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Original poster

Your experiences of the mirena coil please

40 replies

harman · 17/08/2007 11:02

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BBBee · 17/08/2007 11:04

I can't do it as I don't like hormones that aren't mine - how do you feel about them?

also I know that it is very varied how people respond to it - it may be great for you. You can have them removed if it is not going well.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 17/08/2007 11:05

I had a mirena coil from Feb 2005. It was good for reducing periods (they stopped after 6 months) which was great for me as I had very heavy painful periods.

I think it had some detrimental effect on my skin, not as bad as some others have reported. Some weight gain.

Unfortunately as it stopped my periods I didn't know until about 18 weeks in that I was pregnant with DD (coil still in place). She was born August 2006.

They never did find the coil.

expatinscotland · 17/08/2007 11:06

OMG, Norma!

NormaStanleyFletcher · 17/08/2007 11:06

Oh - and no mood swings for me, but I never get PMT either so I guess I am not as effected by hormones as some others are in that way...

saffymum · 17/08/2007 11:07

I've only heard good reports and my doctor said a really interesting thing, weight gain is directly related to how much you put into your mouth, if you keep eating one biscuit a day you won't gain weight but if you put 3 or more and don't stop, then you gain weight. She basically said you have responsibility to take control of this.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 17/08/2007 11:07

DH has now had snip

zubb · 17/08/2007 11:07

I've had mine for 2 months now having never had any hormonal contraceptive before. Fitted really quickly with no pain at all - was just like a smear test. No pain from it at all, no obvious weight gain / spots / moods - well, not more than before the coil at least! I have still had periods, but very light, and I did have some bleeding for a couple of weeks after it was fitted.

All in all it seems to have worked well for me.

Baffy · 17/08/2007 11:07

norma!

Original poster

harman · 17/08/2007 11:07

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expatinscotland · 17/08/2007 11:08

You obviously haven't see the thread on here about the Mirena that has so many responses now it's almost at capacity, saffy.

Original poster

harman · 17/08/2007 11:09

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NormaStanleyFletcher · 17/08/2007 11:11

harman - I got the coil as a contraceptive (hahaha) not to reduce my periods. If it is being proscribed just for heavy periods can you not insist that they try to find the cause of your heavy periods instead??

chopchopbusybusy · 17/08/2007 11:22

I have positive experience of the Mirena coil. I had it fitted mainly to reduce my very heavy periods. This has been effective. I still have periods but they are very light. Initially, I did notice that I got a bit spotty at times but that settled down in a few months. I have gained weight but I entirely agree with saffymums GP, I know the reason for the weight gain and it's nothing to do with the Mirena . I suppose it comes down to what othere treatments your GP could offer to deal with the heavy periods. I was given some tablets (can't remember the name) which made me vomit very badly. So for me the only other option was probably to live with the periods (not realistic as I was confined to the house for several days a month) or a hysterectomy which I'd rather not have.

kittylouise · 17/08/2007 11:31

I had a Mirena inserted after the birth of dd; had that one in for 5 years, then replaced with another one for 4 years.

No periods in this time at all, no weight gain, no moods, nothing adverse at all. However, I am very lucky as my periods are naturally very light and don't suffer with PMT or any nastiness.

HOWEVER...and this is a BIG but, I managed to get pregnant when second Mirena was in situ. And of course with the lack of periods I didn't have a clue and didn't find out until 10 weeks. Unfortunately I miscarried. The whole experience of this put me off the Mirena (unsurprisingly). I would certainly not use any contraception this stopped periods again.

Capers · 17/08/2007 11:33

Only kept mine for three months, and this was long enough to turn me into a complete emotional wreck (with greasy acned skin and tender breasts to boot). It sounds perfect for those it suits - but disastrous for a significant minority of women. I'm just glad my husband spotted a possible connection between it's insertion and a deterioration in my mental health. I felt myself again within a week of having it taken out (which was quick and painless) - and my anti-depressant prescription therefore remains uncashed. "Mood swing" is far too light a term for what I experienced. If you take this route, I'd suggest keeping a diary before and after so you are alert to any changes. The hormone content may be low - but my reaction was still dramatic.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

christywhisty · 17/08/2007 11:51

I was supposed to have one as I have had some really painfull periods and very heavy for 3 days with high temperatures etc.

I was on duphaston(progesterone) for a few months and it made me feel awful for 10 days os it was either a bad 10 days or a bad 3 days.
Doctor insists that the the progesterone in the mirena in the coil is only a fraction of the dosage of the oral tablet. But having read lots of threads on the subject I am highly dubious that I won't have the side effects.
Its alright saying it is the eating that makes you put on weight, but the side effects of progesterone made me desperate for food. I get that a bit before my period anyway but this was 10 times worse.

I had a scan that shows I had endometrial cysts on my overies. But the doctors insist I don't have endometriosis and the cysts aren't the cause of the pain etc/

But I haven't had a really painful period for a while (with no hormones).

I would get a more painful period everymonth building up to a really awful one with temperature etc. Then next month would be a lot better again.
I am now wondering if it was the cysts building up each period until they burst.

HenriettaHippo · 17/08/2007 14:23

I am about to have mine removed. Had it in 6 months, and have experienced mood swings like PMT, although i never suffered from that before, have had various rashes on my hands and feet, feel knackered all the time, and have had increasing headaches, now about once every 2 weeks. It may not be the coil, but that's the only thing that's changed since all these symptoms started. And many of them match what i've read about on the v. long mirena thread.

Interestingly, i had the depo injection for 5 years before having DS1, and had no problems whatsoever apart from putting on 1 1/2 stone over the 5 years (slowly, so i didn't notice at the time, but it fell off in 2 months after i stopped the injections...). That's why i thought the coil would be ok for me. Now I'm just looking forward to getting rid of it, although it means a return to the condom...!!

Original poster

harman · 17/08/2007 19:04

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HenriettaHippo · 17/08/2007 19:06

oh, and lots of bloating. So much so that a distant relative at a party recently commented on how I had a lovely bump... DS2 is 11 months, and no intentions of any further babies at the moment...

benandalex · 17/08/2007 19:11

i get spots around the time of my period still have periods every 5 weeks but it is so light and i ut my weight gain down to the amount of crap i have been eating recently and ive had it for a year now and only recentley started with weight gain and that is purley my own fault hth

orangehead · 17/08/2007 19:17

harman - Have you had tests regerding yr heavy periods. I just went 2 doc yesterday regarding very heavy periods recently, I was really surprised she just kept going on about the mirena coil which I really dont want. I know most women who have heavy periods have nothing wrong but Im surprised they not checking it out

Original poster

harman · 17/08/2007 20:39

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fakeblonde · 17/08/2007 23:49

Mirena coil was fab for me.
VERY hesitant with taking anything hormonal, but this has been fab.
No periods,NO PMT and no weight gain.
In fact i have felt so normal i have had more energy and actually am 1 stone lighter than i was proir.
Now had it 4 years and never looked back.

Furball · 18/08/2007 06:35

I love mine too! Am on my second. Can't remember when I last had a period years and years ago probably. fantastic!

Trinityrhino · 18/08/2007 07:26

My was great
had it for 2 years, removed so we could ttc.
no periods or weight gain

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