the mirena coil - yes or no?

[sallycinamon]

Hi
I've decided I'd like a coil fitted. I liked the idea of the copper coil because I didn't want any extra hormones but have been convinced by doctors and friends that the 'mirena' is the way to go.

What a palava it's turned out to be! Needing to have it fitted during your period, needing a chlamydia test, needing to bring a negative pregnancy test, time off work because it can only be done on a Thursday afternoon, no guarantees they'll be an appoinment available during my next period etc etc has led me to ask myself if it worth it.

Is it worth it and all it's cracked up to be?

I'm tempted to just ask to go back on the pill. anyone recommend a good pill out there?

thanks

if it suits you, then the mirena is the best thing possible. depending on how old you are, and whether or not you have finished your family, you can keep it in for ten years or so. i was told i could have it in until menopause. ( which rather shocked me really, coz i dont think i am old enough to be thinking about that end of life)
however
if it doesnt suit you, then it is the worst thing possible. i had to have it taken out after a year of almost conitnuous bleedding/leaking etc. having it put in, was also the most painful thing, barring childbirth, i have ever experienced.

but it did its job. made sure i didnt get pregnant, with no faff whatsoever.

I'd go for a copper coil tbh. As farmerjones says, if you get on OK with Mirena then it's great, hassle-free contraception. But a significant number of women experience debilitating side effects with the Mirena, sometimes severe. I had mine in for four years and it was awful. So I'd say it's a bit of a gamble.

What sort of debilitating side-effects Molesworth?

I had presumed there would be fewer side-effects than with the pill as the hormone dose is less with the mirena.

Severe depression/anxiety and psoriasis - all of which have cleared up since I had it removed. I can't prove that the Mirena caused these symptoms, but it does seem strange that I was ill the whole time I had the thing in. In the end I decided to have it removed to eliminate a possible factor, and, like I say, the symptoms cleared up, so it's not as if I'd convinced myself that the two were linked. I don't know how common these side effects are: from what I've read on here (there are lots of Mirena threads so it might be a good idea to do a search for more opinions) things like weight gain, skin problems and bleeding are the most common side effects.

I am a postive user of the Mirena coil - have had one in since October 2008. It hurt to have it put in, I then had cramps for about 24 hours but then have only had one "period", my depression which is underlying has improved, my weight has gone down and I know I won't get pregnant.

I have been told mine can stay in for 5 years - I think it's the copper one that can stay in longer. I had it as I kept forgetting to take the pill, then we had condoms coming off and after the second time of taking the morning after pill I felt I needed something more practical for me.

After I'd tried for nearly two months to get an appointment, I explained to the practice manager and she found me an appointment at the next clinic. Yes, it was fairly rough getting it inserted, but it was easier and shorter than childbirth.

The reasons for doing it during period are that (a) you're not pg, and (b) your cervix is slightly easier to get through during your period. But it's not strictly necessary to do it during your period.

I've been very comfortable with the Mirena. The bleeding took about 2-3 months to settle down, but it was never heavy (pantyliner, IYSWIM). I have just one concern, which is whether it is having any effect on my pre-existing depression. But although depression can be a side-effect, it is not necessarily connected.

Having looked back at some old threads I have been well and truly put off having the mirena. It seems that one of its so-called advantages is that your periods become lighter or stop altogether. I don't mind having periods and never have.In fact I find it reassuring having them and knowing that everything is working properly. Also my periods aren't particularly heavy.

I was on Dianette contraceptive pill for years. Even though it seemed to agree with me in many ways it took about 14 months for my periods to return to normal after I came off it. During this time we started trying for dc1 and it took us 9 months. I didn't use any contraception after dd1 was born and conceived dd2 instantly. The reason why this may be relevant is because I am not entirely sure our family is complete. We might try for another in 18 months and I'm concerned about the hormone factor in mirena.

I ramble....sorry....I'm thinking the copper coil might be the answer now.

I'm on my second Mirena, and love it. Know several other people who do too.

The appointments for chlamdia screening etc are just the same as for the copper coil.

FWIW, I conceived straightaway when I had my Mirena removed

My periods returned to normal within 2 months of having the Mirena removed. My periods didn't stop when I had the Mirena: they were very light, but went on for longer. I prefer just having normal periods tbh. I wouldn't want to put you off trying Mirena, sally, but whenever I see a thread about Mirena I feel duty bound to report that some women have had bad experiences with it. It is a simple, quick and painless procedure to have it removed if you do change your mind.

I've just had a mirena coil fitted (about a week ago).

Because I am with a stable partner and have been regularly taking pill beforehand, they said no need for STD tests, no pregnancy test. No one even mentioned needing to have it fitted during period.

Made sure they agreed they would take it out if I didn't like it before I had it fitted, having read the love/hate stories.

So far - tiny bit of bleeding after insertion. Bit of cramping on day of insertion, and on one morning about 4 days afterwards. Tender breasts day after inserted, but not since.

Biggest faff was getting an appointment and the clinic running an hour late with DCs running rampant in waiting room.

