Mirena Coil - love it or hate it?

[JiminyCricket]

I need to go for a coil fitting. Have had copper coil before and was happy with it (GP had problem fitting Mirena coil that time so went for other one). GP now recommending Mirena. I am kind of interested but wonder if I should stick with what i know I am Ok with, as have a low tolerance of side effects etc. And, on a more curious note, if coil has a good effectiveness anyway, why stick hormones in it as well? Any experiences?

[Jestrin]

Haha! That should read fibroids! I didn't spot that earlier!

[Jestrin]

Ive posted on a couple of other threads about the mirena. I've had mine 18 months now and although it has helped with the heavy periods and pain due to endo it has given me a whole new set of problems. Weight gain, irregular lengthy periods that vary in flow. not to mention cysts and finroids! i think Im about to finish when I get another weeks bleeding! I'm now waiting on the results of a blood test to see if I'm perimenopausal or if there are issues with my thyroid or pituarity gland affecting my ovaries. In the mean time I am seriously thinking of going to my gp to get a second opinion and the mirena removed.

[Kirstylvsya]

I got mine in about 4weeks ago, swapped from copper coil as had heavy periods and awful pain. To be honest I would rather have the pain than the side effects of this horrible coil. Tired all the time, weight gain, no sex drive atol, terrible mood swings, angry all the time. Teary, I feel like I'm going nuts. All I want to do is sleep! I know it's early days and I should let it settle but I can't even wait I hate feeling like this so much. My check up is soon so I am hoping I can get swapped back to the copper one

[OriginalPoster]

I got mine two months ago, hoping it will help endometriosis. So far, irregular mild bleeding but am expecting that to settle soon.

[FABFORTIES]

hey peeps!
had my mirena coil fitted last monday, feel so well im sure its come out!! can it come out after a bowel movement( tmi), grateful for any info on it!!

[jadesayo]

I have never posted on a forum before but I feel I really must as a result of this evil contraceptive called the Mirena Coil.
Thankfully, I only had it in for 8 months & to think that in that time, it turned me from a happy person into a monster, who was starting to think there was nothing in life to live for (bearing in mind, I am a mother of 3 wonderful children!). Was forever ttearful.

As well as depression, which I had never suffered from, i gained over 1 1/2 stone in weight - which no matter what I did could not be shifted due to a monstrous appetite for sweet & sugary food.

I had a constant bloated tummy, which led a parent at my kids school to ask when I was expecting child no. 4!

Nausea - similar to morning sickness.

Complete and utter loss of libido, to the extent that I thought I no longer loved my husband & might therefore have to consider divorce!

The last straw was when I started to suffer from debilitating back pain - such that I couldn't get out of bed without being in agony or get into the car, without my son lifting my legs in.

I only connected all these ailments to the coil after only accidently coming across posts, through researching what was causing the back pain.

In my opinion, there appears to be what could be termed a conspiracy by GPs refusing to believe that in some women the coil produces some distressing & debilitating side effects. I was practically bullied by my GP into having the coil inserted in the 1st place & then he refused to remove it when I asked him to - I had to bypass him by getting the nurse to remove it!

Have only had it removed for 4 weeks now, but already bloatedness has gone, feeling happier, although sex drive still low, not eating as much & my back within days of having the evil thing removed, started to get better!

Ladies, for some the MC works fine, for others like myself, it can become a living nightmare - all I ask is if you are thinking of having it inserted, that you at least be aware of its potential side-effects & are not caught unaware. I didn't read the info leaflet given to me after insertion - in fact I threw it away as I did not expect something recommended by my GP as safe to cause me so much pain & heartache.

Please, we are intelligent women, who know our bodies better than anyone, doctor or no doctor, so lets listen to it when its not happy and not allow our concerns to be dismissed out of hand by GPs!

[whomovedmychocolate]

I'm resurrecting this thread to add my two pennies worth.

I had one in for two months, I had some problems, I gained over a stone, I had massive mood swings and pain on urination. Went to the FPC because GP was frankly a total witch about it and the doctor had a look, asked me to cough and it fell out

24 hours after it came out, DH said 'you seem so much brighter' and he's right, I can't believe how down I was with it in, it was like I had my own personal stormcloud every day.

Of course now I'm going through the post removal bleed. But it seems to be abating and I've dropped four pounds in 48 hours

No more hormones for me!

[ModreB]

Love it. Had a copper coil before and hated it, now about to have mine renewed.

[21again]

I had it put in Aug 2009 AND HAVE BLED EVER SINCE! been put on extra hormone tablets to stop the bleeding..to be honest its a beast of a thing and now the struggle to get the doc to take it out...when I mentioned it she was positively arsey...If I had my time again Id never have it put in!!

