for the biopsy result.
Thank you

Hello everyone, I just wanted to thank you all again for helping me to make my mind up:) I am awaiting my appointment for the endo ablation. Can't wait. At my appointment on Monday the dr still tried to me off with horror stories but I stood my ground thinking of all the positive comments on here.
Cheers X

Hi Sarannie , just to add my voice to all that's been said here. I had the same problem, horrendous flooding, 3 separate gynaes tried to get me to have the Mirena, none even mentioned the ablation, I had to investigate that myself and request it.

Had it done 2 years ago and the difference is amazing. Good on you for standing your ground.

Btw - it was actually a nurse in the day procedure unit where I had a hysteroscopy who told me to go away and google Mirena coil side effects and look into alternatives.

i am reviving this thread as i think very few women have heard of ablation which seems to be a good solution to sort out the bleeding during the pre menopause and the peri menopause.

Also wanted to add that for heavy/hamorragic flow it's not an either/or option: i have tried successfully acupuncture (chinese version not the westernized acupuncture) and also a common herb called Lady's mantle (achillea vulgaris) in tincture extremely effective, it's a traditionnal remedy.

culpepper recommends it for 20 days and then stop

a modern herbalist i consulted recommends the achillea glabra variety in tincture from day 15 to day 25 of the cycle (28 days) that is second half of the cycle.

One woman from a different endometriosis forum has used it on my recommendation and found it lessened her bleeding and pain-

please think outside the box

doctors don't know everything nor do they care to.

As the thread is 2 and a half years old do the statistics still stand? My gynae is pushing mirena but I think I prefer EA. He put me on zoladex fo three months, my first period after my injection was awful. I am not doing it again. I have made an appointment with a gp on Friday. This thread has made me more determined to stick with EA. Thanks marlena121. Wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't resurrected it. Very timeous.

Does anyone know if an ablation is carried out under a general or local anesthetic? Thanks - my GP didn't know when I asked her about this last week.

Little bump as I am seeing my GP tomorrow and would like to know a bit more about it. Not feeling so confident if my GP is going to be as uninformed as yours boobashka

from what i found out endometrial ablation is done under local anaesthatic (in spine?)
the womb is filled up with a hot balloon which burns off its lining

you can find more info from a net search using the keywords: thermal endometrial ablation uk, patients comments or forum

boobashka and gic why are you wanting one? have you had an investigation of your bleeding done?
Would you not try less invasive methods first like the ones i posted above?

If you suffer from fibroids and polyps like i did there are some patients testimonies on The British fibroids trust.

I have had endometriosis for almost 30 years. Had a few different procedures. My experience with the zoladex injection this month has finished me off. I think because I have had it before and it was great so to have had such a horrendous period was just horrible. Still have my period actually. Thought it finished but no. I can't bear the thought of more faffing with a mirena.

very interested in this as I had the merina put in 3 months ago for bleeding caused by fibroids. So far I am not impressed - still bleeding & now have acne! Gynae said that it if carries on ablation is the next option. Just wondered if anyone with fibroids had had it done. Also my womb lining is quite thin so would it still be as effective?
Thx.

marlena121 I'm thinking of asking for ablation as my periods are getting much heavier now (I'm 38), can't have hormonal treatment and have tried the Mirena but didn't get on with it.

Heartened to hear that ablation is carried out under local anesthetic.

I'd be interested to hear further experiences of ablation. Thanks

Well.....kind of steam rollered into......waiting. After years of trying to get my thyroid dealt with I have to take thyroxine to see if my period settles down....... 10 years... 10 years of saying "what about my thyroid"......

I had both done at the same time (under general anaesthetic - not in UK) i.e. fibroids removed by ablation and Mirena coil fitted. Best thing I ever did, especially considering I was under GA so knew nothing about it . I have to admit that having Mirena replaced 5 years later with no anaesthetic was not so pleasant! That being said I went from horrendous periods/flooding to now being in year 8 of no periods . Once this Mirena has expired (5 year lifespan) that'll be me sorted I hope (menopause and all that).

Had Mirena coil but felt it coming out out. The prong caught me painfully in my fanjo, the GP hauled it out, this was a horrendous experience and finally I had a hysterectomy and the GP left the practice.

I'm in the same boat as you, my mirena caused me to bleed every day until it fell out after six months. I'm currently on cerezette which worked for six months with no bleeding at all nit even a period, but I'm currently on day 15 of a period.

So options are ablation or hysterectomy, doctors view hysterectomy as the final option so I expect to be offered an ablation.