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.

Now coming on here has really got me thinking - I'm a regular blood donor who last year switched to platelet donating, which can be done fortnightly. They basically hook you up to a machine with a needle that allows the blood to be spun, removing platelets and then returning the blood back to your body. Point of interest - in the blood donor magazine, a man was explaining the process and saying how extraordinary he was - the usual platelet count for a man is between 130 and 175 and his was 240. That is very high. A woman is usually lower - mine was a whopping 333!!!! Now I kept asking was I at risk of heart disease, blocked arteries etc... but told no. I went on Tuesday of this week to donate, now bear in mind my usual count, and the fact I had the coil removed 5 weeks ago - my platelet count has fallen to 278, which is a huge drop. It seems likely to me that this drop is due to the removal of the coil, which kind of suggests that the rise was also due to it - don't know what you think but I'd be interested to hear!

hello all... I had my coil out just over a week ago and already i can feel a differance. I have lost about 5LBs, my skin is no where near as spotty and i feel much better in my self. Bled slightly for a couple days but thats all finished now. Back on the pill now till i get my sterilization appointment through.

Had mine taken out yesterday and i felt awful. got a banging headache straight away and then later on dh said i seemed so much happier.

Hello all... new to MN - came on to find out what you all thought about Mirena - only problem with mine (had it 2 and a half yrs) is breast tenderness, sometimes quite bad. Anyone else? Considering sterilisation but worried about ses as I have history of depression...

have you looked at the other thread about miren only a couple down.

The one about mirena and breast tenderness? Yes, I started it :) Only one inconclusive response though, so I thought I'd ask the people chatting on this thread as well.. :o

T LEAST YOU KNOW OTHERS ARE WATCHING IT. I didnt get anything major only when i ate loads of processed food.

Thanks jj - I think I must be a freak!! Or perhaps I AM preggers... perish the thought.. :(

essvee, breast tenderness is a known side effect of progesterone - however, have you done a pregnancy test just to rule it out?

I had dreadful breast tenderness with mirena - so much so that if the kids or dh accidentally brushed my breasts I would practically dissolve in sobs. I couldn't lie on my front in bed because it was so painful.

At last!! Thanks... I haven't done a test this time, but did last time (and the time before...) call me paranoid... but I REALLY don't want to be pregnant! Anyway I'm glad to fine I'm not the only one. Thanks again.

Did you take the pill before (the progresterone one not the combined) as i heard that if you cant take that then you cant take mirena.

Have you thought about changing over to the copper one. Think i will when i next need contraceptives.

I was on the pill... think it contributed to my depression, Dr advised that local hormones (from Mirena) would not have the same effect - seems to be correct. Want the added security of Mirena... breasts are tender, but don't think they can be as bad as yours... I am willing to put up with them but just wanted reassurance that it was the coil and I didn't need to panic about being pregnant every time (I don't get periods). Thanks for all your help...

Good luck

I was sterilized about 7 years ago but the private specialist forgot to tell me that a side effect was very heavy periods caused by the interuption to the blood supply to the ovaries( present GP advised this)periods were so bad that for several days I was worried to go out and bleeding lasted for 10-14 days as I am only 44 this was not good. GP a lovely man suggested Mirena coil after many tests . I read every thing I could worried then made the decision to have one fitted in Feb 06 the first 4-5 weeks were awful I bled most days I told dh that I was going to have it taken out but he suggested waiting a few more weeks which I did I have had 2 further periods both lasted about 6 hours , no head aches past the 1st 3 days ,no weight gain, skin same as before, no increase in PMT,
I found the lack of good stories distressing but then if you have no problems you don't tend to share it I suppose

Help! I am new to this site but am reassured having read some of your messages. I had the Mirena coil fitted 4 months ago and have bled every day since. Was on antidepressants a couple of years ago, weaned myself off and felt wonderful. However, within a week of having the coil fitted my depression has returned with a vengenance, my mood swings are unbelievable and I have just lost the man I love due to my irrational behaviour. I feel so low and can only assume it is due to the coil. I went back to my GP who said I needed to give the coil another couple of months to settle. I don't think I can. Feel so low and lethargic. Has anyone really felt as bad as this? Please let me know. I feel like I am going mad. Help

4 months ago?!

That's long enough.

Go to the GUM or Family Planning Clinic and get the damn thing taken out.

It's NOT up to the GP to dictate to you what YOU do w/your body!

Had the Mirina fitted this morning..if I'd read this thread last night I would've cancelled. I opted for it as the pills I've tried caused horrid mood swings, spots and breast tenderness. Am starting to worry a little now as I don't want to go through what some of you ladies have gone through, I've gone through enough crap with various pills. The fitting wasn't too bad but painful all the same and have had to take Nurofen this afternoon but other than that it's not been as bad as I expected.
Am going to keep a keen eye on this thread!!

Im finally glad I found a website about the coil. I am 23. I have had two coils fitted. The first in 2000. I had it took out in 2003. I then had the 2nd one in 2003. After about 1 year I went to get it checked out. The family planning doctor told me it must of fell out as he couldnt see it any longer. I went to another family planning doctor (different practice) He also said he couldnt see it. So on the 2nd opinion. I decided to have the depo provera injection. I took this injection three times. for 9 months. In december 2004. we decided we were going to try for a baby. After 1 year my periods had not returned. Iwas also in a alot of abdominal pain, when exercising or carrying heavy stuff.
I went to my doctor who said after the last injection, it can take up to 18 months to get back to normal. But in March this year i got worried. My doctor sent me for an ultrasound scan. I went back to the doctors who told me they had found a large cyst. I was refeered to the gynae dept. In April I went to c a gynae doc. He told me he would c me back in 3 months. to check if the cyst has gone bigger. He also said he wanted an ultrasound on my nxt appt. Last week I went back to the osy to find out it is not a cyst it is the mirena coil. the doc was so shocked. I am now due to come into osy on the 14th august to have it removed. I had been taking the depo injection with the coil. I am so relieved it is not a cyst especially with us wanting a baby now. But I am so annoyed they managed to miss this for two years. They have made my appointment to have it removed quick as I am getting alot of abdominal pain. Has anyone had any similar experiences. Would love to hear from anyone.

