Mirena expired?

[Threeisme]

The pharmacist at my GP surgery contacted me yesterday via text message to say my Mirena has expired and I need to take oral progesterone until I can get it removed. I take 3 pumps of gel daily.

I realise this shouldn't have come as a surprise but I'm clueless about what to do next.

I'm 50 now so don't need it for contraception but I don't want to start bleeding again - I haven't had a period for years. I initially had it because was bleeding was so heavy I was severely anaemic.

Not sure what my options are really. The pharmacist wasn't very helpful - just said I'd need a gynae app to remove and possibly reinsert and that I needed to take oral progesterone whilst I waited. I'm reluctant to do this as I'm about to go away and worried about side effects.

Is it safe to keep using the gel whilst I wait for an appointment to discuss?

Why do you need the oral progesterone? I'm younger than you though so if it's menopause related I'm pretty clueless.

I went to the gynae this year to have my 7yo mirena replaced, it may even be 8, and he said to just leave it, that it stops periods for a lot longer than it's official time frame, he even gave me some studies to read that state the same. He said if my periods return, then come and get it changed. He did say of course not to rely on an expired one for contraception, but no worries there for me at this point in time!

I realise this shouldn't have come as a surprise but I'm clueless about what to do next.

When you were given gel, did your GP not explain about the Mirena being the progestogen part of HRT? It's one of the options, rather than tablets.

And that it's licensed for 4 years (it runs out as part of HRT after that time.)

You haven't said how old it is, but it's obviously not doing what it should be.

NICE says
Note: women may use a Mirena® levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) with oestrogen for up to 5 years for endometrial protection, as part of an HRT regimen (licensed for 4 years but may be used for up to 5 years off-label).

You need some kind of progesterone with estrogen, to prevent overgrowth of the womb lining as long as you use HRT (Nothing to do with your periods stopping or not.)

So, your GP needs to step in and supply you with tablets - Utrogestan most likely- and ask you if you want to have another Mirena.