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 have had mirena coil fitted 4 months ago for heavy periods. Since then my periods have been very heavy with spotting inbetween. I have also experienced hair loss and mood swings, though the latter could be accredited to my age. My gynaegologist has advised me to persevere for anothe 6 months. The strings have also disappeared but the coil is still in there somewhere. Has anyone else expereinced similar problems?

Hi Everyone, I had my Mirena removed just over 3 weeks ago. I had it fitted for 8.5 years. All that time, if anyone asked me what i thought i would say it was fantastic. It wasn't until i had it removed, and looked up, to see how long it would take to get back to normal, that i realised how bad it had affected my body! I had suffered from IBS a year after i had it fitted. Been and had numerous scans, and was very close to having the camera put into my body so the doctors could find out what was wrong. The day After having it removed, my IBS had gone..... the other thing was my weight, i hadn't lost any of my baby weight, since having my child. I got so fed up, and just presumed it was my body changing, and would have to accept i wasn't ever going to be any thinner. I exercise 4 times a week, walk to school three times a day, have been on weight watchers and not lost more than three pounds??? after having it removed i have lost weight, in the first week, my stomach isn't swollen anymore, and i feel 100% better than i have in a very long time. There is a nother forum if anyone is interested on the daily mail website. It is on the message boards and is under health, and then womens health. It has helped me tremendously, and all i can say is i am so grateful i found it, as i thought i was going insane! the last week i have felt very tired, and been told it can take 60 days for the hormone to get out of your body, but i feel so much better than before. Good luck everyone

Wow

How relieved i am to find this thread!

I had a mirena coil fitted about 2 and a half years ago - after 2 attempts at the doctors without success, i had it put in at the local hospital, in the theatre under local anaesthetic - even then it took over 30 minutes to get it in and was an incredibily painful process. I was suprised at this - i had a copper coil in between 1st and 2nd boys with no probs with insertion or removal. The consultant that i had said that the position of my cervix may have altered after the second delivery, but it was unlikely.

Anyhow, a couple of months after i had it fitted, after some very irregular bleeding episodes, i stopped bleeding entirely. I havent had a 'period' for over 2 years, but i have tremendous lower back pain when i bend over - almost like i feel that my back will just collapse, and i have noticed that i have got much 'sweaty-er' and hairy-er. (!) I started to get v.bad spots - what i would call 'zits' but deep deep ones (never had acne before) but the doctor (like me, i suppose) didnt link it to the coil, but instead asked me if i washed properly... I was rather put-out! After i got over the embarrasement of being thought of as a dirty patient who needed soap, i went back and was put on a course of Lymecyclin - i have been taking them for 2 years without even linking them to the presense of the coil.

After reading this thread, and other peoples experience, i looked about the net and sure as sure, found that so many other things that i feel and have experienced have been shared with others with this coil fitted. I just wanted to say 'thank you' - i have made an appointment with my doctor for Tuesday to have it removed.

I feel a great relief.

I had a mirena coil fitted 2 weeks ago and apart from a very painful fitting and a crampy afternoon that afternoon I feel great. Oh I have a few twinges for about a week after but nothing painful.

I also feel in a much more positive frame of mind - not really sure why, wasn't depressed before just tended to look on the negative side of everything but don't feel like that now. Anyone else felt like this?

Squid
The acne is from the progesten in the coil. The hormone can mimick the effects of androgens in the female body.

The medical profession will tell you this is impossible w/a Mirena coil, b/c the hormone should only act in the uterus.

But the uterus is supplied by the body's bloodstream, of course. So, basically, unless they've found a way to produce an artificial hormone and coral and confine it to one part of hte body, that's rubbish.

If you're sensitive to progesten, it will affect you.

That's why so many people on this thread have had adverse side effects.

I got a diaphragm.

FPC tried to put me off, told me they had to bring in a specialist to fit it.

Go then! That's not my problem or my job!

I had to wait a month to see her. And that was fine by me.

I've never been happier. NO more hormones or contraptions left in situ in my body.

am due to have Mirena fitted soon.... While feeling quite positive am aware of some people's side effects but will give it a go for a few months anyway.One question though - I was on the Combined Pill for about 10 years. I had absolutely no reaction to that at all. So presumably as it contained progesterone the progesterone in the Mirena coil shouldn't effect me either? Or am I just being too hopeful?

Combined pill is a combination of hormones. Not just progesten. I was on a combined pill for years w/no ill effects.

But progesten only birth control was disastrous for me.

I'm due to have my mirena coil removed in a couple of weeks (5 years are up ) and I'm having another one inserted. Can't bear the thought of ever going back to full blown periods.

urgh brightwell the thought of having the coil put in again makes me cringe, i'm glad mine is in there for 5 years, it will take a lot of courage to go through it again

medulla, that happened to a friend of mine. She feels much better on the mirena!

Really Fox, I thought it was too much of a coincidence I really do feel more positive. It's great.

Have just read some of this thread and am getting worried. I had the mirena fitted four weeks ago. I have been bleeding heavily for the past two weeks, am experiencing terrible sweats and my hair is falling out in handfuls.

Should I battle on, or is it just not right? I had a baby four months ago (unplanned) and need foolproof contraception. Plus I have fibroids which cause very heavy periods. Hoping this would sort both things out.

Has anyone else had similar side effects? Does it settle down?

Hi Everyone,
I had my mirena coil fitted end of August after suffering from unexplained stomach pain at the beginning of this year. I had external and internal scans at the hospital and blood tests and nothing was found. I was bleeding for four weeks prior to it being fitted. It was oh so painful having it fitted and I then had terrible pain and what I think was a very heavy painful period for 2 weeks. Ever since I have been bleeding ever so slightly which of course upsets your love life completely. I also have a pain on what feels like my left ovary! When it hurts I get a bleed half hour later.

