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Original poster

Mirena Coil and acne!!!

34 replies

Daffy · 18/12/2002 13:34

I had a Mirena Coil fitted in August and ever since then I have been suffering with terrible acne. I have never had perfect skin and did suffer a little when I was on the pill, but it has got a lot worse since I had my coil fitted. Is anyone else suffering like I am? Is it likely to get better? I do hope so as I may have to have it taken out because of this!

OP posts:
AnnieG · 18/12/2002 23:52

Daffy-I too had a Mirena coil fitted in August and have suffered with acne since. They do warn that this can be a side effect but the doctor who fitted mine said it should settle down after a few months.
I have to say the benefits for me have outweighed the problem of the acne as my periods have gone from being extremely heavy to virtually non-existant.I should persevere for a while longer if you can-my spots are certainly less severe now than they were initially.

Original poster
Daffy · 19/12/2002 12:51

Thanks AnnieG. I will persevere for a little while longer. I'm sure the doc wouldn't want to take it out after such a short space of time anyway. The acne is quite bad though. I look like someone going through puberty, not someone in their early 30s'!!
Everyone else must have perfect skin then?

OP posts:
sb34 · 04/01/2003 01:28

Message withdrawn

Enid · 27/02/2003 10:38

I am about to get one fitted - has anyone still got the spots???

Lindy · 27/02/2003 17:11

Enid - could you let me know how you get on (all aspects!!) I have been dithering about, not knowing whether to have the mirena coil or sterilisation - I did have the consultation for sterilisation, but then got cold feet after hearing about all the period problems that quite a few people seemed to experience afterwards, so I would appreciate some feedback about the coil, if you don't mind!

Good luck!

Enid · 27/02/2003 17:16

having it done on Monday afternoon, quite happy to go into gory detail if it will help anyone!

Lindy · 27/02/2003 19:41

Thanks Enid - look forward to hearing from you!!

sb34 · 27/02/2003 20:43

Message withdrawn

SofiaAmes · 27/02/2003 20:46

Never got any spots and it certainly seems to have helped enormously preventing the vaginal dryness that comes with bfing. I found the fitting completely painless. The worst bit was the extra long strings that they leave till they check it 6 weeks later. i would totally recommend it.

susanmt · 28/02/2003 11:47

I had a few spots for the first couple of months after it was fitted, but not anything that could be described as acne. In any event I feel this was OK compared to no periods, no migraines, no worries!
The mirena has a lower failure rate than female sterilisation - one of the reasons we opted for it as we don't want any more children.

Lindy · 03/03/2003 22:02

SofiaAmes - sorry if this sounds crude but how long are these strings? Did it effect your love life?

Lil · 04/03/2003 14:04

Bad news daffy - I had to check this out and can't use the mirena coil because I am v. prone to acne The acne is caused by the release of progesterone on using this coil. If you are also prone to acne then this is not the coil for you! For example all those women who used Dianette as a pill which had the right balance of hormones to stave off acne...well the mirena coil has the opposite balance of hormones so encourages acne.

SofiaAmes · 04/03/2003 21:14

That's ok lindy. No problems with sex life. They leave the strings long for the 1st 6 weeks so they can check that the coil is still in. In my case they stuck out just enough that they irritated my still sore vagina (I had only given birth 6 weeks before and had had various stitches). However, once they had been cut short, I never felt them again.

Moomin · 05/03/2003 22:36

Had mirena coil fitted last April. I guess I was one of the unlucky ones, because my "periods" didn't stop at all. They weren't articularly heavy but lasted a good 7 to 10 days each month. Finally had it out 2 weeks ago. Talking to nurse at the FPC, she also said that the coil may well have been contributing to my feeling very low over the past year. I've had 2 family bereavements, so I put it down to that, but she said not to discount the coil as the mirena was releasing constant hormones into my system. I should add that I'm a very "hormonal" person, very susceptible to moods dictated by hormones, so maybe it just wasn't for me. Have now decided to try for another baby but am already wondering what options will be left for me when it comes round to deciding on another type of contraception again. I'm not trying to put anyone off, but it's rather like asking what other people's birth experiences are: each person's will be different. I'm sure mirena is ideal for many people - just not me

Lindy · 06/03/2003 21:56

Thanks SofiAmes for being frank!

