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Menopause

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Original poster

Talk to me about getting the mirena coil.

37 replies

GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:18

Hi,

So I’m on Evorel Conti patches, have been for two and a half months: the effects of the patches leave me feeling scarily depressed at times and churning with bodily anxiety. Noticeably since starting the patches, so I know it’s causal.

Before that I tried esteogel and utrogestan orally. The utrogestan made me feel drugged and zombiefied, I couldn’t function. So I stopped and tried the patches.

So I am thinking I change again and either use utrogestan vaginally and esteogel, or consider the coil and esteogel.

But I’m scared of getting the coil, I’m squeamish and easily freaked out by smears/sexual health stuff. I get panicky and pale thinking about it too much.

Could anyone walk me through the process? Is it worth it? How do you feel afterwards? Will it be worth it for me to take a load of diazepam and just get through the insertion appt?

Thanks. I want HRT but I’m struggling with the best way to have it and I’m sick of feeling so utterly bloody hormonal and miserable on these patches!

OP posts:
elelel · 29/12/2021 22:20

I didn't even feel mine going in. I knew the doc was in the area, but I don't feel the insertion at all and when she said 'that's it done' I was really surprised. It has also been a game changer for abnormal bleeding and I'm heading into peri so I'm having another in a year.

Anordinarymum · 29/12/2021 22:22

They could'nt get mine in so I had to have it put in at hospital under GA.

Best thing I have ever had done. It worked wonders

Fleetheart · 29/12/2021 22:24

for me the mirena has been the best thing ever. inserted by a doc, slightly uncomfortable bit nothing major . sorted out my v heavy periods like a miracle.

Original poster
GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:24

@elelel Amazing! Thank you that’s so reassuring.

@Anordinarymum Oh bless you, was that horribly painful (the failed attempt)? But glad it’s been a game changer. How has it worked wonders? Curious to know! Thanks Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:25

@Fleetheart Thanks! Slightly uncomfortable sounds doable. I get so queasy and freaked out by sexual health stuff but I have given birth more than once and coped well, so…!

OP posts:
napody · 29/12/2021 22:26

Had one fitted a few weeks ago- no worse than a smear, the odd cramp that day but fine since. Like you I was always squeamish about the idea of having it in there but since I’ve got it done it’s not bothering me! Not menopausal yet (nearly 40) but my mum had hers young so I’m thinking it might help me through the early stages.

oneglassandpuzzled · 29/12/2021 22:27

I had mine put in a year ago. I was 56 and utrogestan didn’t work for me. I developed polyps.

The mirena has been great.

Original poster
GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:28

Ah another vote of confidence @napody ! Thank you. It’s really helpful particularly since you were squeamish too and overcame it.

This is all really helping, thank you so much everyone Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:30

@oneglassandpuzzled That’s great to know. How was the actual insertion? There’s been stories in the news recently about how painful it can be, plus a very unsqueamish level-headed friend of mine had a total whitey during her insertion…

OP posts:
Goinghome20 · 29/12/2021 22:30

Best thing I ever did. I really didnt want one but insertion was fast and no more uncomfortable than a smear.

Completely sorted my flooding and PMT.

Very happy

Original poster
GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:32

@Goinghome20 Whoa! That’s brilliant. Thanks - this is all so helpful.

OP posts:
PostmanSplat · 29/12/2021 22:33

I had mine fitted two months ago. I had a smear at the same time and the sensations were exactly the same, I had been expecting it to be much worse so it was fairly undramatic.

I’m 46 and had been experiencing peri symptoms which have since disappeared. My periods have become very light since having it fitted but hot flushes, joint pain, sore breasts have all gone. I was due to start HRT three months after having it fitted to allow time for it to settle so I could identify which side effects were the coil and which HRT but if it continues like this, I’m going to delay the HRT. I wish I’d done it years ago

frogsbreath · 29/12/2021 22:34

I've had it fitted twice. It's uncomfortable, the person doing the procedure needs to locate your cervix and clamp it open. It's a small thing but it felt a sharp discomfort to me. I gritted my teeth and gripped the bed for the few minutes it took to fit/replace.

Afterwards I was cramping for hours. I took pain relief.

It was all understandable discomfort and absolutely worth it for the reasons I've chosen to have them. Sometimes you just grit your teeth for a procedure knowing it'll help in the end.

