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.

Hi, i've just been reading all the comments on the mirena coil. It sounds great. Can you have one inserted while you are still breastfeeding? Or do the hormones make their way into the breastmilk. I've tried just about every other form of birth control (except implants) and am ready for something a little more practical and low maintenance. I am 6 mo. pregnant so i have a bit of time to do research!

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A friend of mine had a mirena coil fitted about 10 weeks after giving birth and is breastfeeding.
The hormone dose in it is very low so apparently isn't a problem.

I've had mine for 9 months now and have had no problems since the initial heavy bleeding stopped. It's just a bit weird getting the full PMS thing followed by almost no period !

Just wondered if anyone can tell me how long the string (!) is supposed to be that the doctor leaves from the coil. I finally had a Mirena coil fitted yesterday and the string(!) is really long, the doctor said that it should curl up inside. Can or will anyone tell me HOW LONG IS YOUR STRING! Thanks.

Can't check it just this minute (!!) but will do later and let you know! Have been putting it off for a while... sposed to check once a month but it made me feel a bit funny last time! Will get back to you later!

I can only just feel mine if I stretch.

Does anyone know iif yoou can get pg straight away after having Miena remved, or does it normally take a few months for things to get back to normal?

Thanks

Monkey, I have had a Mirena twice now, had it removed to conceive 2nd child and got pregnant 1 week later! So the answer is yes!!! You can get pregnant straight away.

I too am supposed to be feeling for the strings, but have not yet attempted it although am due for a 6 week check very soon.

Reading through the information booklet that the doctor gave me yesterday it's says that unless you plan to have a new system fitted immediately, it is important to use another form of contraception in the week leading to the removal (sperms can live this long inside you). Intercourse during this week could lead to pregnancy after the Mirena is removed.
It also says that once the Mirena is removed your usual level of fertility will return very quickly.
BUT the booklet doesn't give any info on how long the strings should be!

Reading through the information booklet that the doctor gave me yesterday it's says that unless you plan to have a new system fitted immediately, it is important to use another form of contraception in the week leading to the removal (sperms can live this long inside you). Intercourse during this week could lead to pregnancy after the Mirena is removed.
It also says that once the Mirena is removed your usual level of fertility will return very quickly.
BUT the booklet doesn't give any info on how long the strings should be!

Ooops, no idea how that happened-sorry!

Mine seem quite short (I think they were trimmed after it was checked 6 weeks after insertion) - it's not easy checking they're still there now.

Whoops - forgot I was sposed to be checking my string, or whatever you call it. Still haven't - sorry - but I do have a query for all you fellow Mirena users: Do you still have "periods"/ bleeding? and if not, how long did it take for them to stop?
I was under the impression most women's periods dry up after a little while - that was one of the things I liked the sound of with the mirena after very heavy and long periods on another coil. BUT, I had a mirena fitted in April and I'm STILL having periods that last a good 6 - 7 days. I'm so fed up! and I've just come on again .

Rara - if you haven't been checking the strings are you sure it is still there? Maybe that's why your periods have not improved

God mears, don't DO that! You've just made me have a near fit! I'm afraid to say it resulted in me having a check immediately, here in the dining room! String is there! (Have washed my hands in kitchen before posting this).
So periods still a problem, DESPITE mirena!

LOL Rara - what a vision Your periods will eventually settle down to a minimal amount - everybody just adjusts at a different rate. My friend took about 6 months for her periods to become hardly noticable.

rara, don't want to further depress you, but I've had the Mirena well over 18 months, and although my periods are very light, they now last AGES - like up to 10 days, and sometimes I only have 2 weeks off, very rarely but never more than 3. Even when I'm not having a period, I often have spotting too, and frankly, as my period is so light, there's not much difference. Not good. I think because it's been so long it's not going to improve, so I'm thinking of getting rid of it (plus we're thinking of another soon anyway, so it's not bad timing, but dunno what I'll do next) Anyone have any hope for rara or me?

I really really need to know if Mirena has affected anyone's desire levels!! I'm fairly sure its responsible for mine dipping below zero. Please answer me as I have to consider getting it removed for dh sake. But its a godsend otherwise and I hate having to do this.

Yes and no - because I'm on a lot longer I don't really feel like getting up to much during this time, but there's a definite rise in my interest the rest of the time! The only thing I've taken which definitely killed all desire was the pill.

Not for me, it has been brilliant! Had it put in at my six-week check after ds was born, and haven't had a period since (even though he is on solids now - whenI put dd onto solids I was on again within a fortnight!!). The lack of periods and associated migraines has meant I am willing much more often than I used to be!

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Erm ... we had sex the night mine was fitted - dh wanted to try it out lol!
You can use tampons etc no problem straight away.
Glad you decided to have it done - it has been one of my best health related decisions. I get awful migraines made worse by the pill and related to my periods whether I am on the pill or not, and very heavy periods too. I had my mirena fitted at my 6 week check after ds was born, and haven't had a migraine since. My periods ame back after dd was born as soon as she started solids - with ds, he's been on solids for about 10 weeks now and no bleeding at all, which is marvellous.
Hope you get on as well with yours as I do with mine!!

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I had my Mirena coil fitted 6 weeks ago and am due to go back to get the strings checked nxt week. My dh thought it was his birthday and christmas rolled into one as I had kept it a secret from him! I was told to wait 7 days before going without added protection. I spotted for the first 4 weeks but things are sttling down now. Its a wonder. I am a Midwife and all my friends had gone on about how great it was. They were right. Get one fitted!! I definately has not upset my libido, as someone had wondered about. The safety aspect for me is actually a turn-on!!
As for checking the strings - my dh informs me that they are still there!

Hey all you Mirena ladies. I am due to get mine fitted at my 6 week check on thursday and then I am supposed to go on a 5 hour drive to visit my mil on Friday. As a few people have complained of cramping etc. after fitting, I am wondering if I'm going to wish I had never scheduled the drive the day after having the coil fitted?