any research on Mirena side effects?

[Baskets45]

The thread on (age of) menopause has got me thinking about my options. I am 51 and still menstruating regularly. (I so want to be an 'average girl' in this instance and stop in next year or so. Mum was 52/3 so hopeful, but what if I go on another several years. aargh!) VERY heavy periods, and for last few years I've been using tranexemic acid and mefenamic acid (Ponstan) to control this. It works and I can go out and about on bad days, in a way i couldn't before I had those meds. However, I've been told I need to have its use reviewed. I am having a flare up of an autoimmune problem with my liver and concerned the Mirena will be pushed on me. I don't wanta Mirena or coil of any kind, don't need contrception as DH had his tubes done. Just don't fancy it and have concerns about the side effects. The practice GPs seem quite keen on Mirena, and it's been suggested to me as a good option with few side effects, and obviously it would be better for my liver. i've read all the anecdotes about problems with Mirena (weight gain, mood swings, acne, irreg bleeding - I have these already, why seek more trouble?), and wonder if anyone knows of good quality research on this. So i can make an informed choice and have info at fingertips before I see doc again.

I got referred to a consultant - and, having read the same as you, talked to him about the potential side effects. He was very open - and agreed that there were side effects and for a small minority, these outweighed the benefit of the coil. Because of his acceptance that there are potentially side effects and that some people might not get on with it and need it removed, I agreed to see if it dealt with my issues - luckily for me I don't appear to have the side effects.

That's interesting, mistlethrush. I was chatting to a GP socially/informally and her view was that most women don't have side effects.And if I don't want one, then don't have one! i don't think she'd push me to have it done either, but then again i'm not likely to go to a GP for this who's the mum of my son's mate, no matter how nice she is!! I'd still like to see some research, but suspect there isn't any. When I spoke to my GP friend some months ago my liver problem was under control, or so it seemed, and my main issue was the not wanting it inserted. The irony is that I trained in a previous life as afamily planning nurse, and though it was a doctor's role to do the coil insertions, I was around when they were done and I understand the theory. But I feel very squeamish at prospect of having it done on myself. Then again, i could probably remove it myself if I didn't like it ..... I'll need to do some more interweb searching later.

Yy I got a large hormonal ovarian cyst from Mirena, but I don't know anything aotu research tbh

it was about the size of a peach/nectarine/orange btw

It wasn't pleasant having it inserted, I can't suggest otherwise - got local anaesthetic part way through which helped a bit.... and odd shooting pains for several weeks afterwards. But since it settled down, all the other issues are so significantly improved, it was worth it for me.