Should I get the mirena coil?

[Nouveaunew]

Hi there. I'm only in my early 40s but I've had perimenopausal symptoms for almost ten years. I really wish the menopause would just hurry up. I've had some symptoms of PCOS but I'm told my LH isn't high enough for it to be PCOS. I had bad hormonal acne for about 8 years that is just clearing now, thankfully.

It's driving me crazy to be honest. My periods have been excruciating since Day 1 and since I came off the pill ten years ago, the pain is back. Worse than that though and much harder to manage is the PMT. I had severe depression as a teenager which was hormone related and I was treated with the pill and other hormonal non-contraceptive concoctions before that.

I've never had a proper diagnosis of anything. I finally got an appointment with a gynaecologist and she suggested the mirena coil. She said it will stop my periods, therefore stop the pain and the PMT. Is this the case? Did this happen for any of you before you went into menopause? I'm at the end of my tether. Thanks.

She said it will stop my periods

🤣🤣🤣 Aye, they said that to me too.

I bled every day for the whole time I had it in. I had to fight to have it removed around 10 months later. They were not happy. It also meant I still suffered period pain. I also put on a couple of stone and felt ill most of the time.

If you have peri symptoms why not just request HRT. Honestly my moods swings were off the scale in my early 40’s. I wish I’d started HRT sooner. Life changing.

They can prescribe mefenamic acid for really painful periods & tranexamic acid for heavy bleeding. Have they checked for fibroids? Maybe they could check for Endo - although that’s mostly diagnosed with a laparoscopic examination, I had a very long wait for mine & covid delays means waiting lists are still very lengthy.

In short I wouldn’t ever recommend Mirena. I know too many people who’ve had issues and only 1 who’s periods stopped.

@Dotdotdotdashdashdashdotdotdot

Thanks for responding, I feel so angry to be honest. I asked if it could be endo and she said it could be but that the only way to diagnose is keyhole surgery. I was on a waiting list for 3.5 years for the appointment! I can’t believe I waited 3.5 years to be told peri and mirena. I think I have PMDD and I honestly don’t know what to do. I’ve had it since I was a teenager and it’s ruining my life! She took an endo sample and has ordered an ultrasound. She said my cervix looks good and they think I have ‘premature ovarian collapse’ because FSH is very high. I wish they’d just go ahead and collapse. Roll
On the menopause

Every month, I have one week of exhausting periods and pain, up to two weeks of PMT - which was leading to suicidal thoughts until I went on antidepressants - so every month I have one week of feeling normal.

My GP suggested HRT all right. Did you have any side effects at all (good or bad!) from HRT?

Yes. Life changing benefits.

My periods stopped completely. Plus I only need the oestrogen HRT patches while it's in.

Agree re life changing

The makers of the mirena have offered to pay $12million to the women suing them for organ damage caused by the mirena… www.drugwatch.com/mirena/lawsuits/

I had mine taken out because of constant bleeding and discomfort and having now read about the litigation I am very glad that I did!

Mirena coil worked wonders during peri-menopause when my periods became increasingly heavy, painful and PMT last 3 weeks out of 4. No more periods, pain or PMT. Fantastic. Took 2-3 months for symptoms and bleeding to settle after coil insertion. Was anxious after reading horror stories online but it worked for me.

The Mirena was life changing for me in the best possible way. At about 44 my normally 28 day cycle became erratic and my periods got much heavier.

In desperation when this had been going on a couple of years I saw my GP, who suggested the Mirena. It was like a miracle. My periods stopped completely and I never had another one. I had no side effects whatsoever. When I had it removed aged 54 it was clear I'd come out the other side of the menopause with hardly a bother.

The other advantage is that it can be used as the progesterone component of HRT if you want to take it in future. I didn't as I never felt the need.

My gosh. It sounds like ye have had such different experiences of it. I'm afraid in many ways as I have such mood issues. I honestly feel so sad and down as I'm in my pre-menstrual phase. I feel like I"m scraping myself through each day (and this is with anti-depressants).

I'd really love to have an experience like yours @DramaAlpaca @Noodle421 @YellowHpok @iklboo @BirdOnTheWire but I'm terrified I'll have one like yours @Dotdotdotdashdashdashdotdotdot I feel like my reproductive system has wreaked havoc on my life and it's always affected so much. I'm terrified of doing more damage.

