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.

Oh hell. I really dont know whether to persevere or not. How long did you have your mirena in before you had it removed?

I only had it in for 2 months but I lived in hope every day of those 2 months that the symptoms would go away because I too have v heavy, painful periods and was desperate for it to work.

I would go and see the GP and ask. Mine definitely got worse as time went on so maybe if your symptoms aren't getting any worse, there's hope they may go away. The symptoms you describe are from the progesterone in the coil (so I was told) and it's such a small amount that the GP told me it's quite rare to get such symptoms (though apparently mood swings and weight gain are more common). Having said that, at our surgery they have apparently fitted hundreds of women with this coil and I was only one of a handful that had to have it taken out.

The mood swings certainly seem to be getting worse each month as my DH could tell you. I think I'll make an appointment to see my GP. I just want to feel semi normal again. By the way, thanks for responding so quickly, much appreciated.

it's a pleasure. I remember feeling like I was never going to feel like a normal person ever again aswell so I sympathise!

Just wondering a bit prematurely (I'm pregnant at the moment lol) but would you guys reccommend the mirena coil to someone who gets very bloated and headachey on most kinds of pill? There is one I haven't tried but I can't remember which... also I really wouldn't be able to afford to get pregnant again for at least 10 years so is it reliable? Also a friend of mine had an ectopic pregnancy whilst she had a coil so it makes me nervous!

fastasleep, I dont know whether I would recommend mirena. I have had horrible side effects since having it fitted, I had no side effects with combined pill but due to my age and DH having had snip Gynae recommended mirena for me to deal with heavy painful periods. I think mirena has 99% success rate in preventing pregnancy but I think there are so many possible side effects with mirena that GP's are not telling us about. Everyone is diferent and what works for some doesnt work for others. My friend had mirena fitted to help PM bloating and migraine and she loves it and her PM symptoms have gone. Hope this helps a little

I have amazing bad luck with side effects...but I might give it a try after this baby, shudders at the thought of having it put in thanks for the reply

new to site ! had mirena since jan 05 had been pain free for last two months but this month pain back and very bad especially when i go to loo like having contractions, has anyone had same and does is get better ?

fastasleep, if you do give it a go, write down which pill has given you side effects (or ask doctor to look it up if they can). Apparently, if you have obvious progesterone side effects from certain pills with the same hormone in, then the mirena may not be for you.

Like oldbuzzard says, I have plenty of friends for whom the mirena has been a life saver (sorting out PMT, mood swings etc.). In fact, the only people I've ever heard having problems with it have been on here.

mcmum, do you mean pain when you have a period? Have you had a period since Jan 05? If it's bad pain, I would be tempted to go back and have it checked just in case the coil has slipped. If the pain goes after your period, then maybe it was just a heavy period.

this is 3rd period since fitting and only ever get pain when having period. This is why had the ,mirena fitted in first place, last two periods were not as painfull have had coil checked twice since fitting as bled after sex and thought it had fallen out then had a further check at 6 weeks and all was well both times.

i have had the marina afor 6 and a half months now and all the symptoms have gone, also painful periods are no more and just a bit of spotting. I suffered from pmt big time and now i get just one episode of mood swing at ten days before my period (so called) is due. I do get painful boobs still but i have noticed this easing each month, and the last month i even managed to wear my underwireds all the way thro. I feel i have been through hell but now i do feel confident, so i would say to anyone persevere at least to six months because now i have 4 and half years of hassle free periods and non pregnancy (hopefully) all the best.

Had the coil fitted in Feb this year experienced pain for about 3 weeks none stop but eventually tailed off. Insertion was terrible left me feeling dreadful the next day. Was on depro for 10 months before but had massive weight gain hoping the mirena with resolve this, as smaller amounts of hormone?!? Doctor said hormones make you eat more, cutting back but seeing no progress, any suggesstions? Can't exercise due to sciatica and back injury from RTA need advice urgently???? Coil ok now, presently on period, lighter but still painful. Weight gain main concern will remove if no improvement by summer. HELP anyone!!

glad i am not only one with pain ! think i will give it 6 months to see how i get on. Planned a long haul holiday for end of may so hoping spotting and pain subside so can enjoy myself.

yaya, just reread your message I had awful insertion too everyone i know had an anethetic for theirs but i didn't and it was extremely painful and embarrasing like childbirth every one and their aunt were in the room and I felt quite faint and nauseus after ! I am definately coming back as a man ......

mcmum, I, like you was not offered anaesthetic and insertion was horrendous. I nearly passed out with pain. The pain was still severe a week after insertion so GP sent me for a scan as she thought she had punctured my uterus, but scan showed that all was well. I cant understand why something that is supposed to help can be so painful

I had the mirena for two years. It worked very well at stopping my painful periods and made them comparatively light. My dh didn't like the strings as he claimed they were sharp. I didn't have any weight gain or strange moods but I did get a lot of thrush infections. Personally I didn't find it painful to have fitted and removed it myself just before christmas as we decided to start ttc. I fell pregnant six weeks later.

yeah the insertion was horrendous for me too, i felt really violated. i wish that i was better prepared for it. My doctor said its better to leave the threads long so the bloke doesnt get pricked (Ha ha) with the ends of the threads. I would like to encourage anyone though to persevere past the 6 month mark tho as things really settled down. I havent gained any extra weight which is good and am not particularly hungry, but i think maybe some women do get hungry on hormones

thanks for all replies, had alot of pain yesterday so spoke to my gp who said stick with it for 6months and if i thought it had fallen out to go in next week for it checked. So decided to take bath and have a feel for threads, not very pleasent, think i found them felt a bit like a stitch thread after childbirth does that sound right ? after saying bleeding was light now seems to be a lot heavier and red as opposed to light and brown, sorry about this but you all seem to know what im on about. When you all mention pain does your pain feel like a contraction and does anyone else get pain as if been kicked up the lower regions ?

The pain I feel is like contractions and I only get pain low down on the right side. In the first couple of months I also got stabbing type pains like the ones you describe, but they seem to have tailed off now, but after 5 months I am still left with the cramps which are there most days

thanks for reply now feelin reassured. Only problem now is i have booked holiday to florida and i fly on the day my next period is due hoping for a miracle so im not in pain for whole nine hr flight ! also had two kids to occupy and am useless flyer anyway.

I'll keep fingers xd for you. Hope you have a great holiday . Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the replies, still wondering about the weight gain, anyone losted weight once things have settled down? I was taking Depro so I'm hoping once that is out of my system I will return to my normal weight? Advice anyone? Thanks mcmum, I would also love to return as a man!!!

I've had it for a couple of years - put weight on at first then lost a lot - about 2 stone. To be honest it hasn't done what it was supposed to do for me - stop heavy periods - I am bleeding every couple of weeks but I'm too lazy to get it taken out as trying to get a dr's appt is so much hassle plus the dr said the next step would be a hystorectomy

Hi, recently had Mirena fitted immediately after termination of pregnancy and experienced SEVERE abdominal cramps( like childbirth contractions) for around 5 days, then they dissapeared. 3 weeks on, and I'm still bleeding/spotting, but thankfully no more pain. Does anyone know how long bleeding/spotting lasts? I'd especially like to know whether anyone had a similar experiene of Mirena insertion immediately after abortion. Ta.