Mirena coil to manage v heavy periods in 52 year old?

[mirenerves]

I have had very heavy periods all my life but for the last couple of years I now experience flooding and prolonged periods. I am anaemic and have been given iron tablets.

Last week I had a scan that showed I had a fibroid and so the gynae has booked me in for a hysteroscopy and insertion of Mirena.
Thing is I just feel so nervous about this. I am terrible with internal examinations as I have vaginismus. I told the gynae this and she thinks I will be fine and that the Mirena will resolve the flooding so it will be worth it.

Aren't there any progesterone gels that would have the same impact as the Mirena?

Does anyone have any positive experiences of Mirena in this situation and any tips for coping with the hysteroscopy and Mirena insertion.
I need some reassurance as I am having a major panic about it all now.
Thanks

There is no gel that will work like the Mirena.

Are you having the hysteroscopy with a GA, a local or neither?

I assume you were told which or offered a choice?

I can't quite see why you need a hysteroscopy if the scan 'only' showed a fibroid. 40-50% of women have fibroids and they are benign.

They only do hysteroscopies if the scans are unclear or if they need a better look of something. They can do a biopsy without a hysteroscopy (they use a tiny straw-like instrument.)

I've had all of these by the way- but not a Mirena.

I don't know if you have the option but Id query why the hysteroscopy.

If you have to have it in order to have the Mirena, that's another question.

If you do go ahead and have to have both, taking some paracetamol on the day beforehand will help. I didn't find it painful but it took a while as my cervix was tight.

How do you feel about it all?

Thanks for taking the time to reply. She said that the hysteroscopy was to take a closer look although she didn't say there was anything that was causing her any concern. When I explained about my vaginismus she acknowledged it and explained that the team would be very empathetic and would take it slowly. She said I wouldn't need a GA. I am definitely going to ask for a local.

How do I feel? Really sick and anxious about it. From my previous experiences, I don't think healthcare professionals understand vaginismus very well.

It would be helpful to hear some positive stories about Mirena being used to reduce flooding in peri-menopause. It is the only symptom I am having to deal with and the thought of the recommended solution is causing way more stress than dealing with the flooding.

I had mirena for very heavy/painful periods. It was life changing.
In your shoes I'd go for it.

Thanks! That's helpful feedback.

I had one in my 30s for vv heavy periods and it was fab, had one in my late 40s for the same thing and it did nothing and I had horrid side effects.

I had ablation which quelled the periods but increased the pain at ovulation and period pain 10 fold.

I had this but with a GA.
Mirena works brilliantly.

I'm 43 and perimenopausal. Like you I've had a lifetime of heavy periods but started flooding in last few months to the point it was dominating my life. I had a Mirena fitted this week. Can't speak for the affects yet in terms of managing periods but I will say having it fitted hurt far more than I had expected. However I know from previous IVF treatment that my cervix is particularly hard to reach. Although it hurt having it fitted, and ached for a couple of days, by today 3 days later I'm absolutely fine. Compared to the pain, nuisance and embarrassment.of flooding it was not so bad and will be well worth it if it gets things under control. 🤞

I had one fitted 18 months ago for extremely heavy periods/ adenomyosis. It has changed my life completely for pain relief and flow. I wish l had done it years ago. I am a new woman !!
It’s worth trying OP, took about 11/ 12 months to really feel the improvement but was noticeable and gradual to where l am now.

Ask her about esyma. It's to shrink fibroids but also stops your periods. You have to be monitored on it but it can give you a break from the periods.

can you take mini pill instead? I'm on it and had spotting but now no periods.

Thanks hopeishere and goatrider, I will ask about those options.
I am just so confused about it all. As I sat in the waiting room, women were in and out of the gynae office within a couple of minutes. They were of all ages and each one came out with the gynae shouting across to the receptionist that they needed a hysteroscopy and Mirena. At my age my hormones must be all over the place so I don't really understand how the Mirena is the best one size fits all option.
I just want to be able to talk it through with someone who specialises in menopause and have some continuity of care.

I can’t comment on the appropriateness of the mirena with regard to age but I had awful periods and flooding that has now stopped thanks to the mirena.

