The Coil, HRT and Heavy Periods

[Glitterbiscuits]

My periods have now got out of control. Very heavy with flooding and cramps on at least 2 days per month.

Sequential HRT, patches, Utrogestan on days 1-12.

Scan revealed a tiny fibroid.

Gynaecologist has said my only option is the coil instead of Utrogestan.

I've never fancied the coil. But I hate the mess I'm in every month now.

Anyone with any thoughts/experience to share please?

Try the coil. It stopped my bleeding on hrt dead in its tracks. I was on utrogestan and patches, post meno, but bled every 2 weeks. It was horridZ'. Patience is key with the coil though, as it can take a good 6 months to settle. But if it works, you won't regret it.

I suffered from problem heavy periods most of my life and it was getting worse every month with perimenopause. I got the Mirena coil fitted about a year ago and it's been amazing. It's stopped my periods altogether. I don't even need to take iron tablets anymore. It's been a game changer for me.

2 positive reviews! Thanks so much!

Make that 3 positive reviews. Am 56 and flooding so bad ended up A&E. Had hysteroscopy under GA at same time. A Mirena coil fitted 4 months ago. Game changer and no periods now at all!

I had a mirena due to heavy, more frequent periods, that made me anaemic. I had to do something or I’d end up on iron permanently.
I did spot for 6 months, but it was better than the periods. Wish I’d had it put in years ago.

I was offered the coil for similar reasons (I have lupus and have issues with clotting and have huge clots during periods) and I didn’t want the coil so I opted for the mini pill instead and I have this alongside utrogestan 100mg every night and oestrogel 3 pumps a day. Works really well for me and I don’t have any bleeding at all. (I know not everyone is as lucky and it can often take a while for any bleeding to stop).

I also have the Mirena. I've had it for years now. It changed my life. I had similar issues to you with flooding and clotting. It was awful. I've just had a replacement fitted. I have no regrets. I would ask for a local anaesthetic when getting it fitted. The first one took a few weeks to settle down, but this one there were no issues.

had similar issues; the mirena coil changed my life!! no ill effects apart fr spotting for a few months

Another vote for life changing here. I'm actually a bit gutted about the previous 20 years of horrendous heavy periods that I tolerated before getting a mirena coil.

It was also recommended to me after heavy periods and a scan revealed fibroids.

My periods made so tired I couldn't function, period pains were off the charts , so heavy I couldn't leave the house . Got the coil , best thing I ever did . Took about 6 months of spotting so wore period pants so that wasn't an issue . No more tiredness, pain or periods . Wish I done it years ago

Mirena was great for me too - never thought about it and no periods. I went to have another fitted when I got mine removed but they couldn't get it in

I didn’t want one but found it worked very well. Also means I don’t have to take oral progesterone.

Mirena coil. I know it gets bad rep on here, but people don't tend to post saying that everything chugs on just fine.

Mirena sorted out my bonkers peri periods within a few months. I went from extremely heavy and randomly frequent to an occasional very light bleed every few months. Still random, but very infrequent and minor.

Mirena provides continuous progesterone, so you can have oestrogen-only transdermal HRT. Both of which are at much lower doses than oral HRT.

I did not get on with the progesterone minipill, but do not have any problems with Mirena.

Clearly no bad rep for Mirena from menopausal women

I think the mirena gets alot of bad press all over. Utrogestan is always referred to as the ' gold standard' progesterone, but no many women don't get on with that either.

Meant SO many women don't get on with utrogestan 🤦‍♀️

The mirena was lifesaving for me! After months of debilitating periods where I couldn’t leave the house for 2 days each time, lost far too much blood and became anaemic plus had far too many sick days off work, I had one fitted. It took a couple of months to settle down and I had daily bleeding for that time, but it was very manageable. After about 3 months, periods really reduced then completely stopped after 6 months.

Mirena coil's been amazing for me, nearly 50, no major menopause issues and no periods, but can still feel myself ovulating. Easy to install- lasts 5 years!!

When people say it takes awhile for the coil to settle, what does that mean in practice?

@DisplayPurposesOnly when I said to settle, I meant it took a few months for my body to adapt to it. So I had bleeding like a period for a few weeks and then just spotting once a month (but not heavy enough to need any sanitary products).

Definitely sounds more positive than I'd expected.
There is definitely no GP at my surgery to fit one so I'm not sure how long the delay would be if I was to go ahead. Presumably I'd have to go to hospital gynaecology.

Marena coil-life changer!

For me I bled on and off for 6 months not heavy and no period pains but after that was it no . I wore period pants so it made no difference to me if I did .

Our local sexual health clinic fits them. Have to say it was a much more pleasant experience going there because they are obviously more experienced than the GP who isn't doing it as regularly! I was told there were 3 month waits but I got an appointment (cancellation) within 2 weeks.

As long as you mean the mirena coil.
I had copper coils for many years and they increase bleeding.
After DC2 I went for a Mirena. It transformed my life and saved me from a hysterectomy.
Fitting was painful I admit, but it's just a one off and then I went on to have 5 good years of just a spot once a month. Had 2 more to take me right through menopause.