Anordinarymum · 29/12/2021 22:35

[quote GreatResetRequested]@elelel Amazing! Thank you that’s so reassuring.

@Anordinarymum Oh bless you, was that horribly painful (the failed attempt)? But glad it’s been a game changer. How has it worked wonders? Curious to know! Thanks Smile[/quote]
No, not painful at all, they just couldn't negotiate my cervix. Apparently is is 'swan' shaped. Years before when I had IVF and they attempted to put the eggs in they had to do the same thing and insert them in theatre

Honestly, my horrible periods and the flooding and lumps of liver all stopped. It was liberating.
I am 66 now and it is still there in situ and I have no intention of having it removed.
I'll leave it to my children in the will !

saltandherbsandnothingnice · 29/12/2021 22:36

I highly recommend the copper coil

NetflixAndSauvignonBlanc · 29/12/2021 22:37

Some women have a virtually pain free coil insertion experience as you have seen from the description by other posters. I've had 2 fitted and my experience was much more uncomfortable both times. My second coil was fitted at my GP's office, which I do not recommend. In short, it was very painful.

You asked about the process so I can explain a little. You get on the bed naked from the waist down, feet in stirrups like for a smear test. They use a speculum so they can see in and find your cervix. The insertion involves the doctor manually dilating your cervix, then inserting the coil.

If I was getting another one fitted (which I may do in future, they are an excellent form of contraception and by far my favourite that I be tried), I would definitely get it done at a sexual health clinic where they do them all the time. I would also INSIST on having some pain relief, which is something is was not offered but I believe should be possible if you discuss it with them first.

oneglassandpuzzled · 29/12/2021 22:38

[quote GreatResetRequested]@oneglassandpuzzled That’s great to know. How was the actual insertion? There’s been stories in the news recently about how painful it can be, plus a very unsqueamish level-headed friend of mine had a total whitey during her insertion…[/quote]
I took ibuprofen and paracetamol beforehand and tolerated it OK.

oneglassandpuzzled · 29/12/2021 22:39

@saltandherbsandnothingnice

I highly recommend the copper coil
But not as part of HRT. You need progesterone.
Pinkchocolate · 29/12/2021 22:42

I did find the insertion painful but painkillers beforehand helped and it was well worth it. I get short periods now, few cramps and my emotions aren’t all over the place. I’ve found it brilliant.

Moonface123 · 29/12/2021 22:43

I am on my third, l will admit l did feel a short sharp pain having them fitted and removed but procedure is quite quick and pain was bearable, l think they advise you to take paracetamol beforehand. l have had no bleeding what so ever in 15 years, no side affects, apart from cramping after coil was fitted.
l am 52 now and so far no symptons regarding the menopause, l sleep well,.no hot flushes,.not feeling hormonal.
So l can' t recomend it enough, however it didn't suit my sister and she had hers removed pretty early on.

Original poster
GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:51

@Anordinarymum 😂 Leaving it in your will!

@NetflixAndSauvignonBlanc Thank you for your clear description, very helpful to help me consider getting my head around doing it.

Thanks to all for helpful and balanced accounts.

@Moonface123 How did it affect your sister? Interested to hear the other side of things.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 29/12/2021 22:52

I didn't get on with it all and the worst was I could feel the strings stab high up felt itchy like constant thrush.

Insertion was fine but was only 3 weeks post partum!

vodkaginwine · 29/12/2021 22:53

I can’t recommend it enough. I had it fitted for flooding for months. However, putting it in was awful and I will be having it removed and refitted when the time comes under GA. I have vaginismus which didn’t help to be fair and don’t cope with smears. I however felt fine within half an hour of having it done.

Original poster
GreatResetRequested · 29/12/2021 22:58

Ah so it didn’t help @RandomMess ? Yeah three weeks post partum I would probably have just shrugged!

@vodkaginwine So sorry it was such a nightmare. This is my fear really. Thanks for sharing your experience. GA sounds the way forwards.

OP posts:
Bebabelouba · 29/12/2021 23:02

I found it the fitting to be extremely painful.
Cramps following this were quite painful too but managed with painkillers. I bled for about 5 months fairly constantly, but since then no periods, nada.
Due to other health issues my only other option was a hysterectomy. So I think I have to regard it as a success.
If I have another fitted I will ask for serious pain relief. Ibuprofen and paracetamol did little.

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