What happens to your hormones when you remove an expired mirena coil?

[ImSoEffingOverPeopleTreatingMeBadly]

I’m 55. I have had a Mirena coil for 4.5 years. I asked to get a new one, but they said leave it for 5 years.

I got it as the progesterone part of HRT, but I stopped taking the oestrogen pretty quickly and the coil stopped all my horrible symptoms; flooding, periods every 3 weeks for 10 days, very low mood and insomnia. It stopped it all, it’s been bliss.

Over the first few years I got a bit of spotting, but I’ve not seen anything for ages, maybe one bit of spotting a year ago. I really don’t know where I’m at?

Come Jan 25, I’ll be asking to remove it. What might happen, or what happened to you when you removed it? Obviously I do not want to go to my perimenopausal hell as before, so I’m a bit anxious about it.

Should I just see what happens, or just ask them to put another one in?

Am I being a bit naive to think that they’ll take it out, and find that I have circumnavigated the menopause and everything is just breezy.

Sorry, no advice, but this is an excellent question -- I will be in your situation in a couple of years, so here to hear other people's thoughts.

Let’s hope someone can advise us X

I had mine taken out last year, turned out I went through the menopause whilst it was in. Had peri menopause hell, really heavy periods etc. I had one bleed and it turned out that was the full stop of my menstrual cycle. Here's hoping you don't suffer if its removed x

Should I just see what happens, or just ask them to put another one in?

The Mirena is licensed either for contraception or as part of HRT.
It's not licensed to be 'HRT without estrogen'. So you probably won't get another unless you're going to use estrogen too.

Yes, it will control bleeding etc but it's not likely to have helped your insomnia. It's more likely that resolved itself anyway.

You're almost certainly post meno at 55, but if you have symptoms when it comes out, you could go back to HRT but not just the Mirena.
There are risks with synthetic progesterone and it won't do your poor old womb any good to be sitting there when you've got no estrogen.

You're almost certainly post meno at 55, but if you have symptoms when it comes out, you could go back to HRT but not just the Mirena.

Thank you for the advice. I’m thinking I’ll take it out, then wait and see what happens. If I have horrible symptoms I’ll get the full HRT.

Just to add, I got the Mirena as Utrogestone made me feel depressed. It was awful.

Sounds like a good plan!

I had mine fitted about 12 years ago and have never had it removed! My GP surgery doesn’t do removals now and told me theres no need to remove it anyway. I’m over 60.

I had my DS at 37, had one period then had a Mirena coil fitted. I never had another period.
I asked my GP if I should have it removed after 10 years (fairly sure that was the guidance then) and she said if I wasn't having any problems then it was OK to leave it. She took it out when I was about 52 I think and I had obviously gone past the menopause with no symptoms at all.

I did still get very regular cyclical migraines (mid and end) but mostly managed to control them with Atenolol and Triptans and still do at 64 but they are much less frequent now and more to do with sleep patterns and chocolate.

I’m thinking I’ll take it out, then wait and see what happens. If I have horrible symptoms I’ll get the full HRT.

That's exactly what I did. Got it taken out at 53, then held my breath until I was sure my periods weren't going to come back (they didn't, thankfully).

I did still have symptoms though, so I started full HRT a few years later. I got another Mirena put in and I use Oestrogel to go with it.

I've found this https://sh24.org.uk/help-centre/update-coil-guidelines and it says about hormonal coils:

• if it was fitted when you were 45 or older, you can use it as contraception until age 55 - when you won’t need contraception anymore

(Not sure why 55 is the age for not needing contraception - do we all stop DTD at that age?)

It doesn't say anything about leaving coils in indefinitely, but I have read elsewhere that there could be an infection risk.

I had my Mirena fitted age 48 for contraception and its been in for 7 years now. haven't needed contraception for the last 4 years but its been bliss not to have irregular and very heavy periods plus i've had a huge reduction in PMT symptoms. I'm still bleeding every four weeks albeit very lightly so envious of everyone my age and younger who have stopped. On the plus side my peri symptoms are definitely manageable so i daren't complain too much in case menopause hits me with everything at once

Because the likelihood of being pregnant at 55/56 is zero.
Even if someone still has periods the chances of a full term pregnancy are unlikely.

I am interested too. I keep hearing people talk about menopause, but I haven't had a period for about 20 years ( am 52) so have no idea where I am. Last mirena was put in 2019.
Will I need to have a blood test or something to see if I am no longer fertile?

Following with interest as I've often wondered about this.
I had my 2nd mirena when I was 47 & was told it could stay in indefinitely.
I'm 54 now & haven't had a period since my 1st coil in 2012 was fitted. I'd absolutely hate them to come back so I'm leaving it well alone for a few more years until I know my periods will have stopped anyway.
Very interested to hear others experiences.

I was told my mirena would stay in indefinitely.

Why do you want it taken out? Ive got one for managing endometriosis, its been great. I was told i can keep it for 10 years since im not using it for contraception.

Following. Mine was due out last month. I haven't got around to it yet. Mainly because I don't want to go back to periods. I'm 55, too.

I'm interested to hear how your body reacts because I'm in the same boat.

I can only talk for myself

Had my coil removed at 52, no periods but quite high rage monthly and reasonably annoying anxiety.

Started on HRT patches at 53 moved on to patches and Progesterone tablets at night after 12 months

Feel good now and do feel like I dodged at menopause but apparently my mum had no symptoms (she did I remember the shouting she thought was normal)

Not had any periods since first coil, did have small amount of spotting all checked out by gynaecologist and all fine

I'm 57 and have had mine for 10 years, every time I have my smear I ask about it and they always just say to keep it in. I guess I'm through menopause by now but no way of knowing. I haven't used any other sort of HRT.

I don't understand the advice to just keep it in indefinitely. Is it because there's a lack of trained professionals to remove them? What's the point of keeping something alien inside your body that has no hormone left in it to do anything?

The hormone doesn’’t just run out at 5 years, it is just that there is no longer enough to be reliable for contraception, it gradually peters out over several more years. The removal procedure can be extremely uncomfortable and carries an element of risk (physical damage, infection). I’m in no rush to get mine removed.

I've read posts on MN where women have removed their own.

It's evidently very simple and far less discomfort than insertion.

It's licensed for 4/5 years as HRT the progesterone part along with estrogen, and a bit longer for contraception.