Mirena Coil

[SMLSML]

Been recommended this for heavy periods, how is it? Only ever been on the pill, reading about it freaks me out, not sure I can have it fitted, scares me 😅 need reassurance!

I had a rough time with the fitting the first time round (GPs surgery, no pain relief, swore very badly at the doctor). Second time I had it fitted at gynae dept at local hospital with gas and air, for perimenopausal bleeding (adenomyosis and a fibroid) and it's changed my life. I'd go for it, but insist on somewhere with pain relief - fake anxiety if you need to.

Works really well for me. No bleeding at all and was fitted in the local sexual health clinic, the nurse was amazing and it was not painful.

Had mine fitted earlier this year, was quite uncomfortable, it completely dislodged itself after 16 days and fell out. I won’t be having another fitted that’s for sure!

I still have periods with mine, but they are very light. The doctor couldn't get it in, the nurse in the sexual health clinic had it in there before I even had a chance to complain that it was a bit painful. She laughed and said that was pretty much all she did all day.

I think you love it or hate it. I’m about to have my 3rd, so I’m in the love it camp. My periods were unmanageably heavy at 35 and the pill had no effect. A year later my periods had pretty much disappeared. Mine have been ok for fitting and removal so far, just that feeling of them rummaging around like a smear test, but take both paracetamol and ibuprofen before you go, and try to relax (ha).

Had one and didn't find it painful to insert at all although I've had 4 vaginal births so maybe that makes it easier! Some mild period type pains afterwards but didn't last long and didn't impact on functioning. It can take a while to settle and I was told to give it minimum of 6months for things to settle. Unfortunately it didn't reduce bleeding for me but was worth a go!

I've had a coil in one form or other for 17 years- not the same one obviously 😀. It's easy to read horror stories but for most people it's fine - don't get in a spiral. Go to the sexual health clinic where they have lots of experience and I'm sure will all be fine.

^^ exactly this (although mine was at the Dr's).

I had one for 10 years (well 2 different ones!). It was brilliant - I had such heavy periods I got sent home from work, with the mirena I had no more bleeding.

Yeah my post should have come with a disclaimer - I've not been pregnant and have not given birth. They said that didn't matter but I think it did.

If the insertion worries you @SMLSML - call them in advance and get pain relief sorted. That way, when you come in, it will all be ready, rather than you surprising them and them not being able to. You can get a Licodaine injection into the cervix, gas and air, numbing sprey/gel, etc. The coil is great for thining the uterus lining and leading to less bleeding and cramps - it dows that a while to settle though (up to 6 months, for most people it's a lot less, but be aware of that, so you're expectations aren't that high).

My experiences aren't great, lots of bleeding, and my legs shake after, etc but I have vaginismus so my not representative of what it can be like for everyone else. For many people it stops their period completely or at least makes the bleeding much less heavier.

I heard it's easier to fit it for a woman who had a vaginal delivery.

I am on my 3rd and I am loving it. My periods stopped. It's like being pregnant without being pregnant.

I took ibuprofen 1 hour before it was absolutely fine. It was a bit uncomfortable but nothing to write home about

I’m in the love camp too. The fitting wasn’t my favourite way to spend 15 minutes but perfectly manageable. I did have light spotting for about 6 months, which was annoying but not unmanageable. I was advised to give it a decent amount of time to settle down.

I’ve not had a single period for over a year since and I have to say, it’s revolutionised my life. My periods were so heavy before. I’m so glad I’ve got it and stuck out those months of spotting.

I had mine inserted at hospital with the gynae team. It was uncomfortable but not unbearably so. Had it in for 4 year's and no periods.... absolutely blissful.

Had one fitted about 2 weeks ago. Periods were ruining my life. Fitting wasn't too bad. Pretty quick. They used numbing spray and gel. Not had any discomfort. Just light bleeding for a few days. I was scared for ages. Regretting not doing it sooner now.

I had one fitted, as the progesterone part of HRT. I wasn’t keen, but the doctor was very pushy and I gave in. The fitting was very painful, but subsided then after about 4 or 5 days I had quite a lot of abdominal pain, and couldn't feel the strings any more. I'm not convinced it was fitted in the correct position to start with. Also it was causing me quite severe mood swings and anxiety, which is not like me at all. I went to hospital to have it removed, and they had to fish around for it, but I was back to my old self again in less than a week after removal. Never again.