Apprehensive of Mirena fitting

[Runaround50]

I'm getting the Mirena coil fitted next Tuesday.
Its mainly to ( hopefully) stop hormonal bleeding.
Utrogestan doesn't work for me, so specialist has suggested the Mirena.

I'm scared it will make me irritable or crampy etc.

Obviously I will find out how soon it can be removed, if it doesn't work out, but still feeling rather nervous about it.

This menopause is tough enough, without any additional problems!

Hi I’ve had mirena and it’s been brilliant, no more heavy periods, don’t think I’ve been more hormonal than before!
It’s worth taking some painkillers beforehand, some people are fine but the first time I had one, I had what felt like heavy period cramps afterwards (don’t think everyone gets that though) Next time I went, I took some some ibuprofen / paracetamol and was fine immediately after x

Thanks stillsmiling
I really want it to work, as having such a difficult time with bleeding and period pains on HRT. Yet when I try to lower the dose or come off HRT, all the rubbish symptoms come flooding back. It's just hell.

I will follow your advice and take painkillers on the day.

Thanks again and I'm pleased it sorted your period out 😀

I don’t want to put you off what might work well for you, but make sure you are fully informed about getting it removed. Some people (myself included) have had to wait many many months.

I tried it twice and it didn't work for me, but my GP recommended having the fitting on my period as its much easier to insert.

I had my first one put in in 2016. Absolutely no problems and its stopped my periods altogether.

Okay, mixed reviews then.
It' sounds as though it could be like marmite; you either love it or hate it.

Following with interest, OP, as I'm in the same position as you, with Utrogestan just not controlling bleeding.
The only thing that stopped it was a two week course of Provera instead, but the GP won't prescribe it long term and is pushing me to have a Mirena coil.

I can't advise on insertion as mine went in under GA while I was getting something else done. I can say that I found the Mirena brilliant. I never had another period after it went in when I was 46.

Yes Bella, if only the stupid utrogestan world work properly, but it doesn't at all. It's a mirena or no HRT.

By the way Bella, what is it about provera which stops the GP prescribing? It's a reliable progesterone which is mentioned on the BMS website.

That's reassuring Drama..
Got to give it a go I guess. Did it alter your mood at all?

No, not at all. Once it settled in, which took a few weeks, I had no side effects whatsoever.

It didn't work for me I got it removed at a sexual health clinic. They were really rude about it and kept asking if I was sure and what would I do for contraception. I was 40 years old I know how to use contraception. They even said if I got pregnant my baby would be at risk of disability (I have a disabled child) awful experience.

Had mine fitted 3 years ago. Needed to come off the pill due to my age. I dragged my feet and put it off for nearly 2 years before getting it fitted. I had Heard horror stories about it and was very reluctant to try. However it's been fine! Bit uncomfortable having it put in, couple of cramps for a day or two but nothing major. Had the odd bit of spotting for a few months and now nothing! Forget it's even there! No side effects at all, wish I had gone earlier.

I’ve got Mirena too for heavy bleeding (though not menopausal), I didn’t find it much more painful than a smear test to have it inserted, though it took quite a few tries - it was a crappy pinching feeling that I had to hold my breath through, and had a few cramps after but nothing awful. I would suggest paracetamol though. They offered me local anaesthetic but didn’t end up having it. The first few months I was bleeding For about half of each month, but not very heavily. Since then I’ve had vaguely regular “normal” periods, much much less heavy than before but perhaps a bit longer (I’ve had it about 6 months now). I’ve had no mood- related side effects at all, but I do get horrific cramps before bleeding each month, and some bad headaches (I always did, but I think they’re more noticeable now I bleed less), and some worse than usual acne! I wouldn’t go back though, the bleeding before it was horrific and now I can manage it easily.

The GP mentioned something about increased risks, not sure if it was of breast cancer or cardiovascular. I have a phone appointment with her on Monday so I’ll ask again. At the moment I’m trying Utrogestan vaginally but I’ve started bleeding yet again. Yes, you’re right that Provera is on BMS website as being a suitable progestogen component of HRT.
I’m under the Newson clinic and it can sometimes feel like it’s their way or no way.

I'm on my third Mirena and haven't had a period since DD was about 1, so 18 years. (Now post-menopausal).

I think it took a few months to settle down but has been great since.

I hope it works for you.

Sorry I should have said I was answering OP’s question about why my GP won’t prescribe Provera long term.

Best thing i ever did. Was having terrible problems with heavy bleeding, unexpected flooding, and being worried to go out. Took while to settle but then no more periods and honestly felt perfectly normal.
Hopefully works well for you too

I had a Mirena inserted last week for lots of reasons. I went private because booking a coil in my NHS trust is impossible. I had been on utogesteron and degesterol and was struggling with them. If I was even hour late, I'd get bleeding, and one of my GPs kept trying to take me off degesterol because he said I can't be fertile and menopausal at the same time. My youngest child is five. I am likely still fertile.

The insertion was fine - a bit of a pinch and I'd say I was a bit swollen down below for a couple of days. The harder part was coming off the oral progesterone, and I've felt like shit - grumpy, headache, bloated for the past week or two but coming out of it now. I also increased my oestrogen at the same time - so that could be contributing.

I'll try and come back in a couple weeks and give an update.

Thanks again everyone

I guess time will tell if it's going to work. I'm just scared of mood plummeting and having to work and feeling even more rubbish.

I had one fitted due to my periods becoming heavier and more frequent, resulting in low ferritin. It’s only when I started taking the iron that I realise how bad I had felt.
The fitting felt like a smear. I had no pinching or cramping at all. I bled a bit after it was inserted but it had stopped when I got home.
I did spot on and off for 6 months, and I now have the occasional light period.
But the biggest thing for me was the fact that it’s taken away the rage. My PMT was off the scale, and it’s gone.

I had mine fitted at the end of last year and it's been great. The insertion was painful but I coped and it was over quickly. Take paracetamol before you go and ask for local anaesthetic gel. It felt crampy like period pains for a week afterwards. I then had a period. Then lots of very light on and off spotting for months (just a tiny amount) and now nothing. No periods. It's amazing.

Thanks again everyone
Feeling slightly better re the fitting on Tuesday now.

With the bleeding, can I use a tampon or does it have to be a pad?
I hate pads, so would rather not use them if I don't have to.

I had one fitted. Life changing. I was bleeding so heavily that I was anaemic and would have excruciating pain. Mirena has stopped my periods altogether. Took a few months to settle but worth it.