Peri - is Mirena my only option?

[Freeekedout]

43, peri menopausal, have a 7 year old Mirena in situ. Been taking Ellesste Duet 1mg for four months and, along not perfect, symptoms have improved massively. But I need to sort out my old Mirena. Currently haven’t got any contraceptives arranged - not a problem as my libido has totally vanished. Although maybe that’s because I know the contraception isn’t covered. Testosterone levels are on the floor but gp not allowed to prescribe in spite of her being willing to try.

I had a terrible experience having it put in at a sexual health clinic (so presumably by someone who is an expert). I don’t feel I can go through the pain again. My GP has offered diazepam but I still don’t think I could do it. She referred my to a gynaecologist. She has told me that the Mirena is my only option. She has said that she will fit it under light sedation. What is light sedation and how awake will I be? I am feeling like I don’t have enough information to make an informed choice and when I asked if there were other options she said Mirena is best.

Apologies for typos, still half asleep!

The progesterone is for the lining of the womb, so the mirena is best I think, but there are certainly oral progesterone alternatives. Would you go to have it taken out then not replaced?

I don't understand why the GP is pushing you to have the mirena replaced if you're taking an HRT preparation which also contains progesterone. Surely if you're happy with the Elleste Duet, you could just have the mirena removed (which the nurse told me is painless, unlike insertion!).

I swear GPs must be paid for every Mirena they insert! They’re always trying to give me one. After an awful experience having one inserted I ended up asking for it to be removed whilst I was under GA for another procedure.

I’ve been prescribed patches with progesterone, and I know some friends have gel or pills. There must be other options. Do ask the GP to explore all options.

I refuse to have a coil. I take the progesterone only pill instead - mini pill. I then have oestrogel and utrogestan 100mg every night. You don’t have to have the mirena at all!!

@WhereAreWeNow

I don't understand why the GP is pushing you to have the mirena replaced if you're taking an HRT preparation which also contains progesterone. Surely if you're happy with the Elleste Duet, you could just have the mirena removed (which the nurse told me is painless, unlike insertion!).

The op may want the coil for contraception or period control purposes - that’s why I take the mini pill. (I like the fact I haven’t had a period since taking it, 8 years or so now and don’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancy). It only provides about half the progesterone needed if you take HRT though so you need to take it utrogestan as well if you take the mini pill but about half the dose that someone else just relying on that for progesterone would take.

I swear GPs must be paid for every Mirena they insert!
I'm also convinced of this, it seems to be their solution for all women's problems. Even after i had one to supposedly help my heavy bleeding, that made the bleeding worse to the point it bled itself out, I then had my fibroids treated, tried other things to try and regulate the bleeding and when they didn't work she suggested I try a Mirena! I was speechless!
I had sedation rather than GA for my fibroid treatment. I was aware of what was going on but didn't feel any pain and I think I had a gentle snooze during the procedure. I felt awful afterwards though, far worse than I ever have after a GA. I think it was combination of the pain following the procedure and the painkillers they gave me before, during and after, which then gave me constipation which caused even more pain!

You can take the oral progesterone vaginally. It's not licensed in the uk but my Gp said it was up to me.