The Mirena Coil,..opinions...pro's.....con's...what do I need to know?

[MrsGokWan]

Right after having a real doofus moment with the mini pill (cerazette) I think I may need to consider the Mirena. I have heard horror stories and I need to know what peoples opinion of the coil is. What are the pro's and con's of using it. What are the important things I need to know and consider.

I don't know if it is important or not but I am still BF my DC3 (19m)

Why do you specifically need the Mirena?

I had the Mirena a few months after my dd was born, it was brilliant. A bit of spotting, then light bleeding once a month (and I mean light, a day, possibly two of needing a panty liner, sorry if tmi!). I have a friend who had it at the same time, her youngest is 6. She had more spotting in the beginning which she found a pain, but once it settled down she loved it too.
But...we decided to try for another, and it has n't happened yet, now nearly 6 months since it was removed. We fell pregnant after 3 months, but miscarried at 6 weeks. I really don't know if it is to do with the Mirena obviously, but it does concern me, as 3 children previously, v quick conceiving and no problems. It could just be coincidence though.
I think it's a positive thing to be bf, only because it tends to keep periods lighter. I was told that having it put in before your normal cycle returned properly would mean for less spotting and lighter periods once it settled down.
I would say go for it if you don't want more dc, otherwise I wouldn't like to advise.

I don't, but it is the one that has been specifically mentioned to me by my midwife, the lady at the FP clinic when I was last in there, various health professional over the last 7 years after each child, when people feel the need to tell me I need some sort of contraception.

Should I consider another type? I know nothing about them, except a few horror stories. Tell me what I should know.

I have a 'Nova T380' (that's what it says 'ere anyway).
There's no hormones involved so it won't affect breast feeding. Nor will it affect your ability to get pregnant when you have it removed.
My first period after I had it fitted was hell, but I've only ever had light periods since. I still use a mooncup with no problems.
I haven't put on weight, which I believe is a problem encountered with the Mirena.

I can't think of a bad thing really.

HTH

I have tried all sorts, diaphragm is great if you're not worried about spontaneity
I think Mirena are considered to be very safe, especially compared to other coils.
I would have it again once I decide definitely no more babies, but not in between.
I have read a lot since miscarrying, and most of the horror stories I've seen seem to be from people who had some problems before, although not all. I certainly didn't have any pain or other issues.
Having said all this, I think if we do decide no more, dh will be off for the snip.....

The Mirena hormone doesn't affect breastfeeding, it is progesterone, very small amount and remains local. The mini pill is also progesterone.
I had no problems with weight so not sure about that, how would it make you put on weight I wonder?
The getting pregnant thing, well, there could be something in that

Bananafruitbunny, what are those mooncups like- good?

I can't have anymore children, well technically I can but because of health problems it wouldn't be wise. So that wouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the tip BananafruitBunny, will have a Google on that.

Did think about Googling Mirena, but what I really want is peoples experiances with a coil. I think there is nothing better to help get things in perspective than real life experiance and it isn't something I can stand at the school gate and ask.

Thanks for the input ladies.

In true MN stylie.......

I heart my Mooncup!

I had an ordinary coil for years, and now use the Mirena. I hadn't realised that my periods were heavier on the ordinary one until I had it removed. With the Mirena, it took about 6 months to settle in fully, with odd short bleeds at unpredictable times, but I haven't had any problems since, and should now get mine replaced.

The best thing about Mirena for me has been the (almost) total eradication of PMT. In five years, I've had two or three days when I have woken up Evil, but other than that I face every day with total equanimity.

(I am almost 47 and my family is definitely complete. )

Poppity thank you also for talking to me about it. I definatly couldn't ask any where else about this.

I do have a problem with putting n weight with the mini pill, so I suppose I will still have that problem.

I haven't had problems with putting on weight due to the Mirena, but when I was first married my GP changed my brand of combined Pill and I blew up like a balloon - most of my stretch marks are from that rather than pregnancy.

(This was over 20 years ago, I imagine things have moved on from there)

Oldlady I am 44 and although my family isn't complete there is no more on the horizon.

Would be good if it helped with PMT as well.

I am getting spots and nausea with the mini pill as well. Would this happen with the Mirena or other coil? Also headachy.

That's good to hear about the weight, although I know it varies between people.

I have just seen the time and need to get to bed. My boys will be bouncing around at 6.30 in the morning so I will catch up tomorrow sometime.

Keep the information coming ladies

I honestly can't say if you'd have problems with spots and nausea (I haven't), I know other people have found the Mirena quite awful in different ways - I can only say I looooove it. I'm definitely getting another one.

Many people have said that it takes about 6 months to settle in, can you try for that long?

I don't know, do you think that because of the progesterone? All I know is that the hormone is slow released and that suppresses the growth of your uterine lining. Hence light periods, and needing to have it replaced after 5 years. The hormone means it is more effective as a contraceptive and it removes the normal problem with a coil of heavy periods.
I also had no pmt.
I think the pill being taken orally, and a higher dose of progesterone being needed would mean it would be more of a problem for weight gain?
If it helps it was no different to a smear to have put in and removed, and you will know after a few months if it is for you. My spotting took a couple of months to settle, my friends just over 3.
Good luck!

