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Original poster

Any GOOD stories abou the mirena coil

30 replies

smb69 · 20/08/2008 10:16

Hi All.....just joined as I am doing some last minute research on the mirena coil. My doc suggested I have one fitted as I have VERY heavy periods/flooding which made me very anaemic. She just gave me a leaflet to read, said the periods may stop and dismissed my fears that it may cause weight gain. I already have back problems that are made worse by my 'CHUNKINESS' I am at last managing to lose weight and to be honest my back problems cause more problems that the periods so I dont want to put on more weight. I'm due to have one fitted tommorrow by the practice's doc that does the fittings. At the moment I'm thinking I'm gonna cancel the fitting and just have a chat with this doc that does all the fittings and may have more information to give me, rather than just shoving a leaflet in my hand!!

Anyway sorry, yakking on too much!

My Question is.....I have found 100's of horror stories on here about the mirena, causing weight gain, bleeding for months or years on end, mood swings, suicidal thoughts, spots, back pain etc etc etc and I'm thinking WOOOOAAAAHHHHH!!! Hold on there, what EXACTLY are the benefits.......So does anyone have any good stories, can anyone put my mind at rest, I know you can have them removed but at the moment I'm thinking keep that blomin thing away from me.

Thanks all.....sorry for the very long winded first post!!

xx

OP posts:
Slubberdegullion · 20/08/2008 10:20

I've had mine for, oh probably 4 or 5 months now, with no problems at all. I love it. No weight gain (yet ), and my last period was just 2 days of light spottting. I've not had any break through bleeding in between. I had horrible periods too and the mirena has beeen a godsend. There is no way I would have gone camping last week without it.

So a thumbs up from me.

I would still go for a chat with the dr first before having it fitted. I had loads of questions and would not have been satisfied with just a leaflet.

ranting · 20/08/2008 10:24

I was having very heavy bleeding for six weeks out of eight, very anaemic and starting to look scrawny too. The doc put in the mirena and my periods have stopped, I am back to my normal weight and I don't suffer with PMT migraines anymore as a bonus.

It is not suitable for all women but, it has completely changed things for the better for me, I do get sore breasts about once a month but that's about it. Beats having to rush to the loo to change every 1/2 hour.

ranting · 20/08/2008 10:24

Oh and I've been on it for 5 years, about to have it replaced.

TattyCatty · 20/08/2008 10:29

Had mine for over a year now and absolutely love it. Was recommended to have it by my gynae due to prolonged bleeding (2 to 3 weeks at a time, with just a week's break before starting again). Haven't had a period since, and have also managed to lose over a stone and half in the last 4 months. As Ranting says, it's not for everyone, but when it's good, it's very, very good

babyinbelly · 20/08/2008 10:36

Hi. I had mine for about 18m and had no problems at all. I did gain weight around the same time I had it put in but this also coincided with stopping breastfeeding and DP moving in so I don't think that it is fair to say it was the coil.

On the extreme plus side I used to have horrendous mood swings once a month which dissapeared once the coil was fitted.

I think it is by far the best decision I made and would not have swapped it.

The modern ones are loads safer than some older versions I feel. I have also heard horror stories but mostly from a few years back. I think it is better now?

jacobliam · 20/08/2008 10:48

Hi,
I hated it! Stuck at it for a year but was constantly bleeding. Like you very heavy periods, but any contraception makes me bleed even more.

I would say try it, you need to give it a good 6 months really, its a bit like marmite you either love it or hate it!

Good luck with it.

LadySalisbury · 20/08/2008 10:50

I absolutely love mine. Have gone from having terrible periods to very light periods that last 3 days max. No PMT, no period pain and contraception sorted. It's been fantastic for me.

bramblebooks · 20/08/2008 11:03

Love mine too - same reasons as Lady S above.

TheCrackFox · 20/08/2008 11:47

Love mine. Sorted out my heavy periods and lost weight because I wasn't comfort eating all the time.

cheshirekitty · 20/08/2008 16:52

Make sure you have it put in by someone who does Mirena coil fitting all the time.

If the Mirena is fitted incorrectly, ie. too low in the uterus it is not as effective as it should be.

Good luck.

chocolatemummy · 20/08/2008 16:56

I had one fitted in januray and although it did really hurt having it put in It has been very effective and my periods are almost gone, I do still get an achy tummy for a couple of days but nothing to what it used to be and all I wear is panti liners which is amazing

squeaver · 20/08/2008 17:00

I always try to post when people are complaining about the Mirena on here because I can't speak highly enough about it.