Moomin - this contraception thing is so difficult isn't it - to be honest, I am completely 'unhormonal' - in fact I wouldn't really know what it was like to feel hormonal so perhaps I will be OK witht the mirena coil - I did try the injection thing once, but bled continuously so that wasn't much fun.

Personally, I'd be quite happy with celebacy!

Original poster
Daffy · 07/03/2003 15:10

Hadn't realised that this 'thread' had come back again.

I had my coil fitted in August and apart from a slight loss of blood at first I haven't had anything since.

As for the spots, well I always used to have a few spots anyway but they do seem to be better now that a few months ago.

Don't worry about the strings as if they cause you and your dp any problems you can always go back and have them cut shorter. I had to as my dh could feel them. But everything seems fine now.

Good luck to you and post again if you have anymore questions that I may be able to help you with.

OP posts:
Lindy · 07/03/2003 16:05

Thanks for that Daffy, I really think I should go for it ............ just keep putting it off for no good reason!

platinum1 · 17/03/2003 19:20

Hi girls,
I had the Mirena fitted 4 days ago and it was absolute agony. My daughter was born with less pain. I was light headed after and then was sick.
I have been in constant pain since, with shooting pains in the front and back, making it difficult to walk and drive. I am also bleeding a lot. Any one else have anything like this. I am wondering if I am trying to expel it.

Joanne

Lindy · 17/03/2003 20:00

platinum1 - so sorry to hear about your experience, surely this can't be normal - have you been back to your doctor?

Just as I had made up my mind too .........

Let us know how you get on.

SofiaAmes · 17/03/2003 21:27

platinum1, I think you should go straight back to your gp and doublecheck that it has been correctly inserted. I hardly felt mine going in (less pain than period cramps) and certainly couldn't feel it at all afterwards. I've never heard of anyone having pain as bad as yours.

sb34 · 17/03/2003 23:08

Message withdrawn

Antonia3 · 19/03/2003 20:26

Platinum1, I had a coil (Nova T, not Mirena) fitted today (my 2nd coil) and it was blooody agony...I cried the whole time it was being done. What a wimp. But it did settle down v quickly (after about 30 mins.)

What you're experiencing doesn't sound right - think you should go to your GP or FPC as soon as you can. I hope you feel better soon.

p.s. Is Mirena lots better than a traditional non-hormone-releasing coil?

Furball · 19/03/2003 22:03

I'll say - No periods for a start!!

Demon · 24/03/2003 10:11

Platinum1 How are you getting on?

Mine hurt a lot when it was being put in and that's no lie! I also felt a little light headed and had cramps for a few hours afterwards. I did ring my doctor that day and she put my mind at rest and surely enough a few hours later I was back to my normal self again.

It was uncomfortable but no periods now and no pills to remember so it was definitely worth it especially as it will last for 5 years.

susanmt · 24/03/2003 11:25

I didnt ever have a 'traditional' coil but am the mirenas biggest fan. A couple of eposodes of spotting in a whole year comared to cripplingly heavy periods that put me in bed for a day a month PLUS migraines on ovulation.
I LOVE my mirena. Even though dh is considering the snip (no more kids here) I would ask to continue having this coil for my own general health. It is prescribable for heavy periods. OK so it is a bit uncomfy getting it put in (most of my pain came from the speculum as I was only 6 weeks postnatal or so) but honestly that is nothing compared to the pain or inconvenience causeed by me periods. Outstrips any form of contraception I have ever used (pill, minipill, condoms and depo-provera). AND it is more reliable than female sterilisation!

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