Thanks BFB, will try a mooncup!

No problems at all for me, just the worry that it may have affected my fertility, but no proof there either. Night!

Found two other threads re the weight gain here and here
Not sure what's there, sorry if you've already read them.

The best thing baout my Mirena was when I had it removed!

I had it put in 9 Jan 2009 & had it out 10 March.

Here is why:

Weight gain (I had lost heaps while BF & was really pleased that after dd weaned I had managed to control it, within 4 weeks it all piled back on, despite my diet not changing)
Bloating
Headaches
Tired
Restless
Difficulty sleeping
Hot am experiencing terrible sweats at night, waking up wet!
Terrible moods
Depression (for the first time in my life)
Feeling like I don't care about anything
Short of breath/tight chest (I saw my dr who sent me for a chest xray, which was clear. He said that anxiety is a common reason for my symptoms. I have NEVER had reason to feel anxious!
Terrible abdominal cramps that I almost dropped my 7 month old while lifting her into her cot.
Strange odour
Increased discharge

When I had it removed I had an infection. I has 3 lots of antibiotics over 2 weeks. And it had become displaced.

Drs will tell you that the hormone is localised so doesn't cause side effects, but this is BS. My dr said that the symptoms I had been getting were deffinitely because of the Mirena. As with any hormone, people will be susceptable to different side effects. There is lots of info on here, I strongly suggest you do search it.

Don't go by what is on the Mirena webpage. They do not carry the full range of side effects, just the milder ones (ironic as most Drs disbelieve it causes any side effects). Some how I got given the Drs insert that came with the Mirena, so have the full range listed!
Look at different sites.

This is a good starting point

I have also read that there is a class action in America against the company for failing to make users aware of the side effects.

Less than a month after removal I feel great again! Back to my old self. The weight unfortunately isn't shifting! Despite a good diet & more exercise!

Oh & in the drs booklet it confirms that the active hormone, Levonorgestrel, has been found in breastmilk. Although it states that "there apears to be no deleterious effects on infant growth or development when using progestrogen-only methods after six weeks post partum. Progestrogen-only methods do not appear to affect the quantity or quality of breast milk.

I just had it fitted on 16th March and have been getting SEVERE pain in my tummy... (also was on cerazette)

Been more emotional and generally shite..

Also noticed blood in my urine... Dont know if this has anything to do with it...

(I only had it done on the recommendation of my consultant who told me I cant have any more children...but refuses to sterilize me...!!!!)
xxxxx

I've had it for two years and am having it out(finally)on Monday. It's caused me nothing but trouble. Lots of gunky, smelly bleedingsorry)sometimes 6 weeks continuously and it didn't stop doing that for 9 months. Now I never know if my period is finished or not ~ could finish for between 2~7 days then come on again. My periods are just as heavy as they ever were, so no advantage there for me. I've gained over 2 stones and have mood swings at the drop of a hat! scream at my poor Ds sometimes. I've had spots on my face and on my scalp too. I think the only plus point(and I'm not even sure it's linked with the Mirena)is that my hair is lovely. Thicker than it's ever been. My threads have disappeared up into my cervix and they've tried to dig it out twice, so now I have to go to a gynaecologist to get it removed...can't wait, but I'm dreading it too.

Oh and PMT? Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!! lots of that!

Ps. I do have several friends who have had the Mirena for many, many years and they are perfectly fine on it.

I have had one twice, the first time I only had it in for two days and had it removed because it made my milk dry up almost overnight, it isn't suppossed to affect breastfeeding and the GP was surprised BUT all the tests had been done on women feeding very small babies, ie. feeding a lot so lots of stimulation/prolactin etc. and I was feeding a one year old who only fed three times a day (but neither of us were quite ready to stop). When I had it removed my milk came back after 24hours and I fed DS3 for another 18 months!). I eventually tried again after DS3 was weaned, the good bit is no peroids at all but I have to admit that I think it took about a year for my body to adjust to the hormones, I basically felt PMTish for that time. It has also made me spottier and greasier and I am a bit heavier (but that might be due to breadmaker related greediness as DH has put on weight too!). It has improved my varicose vein discomfort though, and obviously far less worry about pregnancy.

Arghhhh! missed my appointment on Monday as my almost 81 year old neighbour was in need, bless her.
I got to the surgery and literally missed the doctor by 3 minutes!

I've got another appointment in two weeks! Damned Mirena!

I've had mine for only 7 weeks but am loving it so far. I've actually lost quite a lot of weight (I am dieting though, but nothing silly, just eating no puddings and exercising an hour a week!), my skin was bad for a month and now it's normal again, my sex life is better than it was while messing about with condoms, and PMS has GONE!
That was my main reason, I had evil periods, especially after having kids.

ALSO, I had put on weight very fast with minipill and it went very easily as soon as I stopped (although I already had the mirena in).

ALSO, if you shouldn't have more babies, the mirena coil is the most effective form of contraception, even more so than sterelisation apparently...

So, I know I'm a beginner but I would definitely recommend it.