I had a few months of spotting and then nothing- no periods, no spotting. It has been life changing.

Had awful flooding (sorry if you're eating breakfast) clots etc and became anaemic in early 40s the only thing that stopped it was Mirena.

However my sex drive has all but gone since, I haven't gained weight like some do but I miss having a sex drive and thinking of getting it removed and finding an alternative for that reason.

I had severe flooding and terrible period pains. Went to GP at age of 46 as it had got worse. Had a scan then hysteroscopy which was not painful and they were very nice, they took loads of time and the female consultant was particularly lovely. She really listened to my worries. Found out I had massive fibroids. Had them lasered out under GA (husband still thinks it was basically a star wars light sabre), and Mirena inserted at the same time.

It was been the best thing ever for me. I had one light period and then nothing for the last four years. I can't tell you what a relief it is. And in fact we have more sex because I am not a permanently moody cow, I have lost weight because I am not lying around for 10 days of the month on the sofa with a hot water bottle. No more carrying around bags of sanpro and having to excuse myself half way through meetings at work. I really think the Mirena has saved so many women from having to have an unnecessary hysterectomy. You don't have to put up with it.

I didn't experience the insertion as I was under GA so can't comment on that, but for me it was so completely worthwhile having the Mirena. Hope that helps you when thinking about if it is worthwhile.

I am younger but had one for heavy bleeding and recurrent large polyps, I've only had mine in since August but it has been hugely life improving. I still get some spotting monthly and some cramps in between that are like milder versions of my ovulation pains but that is nothing compared to the pain and bleeding I used to have.

I had one in my forties when my periods were very, very heavy. It was life changing, I can't praise it enough. Periods went from floods and huge clots to a slight trace for a day a month. No side effects whatsoever. My GP reckons the Mirena has saved many thousands of women from hysterectomies. I had 3 in the end taking me past menopause.
Yes it was painful to fit, but I've given birth twice and it wasn't that bad. Worth a bit of pain for years of relief.

Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to reply. It is really helpful. I am absolutely dreading the appointment and I can feel myself tensing up when I think about it all but I am working on relaxation methods. Just thought at 52 I would have finished with periods by now.

I had a year of almost non stop periods with dreadful flooding. I already had a mirena, the clots became so big that the Mirena came out with them. The GP & Gyni both tried to persuade me to have another Mirena, but it had done nothing previously so I said no. I had a scan (fibroids), a hysteroscopy and biopsy and was then booked for an ablation under general. They were unable to do the ablation due to the shape of my uterus so was then booked for a hysterectomy (kept my ovaries). That was about 18 months ago and it’s sheer bliss to not have periods anymore. I’m now 47 and women in my family generally have a late menopause.

As you’ve not had a Mirena before it is worth a try but don’t let them fob you off if it doesn’t work.

eightytwenty I had mine removed after the menopause, probably after I had been period free for about 18 months. I don't believe it affected menopause symptoms other than stopping heavy bleeding.
My only real menopausal symptom was hot flushes which started at 52 and were awful for about two to three years, though carried on to some degree for many years.

@eightytwenty Nothing postpones the menopause. Your eggs run out regardless of anything you happen to use (hormones.) The Mirena contains a synthetic form of progestogen, and prevents the womb lining growing too thick (which usually ends heavy periods and prevents implantation by an embryo.)

It has no effect on menopause at all unless it's used with estrogen as an additional hormone.

eightytwenty I suppose that confirms that Mirena postpones symptoms
No that's not what I meant. I went through the menopause while I had the Mirena and didn't have it removed until I was completely period free. The fact that hot flushes continued after the menopause is very common. I am 60 now and still get them at night sometimes.

I had one fitted 7 weeks ago and I am very happy with it because I have not noticed any crazy PMD symptoms that I am usually plagued with and my periods have gone down to nothing. My Doc reckons I will stop all bleeds soon.

I am very happy with my Mirena, what I am really pi$$ed off with though is the fact that I got to 49 and no one had told me about it before. I have suffered with long, painful, heavy periods all my life and more recently flooding.