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Original poster

Anyone know about the Mirena coil???????

41 replies

Nemoinapeartree · 02/01/2006 11:07

Hi just been having a chat with MW about contraception. DH thinks he doesnt want anymore kids but we are only 28 and not 100% sure. He was talking about a vasectomy which I think is too final. We have a 2yr old and a 2wk old so obviously too early to be making any decisions. MW just mentioned the mirena coil and said it is 99.6% effective and once fitted it is in place for 7 yrs unless you get it removed. Sounds like a good option for us as even if we did have more I would want a 4yr gap now. So just wondered about peoples experiences of it.

OP posts:
Pfer · 02/01/2006 11:25

This is the one with hormones isn't it? If it is then it's the one I tried. Painless to put it and to remove. Painful on DH as the threads kept hacking him to bits....

The problem I found was that my PMS came back.

Original poster
Nemoinapeartree · 02/01/2006 11:27

ouch about the threads. Yes apparently it has prostegen in it but on a lower scale then would get with the pill which doesnt agree with me at all.

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 02/01/2006 11:29

Message withdrawn

Pfer · 02/01/2006 11:31

Think that's what happened to me. Not so good on the progestogen only pill while b/feeding either.
IME I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who has a history of bad PMS like myself.

Have you thought about the pill? Could you get on with this? I started on celest about 4 months ago and have been infertile and pms free since!!

Original poster
Nemoinapeartree · 02/01/2006 11:33

I was on celeste for years when I was younger and it just didnt agree. Mood swings were horrendous. Although the coil isnt sounding much better.

OP posts:
lucykate · 02/01/2006 11:35

i've had a mirena for 5mnths, had it fitted 6 wks after ds was born, no probs so far and would recommend it. (have also had a normal hormone free coil between dd and ds, but prefer the mirena)

Pfer · 02/01/2006 11:36

According to my GP it's all about trial and error. She gave me celest to try (for the pms) and I got lucky in that it worked.

Had been on femodene in the past and that made me depressed.

Maybe you should talk to your GP and see what they recommend.

Original poster
Nemoinapeartree · 02/01/2006 11:38

pfer i am going to go to the family planning clinic and have a chat as they are the people who deal with it the most. MW actually recommended getting it fitted there if I was going to as a lot of GPS tend not to fit it properly as they dont do them all the time.

OP posts:
Helen38 · 02/01/2006 11:39

It suits some people but not all. I had mine in for 3yrs before I realised that it was making me depressed, like really bad pmt with the gaps getting shorter and shorter until it was all of the time.
Having said that, it took me so long to realise it was that causing it partly because it was really good in a lot of ways, no periods - was bf when had it fitted and never started again and very easy, just have to check is there once a month. I had it because had just had ds2 and didn't think wanted more but not 100% sure, am now 32wk pg with no 3 so would def of regretted something more permanent.
I would say unless you are very sensitive to hormones, it's worth a go as long as you are aware of possible side affects, I had mine removed and as soon as my normal cycle kicked in i was fine, they come out very easily. If it suits you you don't need to worry for 5 yrs and if you want more babies it takes 5mins to remove and you can get pg straight away. Hope that helps a little.

Original poster
Nemoinapeartree · 02/01/2006 11:44

thanks helen it does help to hear all the different experiences. See one of the problems I have is that I already suffer from depression but then maybe the antidepressents I am on will combat the feelings from the coil aswell..lol

OP posts:
biglips · 02/01/2006 12:06

ive got mirena coil - had it fitted when i had my first period (baba was 8 weeks old) and ive had no prblems at all with them... my last period was last August so its suited me... the reason why im on it cos i cannot take the pill ever again as causes me to have a hypertension BP

biglips · 02/01/2006 12:07

nemo - the only way that you can find out if its suited you is to have one fitted in, and if it doesnt suited you, you can have it taken out at anytime.

biglips · 02/01/2006 12:09

i had mine does at the Family planning clinic too and once fitted they will ask you to come back 6 weeks (i think!) to check if everythings in place

Nemo1977 · 02/01/2006 19:22

biglips thanks for that. It does sound like a feasible option for me so will see what family planning say.

bootsmonkey · 02/01/2006 19:59

Second Helen38 - I loved my Mirena - no periods, very easy. Had two - one before DD, took 3 months to conceive when I had it taken out, then another when she was 6 weeks old. Had it removed last August as I was turning into the psycho bitch from hell and was really beginning to doubt my sanity!! It incrementally cranked up each month until I felt no longer in control at any time. Be careful - if it works for you it is a great form of contraception, but 'mood swings' are one of the side effects.

satine · 02/01/2006 20:01

I've had one for three months and so far I've been really pleased. No side effects, and no periods, although I do 'spot' from time to time.

tegan · 02/01/2006 20:50

I am on my second and I think they are amazing.
I had my first fitted and never had a period until i had it taken out to have dd2. Then I had the second fitted when she was 3 months old and now at 20 months I still haven't had a period - how amazing.

Furball · 02/01/2006 20:56

I'm also happy with mine. I've had it since June 2002 and not had a period since!

leggymamba · 03/01/2006 09:38

Do the mood swings happen when you would normally be getting a period? Those that don't get mood swings - are you normally sane during your period anyway? I get very shouty during period - will this continue or get worse. I know It's different for everyone but am scared of putting my family through hell for a few months if I don't need to!

bootsmonkey · 03/01/2006 09:45

With me, I was fine before having my DD. Always had a bit of a chocolat frenzy around the time of the month, but that was it. The hormonal upheaval of pregnancy/birth/PND changed all that forever. It kind of snuck up gradually. It was hard to see where PND finished and PMT took over, but it got worse and worse, until I was down to about a day or two of feeling calm immediatley after my period and then it would start to build again. The week before my AF, I was borderline psychotic. Not nice and scared me not a little. I resigned myself to cramps and periods once more in order to get my sanity back!

Nemo1977 · 03/01/2006 17:52

mmm the info about mood swings/pmt is interesting as I am quite bad then anyway as in it usually makes my depression worse just before AF is due. DH also thinks I may have problems as I have a awkward posterior cervix which always causes problems for smears and in labour etc so they may have trouble attaching the coil.

spacedonkey · 03/01/2006 17:54

I've had a mirena coil in for 2 years. I have put on weight during that time, but I don't think that's down to the coil! It is hassle free contraception, with the bonus of no periods (or very light ones)

Rach69 · 03/01/2006 18:42

I'd recommend the mirena personally, the dose is much lower than the mini-pill but the progesterone is the same thing. I would definitely go to your FPA to get it fitted because they are a dab hand - also take a couple of painkillers first, it's no worse than a smear but it is crampy afterwards for a couple of days. After a couple of weeks of heavy bleeding, I had virtually nothing for a year. Took it out after a year and fell pregnant immediately.

Helen38 · 04/01/2006 08:52

You can put on weight with it, I still had a stone of baby weight when I had mine taken out and half of that fell of without trying within a month of coil coming out, was also rather spotty!

bootsmonkey · 04/01/2006 08:56

Ah yes, the spots!