Debating having the Marina fitted......Anyone have/had it?

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Evening all!

Well long story short, ive been suffering for a long time now from really heavy periods and mid cycle bleeding. I've had varies checks and have been given the all clear for anything nasty.

The problem is, the older I get, the heavy my periods are. I'm only 28 now, but it's getting to the point where even super extra plus AND a towel aren't lasting more than 20 minutes. So obviously it's getting the stage where i'm having to plan things around my period. Sometimes I can't leave the house for fear of accidents.

My gp keeps suggesting the Marina coil, but I really don't like the idea of pumping hormones into my body. I've only ever used condoms.

Another, albeit less concerning problem, is weight gain. I first started researching it about 6 or 7 years ago and all the reviews I read were pretty horrific. Things like "get this thing out of me!!" or "i'm put on 20lbs in a month!!".

I'd really appreciate your advice and experiences please.

Thanks for reading

I had one and it was fine, took a bit of settling in but generally ok. I'm very sensitive to hormones and although I did notice the mirena had an effect on my moods it was manageable and the benefits far out weighed the negatives.

Try it, you can always get it taken out if it's not for you.

Had one fitted about 2 months ago and its been fine although my bleeding is lighter I have bled a lot more than I hoped.

Oh dear. Have I spelt Marina/Mirena wrong cupcake? It's been a while since I last researched it.

What about headaches? If I get any side effects, it's always a headache for some reason and i've heard they're especially common with this coil.

cupcake, when you say they have an effect on your moods, to what extent? When i'm about to come on, i'm a little bit.........erm.............firey shall we say? So the idea of me becoming more hormonally unhindged concerns me. I'm not sure dp would stick around actually

Any weight gain?

The mirena suited me really well. No noticeable weight gain and no mood swings, in fact I think my mood swings settled down because it made my irregular periods stop altogether.

I love mine. I didn't really want one because being on the pill made me feel as if I was just coming down with something, but all the time, so I only used condoms for years too.

I haven't really noticed any effect on my moods - no worse than normal PMT anyway. I still have periods, but they are much, much lighter, and hardly any pain. I haven't put on any wei.ght, I don't have headaches.

If they took them off the NHS I would seriously consider paying for one myself.

When I say I didn't want one, I wanted the traditional one, but the doctor convinced me. I am very grateful.

I love mine, I'm on my second one (so have had one for 6.5 years). No noticeable side effects, yes I'm grumpy sometimes (but I work, DH works abroad and have 1 x DS(9)!), yes have gained some weight (but now have hip problem, not been running & menopause age!).....

So far so good.

Is it painful to have it fitted?

No, not really. It was a little uncomfortable and I did get some cramping pains afterwards but nothing that an over-the-counter pain killer couldn't deal with.

I took painkillers before mine was fitted and it wasnt too bad. I have had slight bleeding on a few occasions but nothing major and havent put on any weight.

Can I ask how long you've had it fitted seona

When I researched it years ago, I heard that the women who were putting on weight, put it on all round their middle. I wouldn't mind too much if it was spread out, but all round the tummy and hips really put me off. Obviously, it doesn't seem to be sounding the case so far...........

I have only had mine for 4 or 5 months. I havent put on weight (and cant afford to as I am big enough already!) and havent changed shape either.

There's a great thread from the weekend. Most hate their BASTARD mirena.

I fell pregnant on mine.

Having the mirena fitted was quite life changing for me - in a good way!

It sorted our all of my problems - I used to flood regularly and would be in so much pain that I would go completely white and look like I was about to pass out.

I now have no periods , just the occasional light spotting. My moods have really evened out too ( I used to have a complete meltdown once a month! )

No weight gain for me - I'm slimmer now than I was before it was fitted ( had it fitted when I was 36 and replaced at 41) I'm now 42 and would not be without it.

I can honestly say there have been no problems with it at all but it obviously works differently for everyone.

I love mine. No periods and I am on my third so have had 10+ years.

I'm so pleased this is about the Mirena. For a minute I was worried the op planned to fit a large gathering of boats in to her uterus........

OP - I would have one if I were you. With periods as you describe you NEED a few hormones to sort things out.

I've had mine 3 years and it ok....

My SIL's periods stopped completely, so I feel hard done by! I bled pretty much every day for the first 7 months, never very much but a little bit every time I wiped. Since then I the bleeding has settled. I still get periods, not sure how often but less so than without it. I used to bleed for 10 days+ and got anaemic, now it's very light.

I have put on weight, but when I had it fitted I'd just got to target weight with slimming world, and I came off the plan so I think the weight gain is down to that not the mirena!

I would say try it. They say it takes atleast 6 mths to settle down. I couldn't get on with it but I suffer with depression so anything hormonal affects me. At first I had cramping with clots & bleed lightly for 3 1/2 mths. I had permanent PMS, greasy skin & hair & just felt yuk. I had to get it taken out. Everyone reacts differently, my friend had it & loves it. Hardly any bleeding or side effects.

I've had one for 18 years (not the same one obviously!). Clearly it works for me. 6 weeks of spotting then no periods at all, ever, since then. No noticeable weight gain and have dieted successfully while having it.

I'm on my second. I'd probably be looking at a hysterectomy without one, which is major surgery I don't want (I bleed loads)

Yeah, bit ouchy going in but just take pain killers, bit ouchy coming out...Let's just say I have white trousers in my wardrobe now which I couldn't even have contemplated before. It's good for me and not everyone thinks it's the 'Bastard Mirena'

But don't have a Marina Coupe fitted. That would hurt.

I love mine.

On the hormone side I think it is fairly low dose since it is being delivered to where it is needed, not circulated around the body first as with the pill.

Had mine fitted yesterday, so watching with interest. I know many women think it's BASTARD Mirena, but I think my periods are a BASTARD, so I'm hoping for a good result. I have anaemia, and am hoping for it to resolve, plus the fear of leaving the house on a heavy day. The fitting was very quick. My bleeding does now have a funny smell, not man arse, more plasticky, just different. But I have only had it for less than 24 hours.

I know two women in RL who have loved it. I think that people who have had problems are more likely to post on a forum than those that are just going about their lives normally.

I'm not going to live the unfortunate spelling mistake down am I

Good point mad. Be good if you good report back after a few weeks. Hope it's sucessful for you.

Julia, I actually suffer with depression too, so i'm a little concerned when you say that it didn't work for you because of your depression.

I suppose I still have an issue with pumping hormones into my body. Yes it's isolated with the MIRENA unlike the pill, but the idea of hormones being constantly fed into that area................I don't know. Does anyone know how long the Mirena has been around for?

From reading all of this though, it's sounds as though it's really transformed a lot of lives.

I had one a couple of years ago. Am 50 this year. My periods were heavier and could go on 7-10 days. All over the place with them too, I'd just finish one and a week later start again! Had blood tests. Not menopausal so, tried Mirena coil.

Had for just over a year. Then had it removed. My problem was that I'd have constant spotting. So, I felt even worse than before and had no sex life!

Interestingly, once it was removed my previously heavy and prolong cycle flipped back again into a 28 day, 5 or 6 day period cycle! So, I like to think that coil shocked my own reproductive system into behaving itself!