Iron levels and Mirena

[Lucycantdance]

I’m a veggie but have been for nearly 30 years. Never had huge problems with iron until periods became insanely heavy after DC2 (they’d always been heavy but this was next level). Was given iron infusion which put my ferratin levels back to 170 and started taking tranexamic acid which put my periods back to “normal” level but still over 5-6 days. After six months I am feeling tired again and ferratin back down to 54. GP says to try a Mirena but I had quite horrible birth injuries after DC1 which took years to sort out and I’m worried about messing with my vagina/uterus and also about hormonal side effects of Mirena - I’ve never been able to tolerate the pill. Just wondered if any advice/insights?

Hmmm the pill never controlled my bleeding and with the mirena I spotted daily for 6 months and still had light monthly 7 day periods.

I too got anaemia from my normal 7-10 day heavy periods and after the 3 days of tablets still had heavy periods.

What problems did you have tolerating the pill?

Best thing I ever did. Suffered for years with horrendous heavy periods. Ended up in A&E prepped for blood transfusion my iron levels dropped so badly. Got iron infusions and took iron tablets for months.

Was quite resistant to getting mirena having read bad reports about it. So glad I did, as it was life changing for me.

Periods light, no more flooding, no more pmt. So glad I got it.

The Mirena is a surprisingly tiny thing (I know this as I insisted on examining mine when the GP removed it) and isn't likely to damage you in any way once it's in. I gather it can be a bit pinchy when it goes in, though I can't comment personally as I got mine under GA as I was having other things done.

I didn't have periods at all with the Mirena and mine had become very heavy due to perimenopause. It stops the womb lining from thickening each month so should really help with blood loss.

Anecdotally I've known women who can't tolerate the pill be fine with the Mirena but you won't know until you try it.

Sounds like it would be worth trying for you, but you have to be prepared to give it three months or so to settle down. Getting mine was totally life changing for me, in a good way.

@RandomMess it just made me absolutely emotional wreck, all the time, plus the weight gain. So I am extremely hesitant about anything hormonal as worried it’ll mess with me.

@DramaAlpaca @Goinghome20 thank you - these are the kind of good news stories I need to read!! What I can’t figure out is why my iron has still dropped so dramatically despite the tranexamic acid

I had heavy bleeding with clots and pains and bled non stop for around 10 months with the bleeding alternating between spotting and heavy. Even tranexamic acid didn't help. This was a sudden change for me so I had an investigative procedure in October and the mirena was fitted at the same time. It's the best thing I've ever done. I haven't had my iron levels checked since before surgery but I feel less lethargic and the bleeding stopped almost instantly. I couldn't believe it. I'd read so many horror stories but it has been a life changer for me and I'm only a couple of months on.

Have you tried the progesterone only pill or just combined?

Mirena does have far less progesterone in it though.

I had a small battle to get my Mirena out and the Dr at the sexual health clinic was rude to me "you'll be back pregnant in 6 months" 🙄🤬 as we had 4 DC already but she did take it out.

@RandomMess only tried combined but still it would take a lot for me to try any pill again. I don’t know how women tolerate it. I’ve always used condoms or the copper coil I had for a while.

@SallyAnn32 thank you that’s great to hear. I haven’t heard horror stories but haven’t looked into it fully yet. It’s being one of the horror stories I’m worried about 🙈

I had a very similar problem and mirena stopped my periods completely.
Agree with previous posters: changed my life.

Well hormone wise it's very different to the combined.

Worse case scenario you just insist on having it removed.

[quote Lucycantdance]@SallyAnn32 thank you that’s great to hear. I haven’t heard horror stories but haven’t looked into it fully yet. It’s being one of the horror stories I’m worried about 🙈[/quote]
You need to decide what is best for you. I tried the pill alongside the tranexamic acid prior to the coil but by the point it was put in (under GA while I had a procedure) I would have been happy for them to do anything to try and help because I was so miserable.

I hope you get sorted x

I have always had horrible side effects with the combined pill but surprisingly few issues with my Kyleena (like a lower dose Mirena.) It’s not as suitable for people with heavy/painful periods because it’s lower dose, but I mention it because I had a consultation with the sexual health dr (before my actual appointment) who said the coil is generally better tolerated because the hormone levels are lower (even in the Mirena) than with the pill/pop. I also asked if they would they take it out if I hated it. She said she would urge me to keep it for at least six months for any minor side effects to settle, but if I didn’t like it after that or really hated it before then, then of course they would remove it.

I’ve had it for a year now and it’s the most straightforward form of contraception I’ve ever had. My periods weren’t heavy before but have practically disappeared. No weight gain or crazy mood swings. I sort of wish I’d had one in my teens/twenties.

@Gunpowder thank you that’s really helpful

Tbh mirena stopped my periods bit I still got menstrual bloating and migraines and sciatica
Since I had it out after 2 coils and 9 years I'm a lot better and not depressed anymore.

The pill never suited me. I got the mirena a year ago with ferritin of 6 😳 and it’s been great

Thanks all for your comments. I’ve decided not to go ahead. GP has pissed me off with being so pushy over it and his misogynistic comments when I tried to ask further information (I had birth injuries that needed surgery etc and wanted to know more - silly me, I should have realised how lucky I am that I even received the treatment in the first place 🙄). I am going to take the tranexamic acid and gentle iron. Can’t risk the possible side effects.

I am in a similar dilemma. My ferritin levels are 4 and to say I feel like crap is an understatement.
Iron supplements and tranexamic acid wreck my IBS and I have awful heavy periods so I am constantly struggling to keep my ferritin levels up.
I am constantly ly offered the mirena but the side effects put me off as I suffer from hormonal aura migraines and don’t want them exacerbated.
I had been referred for infusions but the haematology department have just rung to say that as my HB is 9.9 they don’t really want to pursue infusions and I must continue with supplements!
I’ve been referred for a uterine ablation but as with the state of the NHS at present it could be a year long waiting list.
I don’t know what else to try to reduce my heavy periods.

@RedPandaWanda

I am in a similar dilemma. My ferritin levels are 4 and to say I feel like crap is an understatement. Iron supplements and tranexamic acid wreck my IBS and I have awful heavy periods so I am constantly struggling to keep my ferritin levels up. I am constantly ly offered the mirena but the side effects put me off as I suffer from hormonal aura migraines and don’t want them exacerbated. I had been referred for infusions but the haematology department have just rung to say that as my HB is 9.9 they don’t really want to pursue infusions and I must continue with supplements! I’ve been referred for a uterine ablation but as with the state of the NHS at present it could be a year long waiting list. I don’t know what else to try to reduce my heavy periods.

So sorry you are going through that. It annoys me that some GPs just don’t listen to very real concerns about side effects. My GP went on tell me about how his three adult daughters have the Mirena like that is supposed to apply to me🙄

Can you afford to go private?

Is it the GP you spoke to himself that fits the mirena or another GP or nurse? At my surgery there are a few female GPs and a nurse that deals with them so rather than write it off after the horrible experience with that one GP can you talk to someone else?

I had horrendous periods, ovulation pain and mid cycle bleeding so had the mirena fitted in the summer. I had some light spotting for a couple of months but my periods were better straight away - like others said can be a life changer!

@AuntieMaggie I think it’s partly the GP. It also just researching and hearing different stories. Seems it is either life changing or absolutely horrible and at the moment I don’t want to risk it being horrible.