After having dd I had very heavy, very long, very painful periods. I had previously had very light hassle-free periods. Now I never bleed, never have pain and have contraception sorted. Have not put on any weight or had any other side-effects. It's great.

Agree to having it fitted by someone who does it a lot. It's not too comfortable getting it done but no worse than some smears I've had. And make sure you go home and put your feet up afterwards (don't get on the tube and go to work like I did!)

cherrieberry · 20/08/2008 23:13

had mine in for 2 years and have no probs with it.when it was fitted bled for 6 weeks but havnt had a period since..yipeee..... slight weight gain and spots but not sure if it down to the mirena or chocolate and takeaways!!!!!!!

brightwell · 21/08/2008 08:31

I'm on my 2nd Mirena, not paticularly nice having it inserted, a bit painful and a bit uncomfortable for 24-36 hours, small price to be period free.

cmotdibbler · 21/08/2008 08:43

I'm on my second too - had the first for 4 years (removed to TTC) - no periods at all, no problems, and my second for 2 years - just get a bit of spotting once a month. No weight gain/mood swings/pain etc.

I know 3 people IRL who have them too and who love them. One was having almost continual bleeding which has stopped with the Mirena

Walkthedinosaur · 21/08/2008 08:47

Yup love mine, no periods for the last three years, have put on about half a stone, but can't say that's down to the Mirena Coil but the fact that I can't stop eating biscuits!

It really is fantastic!

NotDoingTheHousework · 21/08/2008 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lucykate · 21/08/2008 09:08

i've had mine for 3 years, no side effects at all. it hasn't stopped my periods altogether but all i have is spotting and an occasional slightly heavy bleed. will be having another one when this one 'runs out'!

saramoon · 21/08/2008 14:29

am feeling very envious of all of you who have got a mirena coil and like it. Had mine in for about 1 and a half years and it made my PMT worse and i got terrible headaches. The lack of blood every month was great though but i had to have it taken out. Now have a copper coil which i feel better with but that time of the month is pretty grim, feels like i lose a litre of blood each month! x

LynetteScavo · 21/08/2008 14:34

I've had no problems with mine. I had it put in a year ago. My periods have virtually stopped (no need for sanitry protection), but they were light anyway. No other effects atall - apart from not getting pregnant.

Original poster
smb69 · 25/08/2008 23:59

Hi All

Thanks for all the replys...sorry I havn't been on here for a while....Teenagers!!!

Anyway went to see the doc 'in the know' who told me...only in 5-10% of woman do the periods totally stop, for 15% of women the coil will be 'expelled'....and then its pot luck as to whether you get weight gain, spots, moodiness etc etc etc, so I'm gonna see if I can do without for a while.....(I'm on tranexamic acid which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't)

Bit miffed with first doc really as she told me periods would probably stop and din't go into all the side effects and stuff, REALLY glad I got a second opinion!

Anyway...Thanks all! x

OP posts:
emma1977 · 26/08/2008 18:24

Those seem particularly pessimistic figures from the second doc- completely different to what I usually quote. If the success rate of stopping periods was as low as 5-10% the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists would recommend it so heavily for treatment of heavy periods!

Anyway, time for some ancedotal evidence....

My mum has one after having episodes of flooding and has had no periods for 3 years, but a couple of spots for the first 2 months after it was inserted. It is also the contraceptive method of choice amongst most of my GP and medical friends due to the period thing (not me, I'm on cerazette)!

melsy · 26/08/2008 20:20

Ive had mine in for over a year now and not finding any of the problems listed. It was either that or sterilaisation and I wa told this has much much higher stats. I was also advised on using it due to very heavy periods (in family)and sometimes constant bleeding and quite nasty PMT. It seems to have evened things out somewhat. I do get a little but nowere near as bad.

I bled for a bit for the 1st 6-8wks and havent had anything at all since.

bobby21 · 17/09/2008 22:00

i had the mirena coil fitted six weeks ago, since this time i have had spotting on a daily basis, i've had two regular periods which have been lighter than my periods previously, however on two occassions i flooded and had severe clots, along with abdominal pains, is this normal, will it get better.

needashouldertocryon · 17/09/2008 22:08

I had the mirena coil fitted about 7 weeks ago.. I used to get really heavy periods and was always anaemic.
Since its been fitted I have been spotting every day... I always have to wear a pant liner... I am hoping this will die down soon.. on the plus side I haven't had PMT, and my period was lighter.