Mirena Coil - Confused re GP's comments re side effects!

[hildaogden99]

I visited my GP a few weeks ago as since I had the Mirena inserted a few months ago, I have broken out in acne (I'm in my 40s!). The GP said the coil could not have caused the acne as it contains only small amounts of Progesterone that don't even enter your blood stream. I was confused as the instruction leaflet I was given with the Mirena listed acne (amongst other things) as a common side effect. I have also read lots of accounts from people who have had a similar experience. I dismissed it as the GP not knowing what she was talking about given that she is quite new.

Anyway, I went back yesterday for a review and saw a different, older and more experienced GP. He was also adamant that the coil could not cause such things and again went on about it not entering the blood stream. When I produced the leaflet he said that the list of side effects was standard wording for the side effects of progesterone and that they have to be included with any product containing that hormone. However, as the hormone doesn't enter the bloodstream with Mirena it actually doesn't apply but they have to say it anyway?!?! As much as I respect this GP normally, I'm struggling the believe this! I said it seemed rather a huge coincidence that the acne suddenly appeared with the Mirena and I knew I wasn't the only person who had had this problem. He conceded there may be a TINY chance it was responsible but he doubted it.

I also came off Cilest just before having the Mirena and I know coming off the pill can trigger acne. However, the last couple of times I did this I didn't break out so assumed I'd grown out of acne. Therefore, I'm still convinced the Mirena is at least partly responsible.

So, who's right - the GP or little old me??!!!

When I was on the mirena I came up in dreadful acne within days

I was on it less than a month, went back to see the doctor (not mine, the one who put it in) and she said that it was unusual but did happen and took it out no further questions asked

I don't think you are wrong about this issue

I think drs are incredibly dismissive about Mirena side-effects. Mine was! I think you are right and the Mirena is at least partly responsible.

I have the Mirena and its made me come out in acne, however 3 months in its starting to improve do I'm going to give it another 6 weeks or so. My Dr said that acne usually settles down within 6 months.

I had cilest to get rid of acne, so maybe coming off that has not helped?

From a Mirena website -

"Mirena and hormones
Mirena is estrogen-free. It releases small amounts of levonorgestrel, a progestin hormone found in many birth control pills, locally into your uterus at a slow and steady rate. Only small amounts of hormone enter your blood."

Your GP may be telling you fibs.

The only way to find out how it is affecting you is to have it removed.

Did you have it fitted for contraception or for period problems (or both)?
What would you consider using instead?

I had the Mirena. I lasted about 6-8 months before I had it taken out because of the numerous side effects, one of them being terrible spots, especially on my back.

It's a horrible thing imo.

Thanks for your comments. I went on it to sort out bleeding caused by fibroids as well as contraception - so far it's made things worse and I'm bleeding most of the time! I've been on it 4 months so will give it another 2 before going back to the gynacologist who put it in. I think ablation might be the next option. Such a shame I had to come off Cilest as I had no problems with it and clear skin! However, although I'm over 40, 40,I'm not overweight, don't smoke, have high blood pressure or any other health problems. Therefore, is there any reason why I shouldn't go back on it? My age was the reason they suggested I came off.

also, did those of you who had acne find it disappeared with the removal of the coil? Were you on the pill either before or after the coil?

The dreadful constant acne stopped when the coil was removed

I have had nasty spots since my mid 30s but usually one or two, I had many more than this with the coil

I was on the pill both before and after, not for long aft as my husband had a vasectomy but for a few months at least

thankyou Rufus. Presumably you don't have an acne problem now despite coming off the pill?

I had horrible side effects from Mirena, which family planning were utterly dismissive of. It is the most complained about drug in the US (see FDA website).

My take is that it should be dribbling out tiny amounts of progesterone into the blood stream but the technology is a bit flawed so it occasionally releases far too much over the first few months. Either sit out the nasty aid effects and wait for it to settle down with a lower release. Or get it taken out (as I did).

It has put me off implants and other hormonal devices. I'd rather just pop a pill every day and control the dose myself.

you can report the side effects to the yellow card scheme
your gp is wrong, can you complain that he/she might get re-training in this area?

hilda

I get one or two spots but not acne no

In my experience the spots and constant bleeding happen when it is first put in but within a few months your body seems to adapt to the hormones and it all settles down, I barely have any bleeding at all a day of spotting and that's my period

that's interesting Muscat. I did wonder in my non-scientific brain how the coil knew how much hormone to release. I guess it's logical it might go a little mad sometimes! As you say, at least with the pill the amount of hormone going into your body is in equally measured doses!

One of my friends had the mirena coil removed due to it causing acne, another friend because of mood swings and I have just had mine removed in hospital due to infection. I continued having periods every month of the 4 years I had it, albeit lighter than previously. I would never have one fitted again as it has caused the most awful problems for me and is likely to have permanently affected my fertility. A few other friends have a Mirena coil with no problems and swear by it. My GP argued that there are very few cases of side effects with Mirena but I actually think there are more than he's have us believe.

I had the mirena fitted to help with really heavy periods, it took a whole year to settle down, no real side effects apart from constant spotting for a year but that was better IMO than the flooding I was experiencing every 3 weeks!
Now, 18 months on I have no periods, no spotting it's bliss
Must admit at the 6 month stage I felt like the spotting would never end but the perseverance was worth it, and I save a fortune on mega thick sanitary pads

It doesn't enter the bloodstream. That's a good one. So how is the uterus supplied with nutrients? Oh, yes, via the bloodstream!

I had bacne with my first, not with my second, it did go. Tbh not having to deal with terribly debilitating periods any longer, it was a small price to pay.
I think it's a wonderful invention.

I do have the opinion some people are too quick to dismiss the Mirena, from what I read on here. You really have to give it a good chance.

My thoughts exactly coffee

Depends on how greatly they suffer from the effects. I think a lot of HCPs are too quick to almost force women to endure horrible side effects for months on end by fobbing them off and telling them it will 'settle'.

People who don't have problems on Mirena tend to be less likely to post about their experiences online. What you read is very a bit skewed. There are legions of happy Mirena uses out there, thrust me.

The amount of progesterone that enters the blood stream with Mirena is minuscule compared to, say, a progesterone only pill.
But - it is a different progesterone and different women will have different sensitivities to various methods of hormonal contraception.

At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is not what SE are possible in theory (or practice) but which ones affect you.
It is good practice to counsel before any Mirena insertion about bleeding which is the most common SE.
If you get acne after insertion that disappears after removal, well, you won't get an argument from me that it was the Mirena.

There is no one method of contraception that suits everybody and they all have downsides, but at least we have a choice.
Wrt to heavy bleeding, Mirena has saved thousands of women having to go through a hysterectomy, so I cannot in principle see it as a Bad Thing.

Just read in the mirena leaflet that small amounts of the hormone gets into breast milk which means even Mirena admit it DOES get outside the womb. Shocked at GP's ignorance tbh.