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Original poster

Minera Coil, can anyone advise?

19 replies

singyswife · 18/08/2006 23:35

Hi, I have just been diagnosed with pcos after only 16 years of having it, lol. They have suggested using the minera coil as treatment, has anyone had any experience of this and what was it like, I do not bode well with the pill and am worried this will have similar effects. Can anyone help? Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
singyswife · 18/08/2006 23:42

Anyone?????
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
singyswife · 18/08/2006 23:53

No-One?? Oh well will look online then. Thanks

OP posts:
ggglimpopo · 19/08/2006 00:39

Message withdrawn

ukmum · 22/08/2006 00:08

Hiya
Just saw your message and had to reply. I have PCOS, endometrosis, and have had fibroids in my womb. I had the mirena coil inserted over 2 years ago. I am told it works well for some people (I have yet to actually meet one myself...everyone I know who has had it in has had more than one side effect and ended up getting it taken out). I can honestly say it was one of the worst decisions I have ever made and I feel as if I have wasted 2 years of my life! I will give you a list of symptoms that started or got worse throughout the 2 years I had it in.
1, Severe acne (due to PCOS I had acne anyway but this made it ten times worse and constant and I mean really sore boils)
2, Weight gain (2 stone in 2 years)
3, Stiff, painful joints
4, Lethargy
5. Severe IBS (diagnosed by gyne doctor when I asked could the coil be to blame)
6, More cysts (they actually tell you in the leaflet that it can cause more overan cysts for the first few months)
7, Constant lower tummy pain, lower back pain and hip pain,
8, Constant bloating
And that's just the ones I remember! What actually made it worse was the fact that the gyne doctors made me feel it was all in my head and I was left feeling what on earth was wrong with me. The only way I found out that these symptoms were real was by surfing the net and looking at news groups. Do a search for Discovery Health website and have a look at their forums on minera coil and you will see what I mean. Some people report depression and mood swings. Since I had it removed most of the symptoms have gone. Minera has a synthetic hormone in it so if your body can't handle the pill then I'd be wary of it being able to handle a 24 hour 7 day week hormone coated coil in your womb. Even if you do decide to try it out at least you will know what symptoms to look out for and make your own judgement. For my PCOS, I'm going to go down the healthy eating, exercise and herbal remedy to see if it helps. No more synthetic junk for me. Good luck and wish you all the best

angiebabe1 · 22/08/2006 10:26

hi there Had my coil in nearly 2months just having my first period which is lasting longer than i thought am into my second week of blood loss and its heavier than the first week went to my GP and she said give it a chance i have had a bloated tummy since day 1 and my moods have really changed its like have gone really cockey and snappy aso wanna have it out but i suffer from fibroids i need someone out there to tell me if theyve had heavy bleeding and as theres stopped yet

expatinscotland · 22/08/2006 10:29

BIG warning here: If you have tried progesten-based birth control in the past, be wary of the Mirena coil.

It contains progesten.

Yes, it's a small dose.

But in some people, their body is really sensitive to that.

Mine is.

I'd rather get pregnant again than use progesten-based contraception.

And that is saying a lot.

Original poster
singyswife · 25/08/2006 18:03

Thank you for the replys. I was considering seeing a dietician to see if diet could help. I am also trying reflexology with a friend as my friend assures me she can help. I am really not convinced about the coil and your replys have just added to that. I really do have a problem with anything hormone based (including pregnancy) as I just dont seem to be able to cope with hormone well at all. Thank you for your replys. I will keep trying different things before I resort to this I think. Thank you

OP posts:
janeece · 19/09/2006 10:59

First of all thank you so much for this web site and all the replies on the minera. It had NOT been explained to me properly and after 2 months of bleeding and feeling like I will have it removed immediately. Thank you ukmum for all the symptoms you have listed - these are exactly what I am experiencing and I kept thinking every morning 'things will be better'.
Yep - I'm going back down the Herbal -yoga -pilates route and will post anything I discover here. THANK YOU SO MUCH everyone for taking the time to post. It really is a life saver. I feel better already knowing that all these symptoms were not in my head. Much much appreciation. xx

foxinsocks · 19/09/2006 11:03

I wouldn't give up after only 2 months (if the bleeding is all you are worried about) - it may be wrong for you but it can take around 3-6 months for the side effects to settle down. Someone should have explained that to you. I would go back to the family planning clinic/GP and have a word with them but it's probably worth giving it a longer chance to see if the bleeding settles down.

expatinscotland · 19/09/2006 11:10

I was told about the 3-6 months of bleeding.

For me, that was a completely unacceptable side effect.

I mean, who wants to bleed that long? Yeah, that's effective birth control.

I'd get it out, too, if you're having all those other, awful symptoms.

Life is WAY too short to be that miserable b/c of birth control

foxinsocks · 19/09/2006 11:15

you know I agree with you - have seen gynae btw who was excellent (at last, someone who bloody knows what I am talking about and what they are talking about - of course, I had to do it privately - eye watering costs and I'm going to have to go back several times)

the thing is that it can really work well for some people - lots of my friends have it and love it and for some people, it does take 3-6 months for the bleeding to calm down (esp if you had heavy bleeding in the first place)

expatinscotland · 19/09/2006 11:21

but she's having other symptoms besides bleeding.

janeece · 19/09/2006 11:26

Thanks for the replies already - great. I am feeling SO bad that I can't possibly put up with this for any longer. My fiance has been so supportive ( as have friends and family) but I really am sure that the hormones are not agreeing with my body at all. If it takes 6 months to settle, then by that time I might be lying comatose somewhere as I can't move my legs properly! Thanks for the support - I'm having it removed. I would rather experience heavy periods than this nightmare. :-)

foxinsocks · 19/09/2006 11:29

the same thing happened to me janeece and I too had it taken out straight away - it just doesn't agree with some people!! There are lots of other ways of dealing with heavy bleeding so I hope you find one that suits you!

expatinscotland · 19/09/2006 11:30

Fight your corner, jan.

Progesten-based contraception made my post-natal depression SO bad I'd rather have become pregnant again. And taht's saying a lot, so I understand where you're coming from.

NEVER AGAIN for me.

MegaLegs · 19/09/2006 11:31

It seems I have been extremely lucky with my Mirena. I have had it just over a year with no problems at all . My periods have stopped, which I consider a bonus. I know from the other threads on here that some have found it a disaster and had them removed. I'm a fan as it suits me ok.

janeece · 19/09/2006 11:35

So I guess that I'm one of the not-so-lucky ones!
I'm going back to pilates and a semi-veggie diet. I'll let you know how I get on!
Back to the teaching I must go - good to chat to you all.
Thanks again for the support- janeece xx

janeece · 21/09/2006 08:49

Just a quite update to let you know that I had the minera taken out yesterday(no pain at all; infact the GP said it just slide out as if my body was rejecting it....).
I feel better already and think I have a bit of my sparkle back!
Thanks again for all the messages posted that helped me take this decision.
Much appreciation.

v1negar · 28/09/2006 20:50

Oh my word I'm so glad I found this thread! I was nearly talked into having the mirena coil fitted by my dr. Will now run a mile!!

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