Mirena coil

[Lizzer]

Hi all, after my treatment (see smear tests) I am wanting to have the Mirena coil fitted. I've read the blurb but don't actually know anyone who has one. Really I'm interested more in the fact that it often changes / stops periods because of the small amount of progesterone in it, and was wondering how this affected people. Also I was told there is a lot of breakthrough bleeding when first inserted? I was under the impression that you can't feel it at all, but wondering if that's true? I've never had a coil fitted before so hope it is the right decision for me. My GP told me it was as affective a contraception method as man having a vascetomy!! Which sounds great for me at the moment... Any comments welcome.

I strongly agree. I had my mirena out to ttc and only came looking for this website when I realised that I felt so different (calmer and less panicky) So if DH and I weren't ttc I would still be in the mess I was in last month. I thought I was going mad or the very least getting agrophobia. Please get it removed for you and your families sake. It should be banned.

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I am so glad to see that my doctor was wrong in telling me there are no side effects from the Mirena. I had it in for about 2 months. Within that two month timeframe, I became depressed, tired, ongoing MIGRAINES and completely unsexual. My fiance was going insane thinking that it was him. I have always been a very sexual person with him so I new something was REALLY wrong when I just wasn't into at all. I went to my doctor this past Thursday and told her to take it right out. She of course tried talking me out of it saying none of those things could be caused by the Mirena. I gave her quite an additude and told her that its pretty funny that SO MANY other women are going through the same things I am. So she took it out. It has only been 3 days, yet I swear I feel a complete difference in myself. I feel so much better, and lets just say my fiance isn't worrying about anything be wrong with him anymore . Well the only last issue I need to get over is I started my period almost 2 weeks ago and was having the wicked migraines, now that they took the mirena out, I am still bleeding and worse. I'm starting to worry about loosing too much blood. Has anyone else had that problem?

Hello all, I've just had the mirena fitted on Monday after sufferung with endometriosis for several years. Can anyone tell me is it normal for it to have hurt so much when it was put in? I was warned it would be uncomfortable (that was an understatement) I am usually really good with pain but I just was not prepared for that. I am also having some very severe pains in my stomach now and wonder if this is also normal. The pains in my stomach are worse than the endometriosis. Can anyone give me some advice please? xxx

I too have had a bad experience with my Mirena coil. I have twice discussed with my GP possibility of side effects and the gp plays these down prefferring to think they dont exist.If the progesterone level is too small to give any side effects, then why is it there at all? If this coil is strong enough to stop my heavy periods altogether, then surely it is having a massive 'effect' on my body.i feel as if I am going mad, my mood swings are very violent (though so far I havent actually hit anybody)I am limp with tiredness, and have weepy sessons, just like bad pmt.I for one am sick to death of gp's [often fellow women who should be more sensitive to a woman's needs], poo pooing womans's worries about health issues. Its an insult. Most women I know do not have time to visit their GP and often put off discussing worries only to be put down. I wont say dont have mirena fitted because i have been happy that my heavy bleeding has been irradicated by it. However, if it is making you so depressed that life is unbearable then have it taken out. I know i am about to insist on this. As per usual women have to make choices that are basically a toss between the devil and the deep blue sea. Put basically we cant win!

I mentioned my suspicions about the mirena to the practice nurse at my GP surgery (she's a sexual health specialist) and she completely poo-pooed my concerns about it. As you rightly say rainthepain, low dose notwithstanding, it's powerful enough to stop periods, so surely it's powerful enough to cause side effects?

Also would like to agree with essbee, Having had the marina coil fitted has honestly given me back so much of my life.
I've had mine 2 years now and after a couple of months my periods stopped completly, after years of flooding, long periods you wouldn't believe how free I now feel.

ihave been to see my GP today and she is going to remove my mirena tomorrow. I went with a list of symptoms written down incase I forgot.She says that many of my symptoms ie spotty greasy skin and swelling and bloating are signs of progesterone intolerance!The rest can also be a sign of depression.She asked me to keep the mirena in and take anti depressants to deal with the mood swings.However even though i know I will start bleeding heavily again, I needed to see the wood for the trees.I need to get rid of the coil and if any of the symptoms are still there we can deal with them at a later date. Interestingly, she said that she would remove it but because the mirena coil is so 'expensive' she will not be in a position to replace it should I change my mind again. Maybe this is on the doctors minds when they try to discourage us from having them removed! If they have had to justify the expense of putting these in women they do not want women to trivialise them and not to give them a decent shot!

I had a Mirena put in July 2002. I wasn't prepared for how painful it was to insert (apparently you should have it inserted during a period) and I was shaking when I came out of the clinic.

Now the good news ! I love it to bits. I am 43 and didn't want to take any contraceptive pills mostly because I am useless at remembering to take them. And I definitely didn't want any more kids.

My periods were a bit odd for the first three months, heavier than usual, but after about 6 months they stopped altogether. Yippeee. Unfortunately three years on and my periods are begining to creep back.