Since having my coil fitted I have now found out from my mother that the reason she had a hysterectomy was due to fibroids growing over her coil! There were no sign of fibroids or any growths when I had my scan so my doc isn't concerned however that doesn't stop me worrying.
Has anyone else had any thing like this?

Hi, i have just found this site and thought that i should leave a message.
I had the mirena fitted in Feb 2001, i had never heard of it and knew no-one who had it! I have no children, but had it fitted as i cannot take any form of hormonal contraception as i get bad side effects. I was assured that although the mirena contains hormones, these don't go into your bloodstream, therefore don't affect your natural hormones. Great i thought....no hassle or worries for 5 years - the answer to my prayers!!!
It was quite painful when i had it fitted, i 'lost' the strings within a month and had periods for about 1 year, then they stopped.
I thought that everything was fine, and it wasn't until Feb of this year (5 years after it was fitted) that i thought i would look on the web to see what was being said about it....and OMG was i shocked, but pleased to find that other pple had similar effects!!!
Since having it fitted i have gained 3 stone...i thought this was due to getting older, maybe not eating as healthy as i should etc...but alas i feel that it is entirely down to that. I believe that the Mirena had an effect....because in the past 2-3 months (3-4 months after the Merina should have been out, therefore hormones are decreasing) i have lost about 1 stone in weight. I am not eating any different, or exercising more..but the weight is disappearing. My stomach is no where near as swollen as it was (i looked pregnant), i can now eat bread without my stomach swelling and getting cramps! I thought that i was wheat intolerant!
I never really suffered with my moods with the Mirena, i became slightly less emotional.... found it more difficult to be upset & cry (not that i was a big crier in the first place!)
I have also had a more-or-less constant ear infection since having it fitted, the Dr says that it is stress related & nothing to do with the coil, but i'm not so sure!
Anyway, it is coming out on Thursday 5th Oct...got to go into hospital & have general to get the bloody thing out, but at least it will be gone!
I just thought that i would leave a message, in the vain hope that pple will look on the web before having it fitted, and see that it isn't the 'miracle' contraceptive the Dr's make it out to be.
I hope that everyone gets sorted, and does what they feel is right for them.

Its not nice to read all these but it has put my mind at rest a little. I had the mirena fitted about 5/6 months ago but it fell out the very next day! I was then fitted with another coil called a "multiloader" it is hormone free and designed not to fall out! It didn't...but I have had a constant period ever since. It is worse after sex too. I was starting to think something else might be wrong as I have had to go in to have a colposcopy (a cervical test) as a smear test came back inconclusive. I have to go back to have cells removed apparently...no appointment through yet however. I was panicking slightly and although the doctor said there was nothing to worry about I do!
Maybe it isn't specifically the mirena coil that makes you bleed constantly (obviously the hormone related problems may be down to that) Has anyone a different coil who still bleeds all the time?

Dear Lucybug, I have a friend who had a standard coil in for 18 months. She had it removed in March this year as she started having bleeding inbetween her periods for the last 5 months. She is glad she had it removed but confused as she has had coils before with no problems. It may be down to age, she is now 44.

Hi

I posted a few messages down that i was so relieved to find this discussion - today i had my mirena coil removed. Happily, without any of the complications of putting it in. I am choosing to read this as 'It didnt want to go in - only too pleased to come out!'

Thanks to all that have contributed on this thread - i learnt a lot that helped me see some wider choices - and thank you expat for your replys here and on my 'sterilization' thread. Doc did look like i suggested that i was asking for my head to be cut off....

I still don't understand how they think the hormones won't get into the bloodstream.

That just sounds totally illogical and beyond bollocks to me.

I mean, the thing sits IN the uterus, secreting hormones, however low the dose.

And the uterus has a bloody supply.

I mean, talk about a duh idea!

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know that I had my mirena removed today after 6 weeks. Will wait and see if my symptoms go away.

Headache feels better already!

Hey all,
Have just booked to have mine removed after 12 weeks.Am depressed and my IBS is so severe I cant cope anymore.
Thank god for this thread!

That's it! It's coming out!

I had a Mirena fitted 6 years ago and I had no effect as far as I can remember. But since I've had this new one I've gained weight and feel bloated despite watching the food intake, but I crave food constantly which I've since discovered further down this enormous thread could possibly be another side effect. My libido has also taken a nose dive.

So it's time the old man to have the snip I feel as I've been pumping my body with hormones for 20 years and I think 2 kids is enough in our family

To Follydog - I am amazed that no one else is complaining about hair loss - I lost so much it was unbelievable mostly around the temples and sides. I had the coil removed about two months ago and it stopped about a month later. the doctor agreed that it was the merina coils side effects. It is now growing back in wisps and should be back within six months - but I would not have it put in the the world. I know that it is not stress as my mum is now really ill and the hair loss has not started again. There are loads of posts in america on the subject of it
Good luck

Hi Folks,

Could be coincidence, or could be relted, but I feel SO much better.

My hair has stoped falling out, headache has gone, no blrak depression etc.

Back to barrier methods for me!

Horrah its coming out next Wednesday...I will keep you posted on my progress to see if it really made a difference..

Had mine removes an hour ago! Only been in place for 3 months but sent me doolally.Doctor was very sympathetic but he hurt like hell taking it out, not like the gentle lady that put the bloody thing in. Almost felt like asking if I could have it once he's taken it out so I could take it home, kick it around the room then stamp on it.
Only time will tell now if my severe IBS calms down and I manage to chill out and stop stressing, crying and snapping at people.
Back on the mini-pill from tomorrow morning.