No please don’t even go there I had 10 months of bleeding knife like period pains for 8, 10, 12 hours at a time. Walked into A and E in the end.

I've had a Mirena since August because of very heavy periods. It's stopped the heavy flow but I'm still spotting about half of the month now. I never had any pain though so I don't know whether it would help with that.

I had my first mirena several (a lot) of years ago for nightmare very heavy and frequent periods. It was amazing. I’m on my second one now and, whilst I think I need some form of hrt now, I’ve been pain and period free since the day after I had the first coil inserted.
It’s a tricky choice cos until you try, you don’t know if you’re going to get on with it. Got to be worth a punt though. Just check they’ll not give you a hard time if you want rid.

Similar experience to @Stillcrikey. All good. Using oestrogel with it as HRT

Another one who's had a good experience here. I got my mirena last October due to terrible heavy periods and peri symptoms. I'm also using estrogen patches.

The insertion wasn't fun but it was over quickly. I had very light spotting on and off for several months but that's pretty much stopped now. Just a day or two of very light spotting/period each month now.
I was really worried about side effects and read all the horror stories but honestly it worked out really well for me. It clearly doesn't work for everyone though and it's scary making the decision to have it when you don't know whether it's going to be the answer to your prayers or a horrible nightmare.

Thanks so much … did any of you who got on well with it have period pain before? I get period and pelvic pain. Even cervical smears are sore and sex hurts so I’m really not sure if having something in there coiling around will help!

But gosh … the thoughts of no periods! They’re honestly the bane of my life. I dread the week before my period and don’t get full relief until Day 4 or so. The period pain is more manageable than the PMT/PMDD (more likely).

Do ye know of Any natural cures other than B vitamins and evening primrose oil?

I also went on to HRT in my late 40’s and it transformed my symptoms and state of mind. Looking back I realise I should have been prescribed it 5-6 years before I took the plunge. I had more energy, debilitating aches and pains disappeared, tired and low mood improved, I was able to start exercising again which helped me lose weight. I had more energy and inclination to look at other lifestyle factors including diet. Obviously I still get the odd tired and low mood day like everyone, but the daily debilitating symptoms improved dramatically. It took a while to get to the right dose. Initially I was on the patch but I found I wasn’t absorbing this well so switched to gel.

I had it for very heavy flow and it was a miracle.I'd tried everything else. All bleeding stopped after few months and pain free. I aways suffered from terrible cramping pain. It did hurt when it was inserted and I had a few cramps for couple of days. Removal 6 years later was painless

Did you have any pelvic or period-like pain while it was in for those six years @pepsirolla ?

Yes, I had crippling period pains and very heavy periods in peri menopause. Felt very low 3 weeks out of 4. Pre peri-menopause I had light periods and very little PMT. I’ve never been comfortable taking the oral contraceptive pill, instead choosing to use barrier contraception so it was a big step for me to consider coil and HRT.

@Noodle421

Thanks. My GP suggested HRT as opposed to mirena because my FSH is through the roof. They’re surprised I’m getting periods given how high the FSH is. I’ve been peri menopausal for 10 years. Like FFS … would the menopause just come!!!

Mirena is the devil's work. Don't do it op!

Another mirena fan here, 15 years and 3 coils with no periods at all, I'm 52 now and use oestrogen patches with mirena for HRT and am fitter, healthier and happier than I Was in my 30s.

Poor you. It’s very tricky. I also read online some of the horror stories experienced by others but I felt so awful I thought it was worth giving it a go and if it proved disastrous I could have it removed. Just anecdotal I know but my sister’s recently had mirena fitted with no problems. There seems to be a real mix of stories good and bad

@CheshireCats

I have reservations because my reproductive organs have caused me a lot of strife. In some ways they’ve dictated my life, everything from teenage depression to intense anger and painful periods. I know I’m ranting a bit. Forgive me. I’m just so upset I waited 3.5 years for a gynae appointment & still no diagnosis.

@TinaWeymouthsBass
Did you have painful periods before you got the coil? The doc thinks I might have endometriosis but says there’s no need to diagnose it as it involves surgery to diagnose.