I haven't noticed any side effects that I can associate with the Mirena. I have put on a little weight, but hey, I'm 43, sit at an office desk all day, and despite all my good intentions don't make it to the gym as often as I should.

Everyone is different and importantly for people considering whether to get a Mirena fitted and have been put off, you tend to find that its only when you have problems with something do you search the forums and post details. I'll bet the majority of those other people who think the Mirena is great have never thought to post on a forum saying so, like me, until today !

Good luck

Hi Ive just had my mirena coil taken out Monday just gone after 2 years of having it in. Is the bleeding normal after having it out and how long does it last for. I feel really ill and i am flooding everywhere. I have ask the doctor to come out and check me so im waiting for him to come.

-Thank you for this thread, after reading it i will not be taking the advice of GP and have one of these fitted- I have enough problems with hormones etc due to thyroid problems without having any of the problems you have described here will be looking to go on minipill till i finish breast feeding and then back onto the combined pill.

Hi again was told to go straight to hospital was bleeding too much. I stayed overnight and theyve put me one 2 types of tablets for the bleeding and the pain. If it lasts longer then a week 1 gotta go back.

hi had mine fitted 5 weeks ago, no side effects, but have been spotting and bleeding ever since, any one any idea how lomg this lasts for? getting a bit fed up now, no sex life to speak of.

Mine lasted for about 8 months but doctor told me up2 6 months. Think it all depends on the person everyone is different.(smile)

ive had mine fitted last December and had normal periods, it was heavy at first but as the months went by it was getting lighter and lighter, last month its stopped completely (and no im not pg as i dont feel pg)

ive had no probs with it at all so it suited me (ive got hypertension BP so cannot take the pill ever again so thats why the coil)

you can leave it in for 5 yrs

I had my mirena fitted nearly a month ago and boy was it painful. I really suffered with it for at least a week with awful stomach cramps down one side but I persevered with it and thank the lord it settled down within about 14 days. My af was due on the 2nd October and I dont know whether I've had it or not because I bled heavily anyway from having it inserted so I could not really tell if my blood loss was af or not but the week I should have had my period I had no period pain at all and funnily enough I have now stopped bleeding, now just a little spotting now and again. I really think this is going to work for me. I had it put in because I suffer from endometriosis and already it does seem to have alleviated the symptoms. If it works for me then it was worth the discomfort of having it done.

I had mirena removed 4 months ago, after various problems. I appear to have a very bloated stomach for about two weeks of each month since the removal, has anyone else had this

Sarah34 - Hope your feeling OK, sounds like you've had a horrendous time. Have had coil removed month ago, had similar heavy bleeding. Been on medication to stop flooding, completed course, now on day three of next period and taking Tranexamic Acid tablets to ease flow. Have also had palpitations, low iron stores, anxiety attacks, and night sweats since having coil removed. Blood test next week to check my hormone levels - god all I need is for the coil to have kick started the 'change'. Did you have any of these symptoms too? Luckily when coil removed no pain or bleeding immediately after.

Sarah34 - Forgot to add migraines to my list of woes. These health issues are probably all tied in somewhere!

clarebelle - Can you let us know the results of your hormone test, you appear to have had very similar experiences to me. Thanks

After a bit of advice. I have just had the Mirena Coil recommende by a Doc, due to heavy periods, and pain, and also as a form of contracepotion.

I have no children yet, but am hoping for some in the future, and I have been told that coils can make you sterile so am a bit dubious about it.

I have noticed that most of you on this thread seem to have had kids, and would be interested if anyne ouit there has had on fitted prior to having a first child. Also i would like some advice, if anyone has any.

afaik it is unusual to have it fitted before children mainly because the tissues etc would not have been stretched so it may well be quite painful (not pleaseant even afterwards and I'd had a muscle relaxant). The Mirena is supposed to be less risky as regards having children in the future and your fertility should return to normal very quickly once removed.

Hi iam glad i have found this site it has given me a lot more info than the hospital has. I had my coil fitted eight weeks ago to help me with the pain i suffer due to endometriosis, i dont know if i have done the right thing ? Since having it fitted i have suffered more pain my energy levels are so low it is getting me down. I have told the hospital this and all they have said it can take up to four months to settel down. Has any one else had these problems, and has it setteld down for you.

I have had mirena coils since 1998 and now having my 2nd one removed when I go into hospital at the end of this month for sterilisation. I had horrendous acne, suffered severe depression and anxiety which in the end caused marital breakdown and loss of job. I got remarried last year and came off anti depressants which I started on weeks after my first coil was inserted. I still struggle now with low mood, tiredness, bloating, weight gain and have decided to get rid of it. I too like many of you have asked the doctor countless times about the side effects to which I have been fobbed off. DONT HAVE THE B*DY THING PUT IN, I am so looking forward to seeing improvements that have been experience by others here that have had it taken out. 8 year sentence coming to an end soon xx