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 horrendous PMT since I had the Mirena coil. Am having it out soon.
GPs tell us that the hormone dose is incredibly low and couldn't have an effect on moods etc. But the hormones are strong enough to stop periods, so if they can have such a strong physical effect on the body, those hormones can surely affect our moods too!

Just got back from the Doctors she has said that it sounds like the progesterone is causing the hair loss etc so has refered me FPC to have it removed
At last a doctor that recognised that it could be a problem!!

Can anyone tell me how often we should get the Mirena checked? Is is once a year?
I am concerned after catching up on this discussion again as I have never been able to find my Mirena threads!

Reece - I've never been able to feel my threads. The nurse tried to help me last time but still couldnt feel them, I have long nails so it was pointless trying. Dh couldnt feel them either, but it was still there.

If you worried you can go to your GP - see a nurse or the FPC and they will check for you.

Thanks Ronniebaby.
Neither I nor my DH have ever felt the threads and its been in 14 months now.
I was getting a few unusual stomach pains about 5 weeks ago but they disappeared. I have not really been too concerned about the Mirena since but once I caught up on this thread again it got me wondering.

Maybe I will get it checked out the next time I am at the doctors.

You are supposed to get it checked once a year, Reece. I just make an appointment with the practice nurse.

I am probably menopausal by now, 2ndtime, (hard to tell...no periods, you see ) so that is why I am sanguine about weight gain and libido loss...could be an age thing iyswim.

Plus I was headed for a hysterectomy if the Mirena didn't work...I couldn't have gone on any longer with the heavy periods. I was flooding at work, in meetings or on home visits. Embarrassing and humiliating. Thank God for Mirena.

I have had the merina coil removed for about three months now and mysteriously my hair has started growing back!! And since then my mum has been really ill so what my doctor said about stress is completely wrong. I was looking at forums in america and everyone is complaining about hair loss about 6 weeks after the damn thing is inserted. I had so much pain after it was inserted and have only just salvaged a relationship to the father of my 2 children
after the problems that this damn coil has done to my body. My body is now back to normal!!!

Merlotmamma, I'm glad you had some positive effects from the merena and your health improved with it in. If only that was the case for more women using it.

When I first was told of the Mirena I was a bit stand-off-ish because of the procedure involved as I had 3 caesarean births and not one natural. I went through with it to control bad bleeding and clotting caused by fibroids (I?ve also had my tubes tied 4 years ago ? so it was a tactical move). Due to the fact that I didn?t have a natural birth (I believe) it was extremely painful having it put in as my cervix had to be manually ?stretched? so I had to undergo a general to have it put in ? DRAMA NUMBER ONE! Over the coming months I experienced really bad mood swings, very tender breasts, longer than before periods and generally a week of spotting leading up to the period and recent clotting again. I was told to allow at least 6 months for everything to ?settle? down and let the body adjust. Well next month it will be 12 months since I?ve had it inserted. I am considering pulling the damn thing out myself now after reading these messages as nothing has changed. My breasts are so tender I feel as though I am breast feeding, and did I mention the weight issue?! Prior to having the Mirena I had lost 16kgs and now I am thinking that maybe it has been a contributing factor to me putting back on all the lost weight. Has anyone pulled it out themselves and does it hurt as much as having it put in?

bump

I pulled my own out but I've had 3 vaginal deliveries so my cervix is a lot softer than yours. It is totally painless. Not a twinge at all. I also found insertion excruciating, particularly the clamp! I had GP remove the first one and I did 2nd one when I connected my vile symptoms with this foreign body inside me.

GET IT OUT! I'm not advising you do it yourself but make an appoiontment to be rid of the dam thing. Good luck, if your anything like me within 2 weeks you'll feel like a new woman.xx

Sorry about the lousy spelling. Previous post was too early for brain to get into gear!

TrishW - I had mine put in after 2 c sections and nearly fainted! it was only whilst having it put in that the doctor told me it was worse for me as my cervix had never been stretched!
I have had mine in for 2.5 years now but it is only the last few weeks I have been feeling really bad mainly with really bad headaches.
I am having it removed tomorrow and am hoping that my hair will stop falling out and am not so moody & tired!
I don't think I am brave enough to pull it out myslef though (apart from the fact the threads are missing!!)

Good luck Whoooops. My hair stopped falling out straight away and now (6 months later) has all grown back.

hi im thinking of having mirena coil fitted but so far only saw negative thoughts is there any good ones ty

Come on Bobobobs, stop lurking and put a post on to say you've had it out!!!!

Whoooooops good luck for your procedure, I would like to hear how it goes for you. As I live in a rural town in Australia I only have access to a male GP and a fly in Female Dr once every three months, so in a couple of weeks I am definitely having it out then.
** 2ndtime thanks for the info and advice, hope all is well with your health now.
** mazhere, my sister had hers done nearly 12 months ago and does not have a problem with it. In fact she loves having very little period now and only has to use a panty liner. So I guess some people have success with it. I suppose you can only try it for yourself and make your own mind made up.
*Ladies, I'll keep you up to date if interested.

110% thanks Trish, never better.

so apart from 2ndtime, has anyone else taken their own out??

I would take mine out but the strings seem to have gone awol

i think that they can get pushed back a bit,if you rootle around a bit, you ought to find them, 2ndtime's advice was to do it in a nice warm bath! (sorry if rootle is the wrong word but you kwim!)

Interesting bobobobs

Looks like a bath and a rootle tonight then!!!!! I have never felt mine. They are well and truly hiding.

HELLLLOOOOOOO! How lovely to see you in here bobo! Now you did it you'll be addicted! I'm into my 7th hour of mumsnetting today alone! I have found time to do about 97 other things inbetween, but have to keep kicking your darling nieces off the computer at regular intervals to get my fix!

Nieces/neices? Can't make my mind up? Sorry for the hijack!

i think broadband has a lot to answer for! have been nipping on and off in between thomas the tank engine website all day. (not for me, for DS, honest!)

seriously though, i really want to go and take the thing out, have been skimming the rest of this thread and the weight gain, depression, and moodiness are all too common with mirena by the look of it. hmmmm...