I obviously haven't had it in long, but if everything works out OK the faff factor is only once every 5 yrs, so I reckon worth a go.

I am 3 weeks into a mirena and so far its okay.

I had a copper coil before hand for 8mths and it was the worst thing I ever did. Bleeding and pain was horrendous.

Hoping Mirena will be a better experience.

Yes, yes, yes!

I have v heavy periods, so copper coil wasn't an option. Always bled through with the mini pill and wasn't too great at remembering to take it.

Having the mirena inserted was bloody painful, but I forgot to take painkillers beforehand . A bit of spotting for four weeks or so, but now I've been blissfully without periods for about six months.

Oh, and no noticable side effects.

Thanks for all your responses.

I really am in two minds!

When I spoke to my own GP a couple of months ago (not the one who will fit it as there seems to be a female doctor who is the 'coil specialist')he sung the praises of the mirena. He also said he could count the number of times he had fitted a copper coil on one hand and clearly thought I was mad to suggest it.

Because my periods are neither heavy nor painful it would surely make sense to go for the copper coil as I could cope with slightly heavier and more painful periods. I would also be avoiding any hormones.

I can understand why women who have heavy and painful periods might find the mirena better.

Will I have a fight on my hands to get the coppper coil?!

I'm going try and get a cancellation today unless I bottle it of course....!

I think in your case I'd go for the copper. I have a couple of friends who are very happy with theirs. You can keep it in for longer and, as you say, seems mad not to avoid artificial hormones if you can.

Have you considered a Family Planning Clininc rather than your GP? IME they are far more clued up, although (again) waiting lists can be long.

I've been thinking about getting a coil fitted. My periods are quite heavy.
I'm currently on the pill but I get breakthrough bleeding which lasts about a week, so in effect I'm haviing 2 periods a month!
The thought of it hurting when it's inserted puts me off though.

I am due to get a mirena fitted in 3 months but am scared after reading all the horror stories, whether i am choosing the right option.

I have had heavy and not painful periods for 3 years after having my last dd, i have been on all the tablets, the pill makes me feel like crap. I am currently using tranexamic acid but it has just started to loose its efficiency, i am still ok with just using super plus tampons ever 2 hours but the last few periods i have been getting more floods.

My gynae seems to think the best way to go is the mirena even though i have been telling her for 2 years my concerns over what the pill makes me feel like and that i wanted to avoid anymore hormones. She doesnt think an ablation will be successfull because of my age 28 the lining will probably return within a year apparently?.

So before i go down the hysterectomy route this is what she recommends - i really dont know what to do, i keep reading they leave the string really long, i had the copper coil years ago and never had a probs but my periods were really light then and never noticed the strings, will they be the same.

Sorry for long post just really beginning to poo myself about this now.

Hi Buktus
I suppose, in your case, the mirena could be worth a try. Apparently the dose of hormones is less than in the pill. If it doesn't suit you then, by the sounds of what people on this thread are saying, it is easy to have removed.

There have been no cancellations today so it looks like I'll be waiting for next month now!

A friend of mine said she hated the mirena because it sent her 'bonkers'. She thinks she is sensitive to hormones and suffered terrible sickness in both pregnancies. I think she reckons if you are sensitive to pregnancy hormones then the mirena hormones might not suit you either. Shenow has a copper coil.

I had 3 insertions, 1 failed and set off 'cervical shock' was like being in labour. That was at a GP, I highly recommend family planning centres! I came off first one after 15 months as put on weight and got acne. They didn't go when it was removed and the acne came back at the same stage after my next baby without having the mirena coil, so i think it was just hormonal changes after birth.

The weight gain was later found to be due to something else. The hormones are simelar to 2 mini pills a week. It's hard to tell if the syptoms are definately to the mirena or not basically. But it is worth a try especially if you have heavy periods or don't want another baby but don't want anything as permanant as sterilisation. I haven't had any problems this time and would recommend it.

I love mine, im one of the users who have absolutely no side effects apart from no periods. This did seem strange at first, but you get used to it.
It was like getting an 'in depth' smear, not pleasant, but alright.
I did spot for roughly 6 weeks on and off at the start, bit of cramping on the day, but thats it.
Only weight gain has been from eating too much!
Had depression before, this has not made any difference.
Always had a few spots, no difference there either.
Mines is due to come out as im nearing the 5 years, but will definetly be having it replaced.

Could you give it a try, im sure its very easy to remove if it doesn't suit, it really is great if it works for you.

"Because my periods are neither heavy nor painful it would surely make sense to go for the copper coil as I could cope with slightly heavier and more painful periods"

I thought this and it turned out to be so wrong...the pain and bleeding was unbelievable.

Have you tried the local family planning clinic?

I would second (third?) the family planning clinic. My appointment with the mirena-trained GP was cancelled when she was off sick so I went to the family planning clinic instead. Dr was really good there and I had absolutely no pain whatsoever during insertion. Bit of breakthrough bleeding for the first few weeks and now very light periods, which is fantastic as they had become quite heavy and painful.

I've been very happy with the mirena - far better than taking the pill imo.