Mirena Coil

[londonscalling]

I always struggled with crippling migraines when I had my period. Five years ago my periods were becoming very irregular (no doubt because my menopause was imminent). My doctor fitted me with a Mirena coil to stop my periods coming and therefore stop my migraines. This was amazing and transformed my life.

However, the doctor removed it last week. Since then I am having the most horrendous night and daytime sweats.

Is this a coincidence or could it be because when the Mirena coil was in place it somehow hid all my menopausal symptoms?

Thanks!

Why did he remove it, without replacing it with a new one?

The Mirena has a very small amount of progesterone in it. But I think, if you had it in for the full 5 years, the level of progesterone by then would be very very low. So I'm surprised you're having withdrawal-type symptoms.

Are you having any pain, cramping, or a temperature?

I don’t think it’s coincidence. I had the Mirena put in a year ago due to flooding problems. Also had horrendous night sweats before.

I now have NO sweats, periods, nothing. Life is tremendous in that regard. I’m hoping in 5 years time to have it taken out and I’ve sailed through menopause unknowingly. (I’m 50). If not I’m getting another put in damn quick!!!

So yes I think it could’ve hid your menopause symptoms. It’s got rid of mine anyway.

Thanks. He wanted to take it out as I have a very large fibroid?

@LilOldMe no pain or cramps etc. Just really bad hot flushes/sweating!

Ah ok. I had fibroids too. Nightmare things!

Is he going to treat the fibroid? Mine were awful and, untreated, led to crazy-heavy flooding periods - 12-14 days of constant heavy bleeding every month. I became anaemic. In the end they removed the fibroids, gave me a womb ablation (removing the lining of the womb; sounds way worse than it was!) and put a Mirena in. Best thing ever.

What will they do about yours?

Mirena can be used for 5 year periods as contraception or 3 year periods for HRT. I’m currently on my second one and think I have about a year left on this one. Best thing I ever did.

I'd be surprised TBH @londonscalling because progesterone on its own does not alleviate things like sweats and flushes.

In fact many women using HRT feel worse on the progesterone days of their HRT regime (estrogen being used as well.)

The other thing is as PPs have said, is that after 5 years it would be at the end of its life anyway- they change them after 5 years if used as contraception or for heavy periods.

I don't understand the timeline or reasons for removing it and not replacing.

If you have a fibroid and are still having periods, surely you need the Mirena again as fibroids can result in heavy bleeding.

How did he know you had a fibroid now and not when it was fitted in the first place? What's happened to change it? Did he examine you last week and decide the fibroid had grown and therefore no coil?

I don't know if I'm still having periods as the Mirena was only taken out recently. I very much doubt it because of my age. I did bleed a little for a couple of days after it was removed (I don't think that was a period though).

What happened is that I had an MOT from my doctor for something completely different. My blood test showed I had a raised CA125 level. I therefore had a scan to check out my ovaries. The radiologist couldn't find them but said that's not unusual as they can shrink when you get older. However she could feel a large fibroid. An appointment was made for me to see a gynaecologist to rule out ovarian cancer. The gynaecologist said that there are no signs of cancer. However, as the Mirena is due to be taken out later this year and because of the fibroid, he suggested he take it out now. I had another blood test and the CA125 is still high. They then got me in for an MRI scan of my pelvis within days (which was surprising). Now just waiting for results.

How old are you now?

However, as the Mirena is due to be taken out later this year and because of the fibroid, he suggested he take it out now.

This is the bit that I don't get.

Usually, fibroids make bleeding heavier. So it would be normal to replace it or plan to, if you were not post menopause, so they need to see where you are now in menopause. The reason not to replace it could be because of the position of the fibroid if it's making it harder to position where a new Mirena would be.

I'm mid 50s so I would imagine my periods would have stopped.

I don't really know why he felt it best to take it out now. I just went with his recommendation.