Im finally glad I found a website about the coil. I am 23. I have had two coils fitted. The first in 2000. I had it took out in 2003. I then had the 2nd one in 2003. After about 1 year I went to get it checked out. The family planning doctor told me it must of fell out as he couldnt see the strings any longer. I went to another family planning doctor (different practice) He also said he couldnt see it. So on the 2nd opinion. I just thought well they know what they are doing. I decided to have the depo provera injection. I took this injection three times. for 9 months. In december 2004. we decided we were going to try for a baby. After 1 year my periods had not returned. Iwas also in a alot of abdominal pain, when exercising or carrying heavy stuff.
I went to my doctor who said after the last injection, it can take up to 18 months to get back to normal. But in March this year i got worried. My doctor sent me for an ultrasound scan. I went back to the doctors who told me they had found a large cyst. I was refeered to the gynae dept.in a different hospital. In April I went to c a gynae doc. He told me he would c me back in 3 months. to check if the cyst has gone bigger. He also said he wanted an ultrasound on my nxt appt. Last week I went back to the osy to find out it is not a cyst it is the mirena coil. the doc was so shocked. I am now due to come into osy on the 14th august to have it removed. I had been taking the depo injection with the coil. I am so relieved it is not a cyst especially with us wanting a baby now. But I am so annoyed they managed to miss this for two years. They have made my appointment to have it removed quick as I am getting alot of abdominal pain. Has anyone had any similar experiences. Would love to hear from anyone.

hi to all who read me i have had the miena coil fitted after a horid ordeal from the past few months and i strongly suggest getting your coil checked very, very reguarly. i had a baby in feb of this year(which the best thing to ever happen to me) i then waited 8 weeks to have a coil fitted and thought that after 2 days i could enjoy my partner again without having to worry. everything was all great,however when it came to my 6 week check (coil) my doctor cancelled but said it was fine and he didn't need to see me at any point because i had felt fine within myself over the past weeks. 5 weeks later i found out i was pregnant again, the coil had slipped out of place and the hormones were faulty. due to this mistake of not having the coil properly checked or fitted by the doctor i had to face a termination of pergnancy as i was not ready for another baby at this point of my life. i then had the coil fitted again and it fell out due to not being fitted correctly. 3rd coil fitted now (by a new doctor in a new town) and have regular check-ups (every 2 weeks) and will do for the next year due to dread of having to face that ordeal again, so far all is good with the coil. please get it fitted properly and dont miss any check-ups as no one should have to go through the pain i have had to face especially at 21!!!

I had the merina coil put in five months ago after I decided I did not want any more children )the last being over two years ago). I always got on fine with any contraceptives i.e. no weight gain etc. Well what an experience - it hurt so so much and I bled on and off for at least two months. My doctor persuaded me to stay with it - however after two months my hair started to fall out. Now I have done everything with my hair over the last twenty years - dyeing it, pregnancy, sun damage and it fell out. When I say fall out - it comes out in clumps - definately not alopecia. Well I started reading out on the merina coil and in the USA there are masses of forums to hair loss experiecing exactly the same pattern as myself. I went back to my doctor and she removed it straight away - a month after and my hair is still falling out but I can hopefully see little tufts coming back. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND DID YOUR HAIR GROW BACK AFTER IT WAS REMOVED!!! I would dearly love to know and it would put my mind at rest prior to looking at wig options!

I'd like to add a positive note. I had a mirena coil fitted in Feb, bleeding dratically reduced to very light period every 3-4 weeks. No weight gain, no spots, no worries about contraception, basically no problems at all....I personally think it is fantastic .

hi everyone im new to this so go easy with me. I had a mirena fitted on the friday just gone (wish i hadnt now after reading all this) but would just like to know if it is still normal to be in pain and i cant stop weeing it dosent sting or anything but it feels like there is pressure on the bladder. is this normal?

liz

I'm having a mirena coil fitted on the 25th of this month - I'm having second thoughts now!

Mines been in 5 weeks now and I also had the pressure on my bladder feeling though it's eased off now. So far so good with mine although,after reading this thread,if I ever start to feel any side effects it's coming out.
Am thinking the weight gain thing may be an issue but I've quit smoking aswell so am generally eating like it's going out of fashion!

I had my mirena fitted a year ago. I have 2 children under 3 so need a break but can't take the contraceptive pill as I have hypertension BP.

I coped with the pain of having it fitted. I was advised to take 2 strong painkillers an hour before going to the doctor and they seemed to help. I had period cramps for a couple of hours after the fitting.

I had spotting for 8 months before the Mirena settled down (dr. said it would be 6 max.) This was a nuisance but I lived with it. My periods are much lighter and I rarely get any pain. They do however still last 5-8 days. They are now more regular like I was before the coil.

What has struck me reading this thread is the amount of woman mentioning depression and moo swings. I am asking myself 'is this the coil or just the strain of parenting?'. I have been getting quite depressed lately and wondered if it was my BP tablets. My mood swings can be incredible. I also don't feel like myself and am always feeling tired. Didn't give the Mirena a thought. Aren't all of these side effects of motherhood?