[christinamine]

I have just returned from the clinic as I have been having problems with my implanon. I suffer from migraines so cannot use contraception containing oestrogen. With the implanon I found I bled heavily and pretty much non-stop - that lasted 6months. I was put on cerazete to try and fix this problem but 3 months later and I am still bleeding a lot, slightly lighter but still an issue. Today I was pretty much told my only option was the Mirena coil. I am 22 and have a 2 year old son, having had a child the doctor assured me it was the best option for me but I am very nervous about the whole thing. I'm sick of of feeling unwell all the time but feel slightly forced into this "cure". The doctor talked as if it was a miracle cure, implied that I will cramp for a day or two then have no pain or bleeding till I decide to have it removed. Having searched the internet I'm finding very different information.... any advice?!

[follyfoot]

Love love love mine. Had awful heavy periods forever, now nothing at all, its fantastic. Lost a stone and a half since I had it fitted, think its because I feel so well. This one's due to last another year and will definitely have another one.

Be prepared for what they call 'chaotic' bleeding for the first six months. Bit of a pain as you can get pretty constant bleeding at first, then spotting, but once its over, the freedom is wonderful!

[wigglybeezer]

I had mood problems and mild skin problems for 18 months with the mirena but it has now settled down, I wonder if the slow release mechanism releases more progesterone at the beginning and then tails off a bit until it is due for renewal, or maybe my body has just got used to it? I also have had spotting after sex (had a smear done just in case which was normal).

[WhatTheFrack]

Love it, am on my second, no periods for 6 years, no PMT, no bloating. In fact DH got the snip last year and I decided to keep my coil in because not having periods is great.

The doctor when she was changing mine did tell me that it was a love/hate thing.

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

Loved it until I got pg with it in. DD just turned 4.

[mumoffraser]

I lasted 2 weeks with the mirena coil. Had cramping pains from the moment it went in, very heavy bleeding and I turned totally irrational like really bad PMT. Just couldn't wait to see if it settled down and had to get it taken out. If you are happy as you are I'd stick with copper.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Had mine in two weeks ago. No side effects. Weight loss, sleeping much better. So far so good.

[Elusivemoment]

Take painkillers before you go!

Hi there. I had the Mirena Coil fitted a few weeks ago. It's currently coming up to the time of my period and I started bleeding a little more than the daily spotting I have been getting (and a week earlier) and I have mild cramps so I have been doing a bit of reading on the 'net. I think whilst it's important to remember that everyone is different it's also good to be mindful that: you really need to give it 6 months (ish) to settle; if you are spotting that whole time make sure you're eating well, avoiding caffeine (sensible in any case if you have any kind of hormonal problem!) and taking some kind of iron supplement (there's a great one avail in health food stores and pharmacies that water with a high iron content - I don't know if I'm allowed to mention the name or if that's seen as advertising?); and you should look after yourself. If you're spotting you need to be hygienic... swimming probably isn't a good idea and making sure your partner is clean is too! As long as you're spotting you might be slightly more susceptible to infection because your body is still settling. Just a few thoughts.

[sallyannie]

this is interesting. Im just about to go for my second but am going to seriously re think. Have endometreosis and it has helped with that for sure. However this trail has made me think that no sex drive and 1 stone overweight may not be me just something I have to live with. Maybe its the damn marina. will i risk the copper this time?

[pilates]

Hate it having it removed in a couple of weeks, I'm counting the days! Constant bleeding, large blood clots, painful, tiredness, very moody, brain feels like mush - basically feel like shit the whole time. Agree with the rest, stick to what you know and what suits.

[trasi]

I had a mirena coil fitted in March. I had a period that day , and havent had anything since. Had a few stomach cramps to start with, but have settled down. I have noticed more acne, but have had problems with spots since i was 27 (Im now 35). I had treatment to get rid of the spots..but still got some, so hadnt really thought of that as a side effect till now. I have noticed weight gain, that i cant seem to shift at all...Im a fitness inst and do a class 6 days a week, sometimes 2, weight isnt shifting, bloating aswell sometimes, (but then again i do have IBS) I have noticed my mood can get really bad somedays...Im really angry, most of the time im thinking where is this anger coming from...pretty much like a timebomb just waiting to explode, teary aswell. My kids are asking me alot of the time if im ok and is there anything wrong, but there doesnt seem to be any reason for it. Urine has a strong odour and had a discharge, dr done tests, they came back clear of infection. I have also noticed a bit of bladder weakness, never had any problems there before.

Up until recently i was all for it, no periods..brilliant, not havin to worry about takin a pill everyday etc but im not so sure now, after readin other posts with similar effects as myself, I think I will have to be goin to see the dr to have mine removed also

[orienteerer]

Love it (now into year 4)

[notevenamousie]

Loved it when I had it though it took the full year to settle down to minimal bleeds. However it took a long time in theatre to remove mine as it was embedded/ partially perforated.

[Telesales650]

I have had the Mirena coil suggested to me to stop the lining of my womb growing after having two polyps and two large fibroids removed with GA. I have gone through the menopause it seems to me to be a dangerous time!