Concerned after having coil fitted

[Pegs11]

Hello, bit of background:

• I’m 40, went through surgical menopause (ovaries removed) aged 32 due to cancer.
• Completely overhauled my HRT regime 8 months ago because I developed life-changing CFS due to not getting enough oestrogen.
• New HRT much better but the progesterone phase always messes me up mentally and physically. It became intolerable.
• Was advised to have a mirena coil fitted so that I can skip the progesterone. (I understand there is a tiny bit of progesterone in the coil but it’s a fraction of what I was on before.)

So... I had the coil fitted on Thursday. My womb lining was quite thick when the coil was put in, because I’m at the point in my 8-week cycle where I’ve taken a month of oestrogen only.

I was told this wouldn’t be an issue and that the coil would “take care of things”.

I don’t understand how this works... the nurse didn’t explain it to me very well. I said, “what will happen to the womb lining that’s built up over the last month?” She said, “you won’t have a lining because the coil keeps it thin”. I said “yes but what will happen to the lining that’s already there now? Does it get magically reabsorbed or something? Or can I expect to have a period?” She just repeated that I won’t have a lining because the coil keeps it thin. So she did not answer my question.

Anyway, two days after having the coil fitted I feel very uncomfortable, bloated, tired, moody... basically premenstrual. The very thing I was told the coil would prevent.

I know it’s only been two days, but I need to know this is going to get better! I really feel like I need to have a period, but I’m worried I won’t get one and that this coil will keep me in a perpetual state of feeling heavy and premenstrual. I am worried I had it fitted at the wrong time in my cycle, and that the right time to fit it would have been just after I finished my last bleed, when the womb lining was nice and thin and I felt good! I trusted the medical professionals when they said it didn’t matter when in my cycle I had it fitted. But I’ve got a bad feeling about it.

Can anyone help? Do you think I will get a bleed and then start feeling better?

@jinglinghellsbells you know so much about this topic, maybe you have some advice you can share?

Thank you 🙏

I had a coil fitted almost 2 weeks ago. I was on day 16 of my cycle, so asked the Dr about this. She said I probably would have a period as the lining would need to shed then the coil would keep it thin. So I started bleeding on day 19 of my cycle and am still bleeding now, Day 27. I'd call it medium bleeding (my usual periods were very heavy) so I think I'm probably losing the same amount but over a longer period of time. I hope it stops soon though
I hope this answers your question - unless you're in the first week of your cycle when you have the coil fitted, the lining may have thickened enough that you will have a bleed. I also had it fitted because I wasn't getting on well with the progesterone tablets. Check the leaflet you got with the coil, it does mention that it should be fitted in the first week of the cycle (mine wasn't either).

It takes around 3 to 6 months for the hormones to build up enough to stop your periods, so you'll get what's normal for you until this happens - it will start to lessen over this time though.

It's normal to feel crampy, bloated and uncomfortable until the coil "settles" - I've had this range from a few weeks to a few months. I had my latest one fitted 18 months ago (very badly by our GP) and it took around 8 months to sort itself out. I'm hoping it's the last one now as I'm 50 but I've had Mirenas fitted since my early 30s.

Hang in there, it's worth it.

It takes around 3 to 6 months for the hormones to build up enough to stop your periods, so you'll get what's normal for you until this happens

• There is no normal for the OP as she has no ovaries and is using HRT.

You say you were mid point in an 8 week cycle so that means 4 weeks estrogen-only? That's the same as anyone on HRT even on a 28 day cycle as the progesterone is only from mid-month to mid month.

You might get a bleed, OR if you really want one, you could take the Utrogestan for 10 days and clear the lining.

@Pegs11 The Mirena will gradually release the hormone which ought to thin the lining and stop it growing any more.

Sorry you feel bloated etc- the advice my dr gave was you need 3 months for it to settle down (I never had it by the way as once years back the same progesterone in the Mirena was in the Pill and it gave m terrible spots.)

Also, the progesterone in the Mirena isn't really a fraction of what you were on- it's all there but released slowly every day. I think the equivalent amount of progesterone is a low-dose combined patch, so it's not insignificant as some does get into the blood stream.

Thanks all for sharing your experiences.

@JinglingHellsBells does that mean I could be in for three months of feeling like this? Bloated, tired and no libido? Because if that’s the case I’d rather have it removed and go for the hysterectomy option!!

Apologies OP for not taking in all of your original post correctly.

@cherrypie790 No worries 😊