Mirena experiences in Peri

[fedupofperi]

Hey everyone, I'm 49 and in peri menopause. I started having flooding periods about 3 years ago so was put on progesterone only HRT (my oestrogen was high so it was to balance it out). This worked well for about 3 years but now my periods have gone mad after previously being very regular.

I'm having periods about every 2 weeks and I'm so fed up of it I could cry. I've had an ultrasound and have some smallish fibroids but nothing worrying. My GP has suggested a Mirena coil (I previously had a copper coil years ago and no issues with insertion or anything so not bothered about that).

Has anyone found Mirena helped with heavy/irregular periods in peri as it seems the Mirena is very much like marmite- people seem to despise it or love it.

I'd be very grateful to hear experiences (good or bad)- thank you :)

Do you know the size of your fibroids?

I had flooding and had mirena inserted at 45 - zero periods since. Due to covid I didn't get it replaced until 6 years, and had some very light spotting during that last year, new one went in in 2021 and no periods since. Agree, my research suggested that if it works well for you it's great, but if not, it's terrible (but you can get it removed so worth trying).

Apparently 3 x 3cm and a "bulky uterus" - lovely! The consultant said he did not think anything was needed to get rid of them currently

@the5percentclub thank you! I guess its worth a try and I can always have it out if its awful

I had the mirena fitted prior to starting HRT patches so just added the patches to treatment. It's been brilliant for me, no periods since it was fitted (except some light spotting when it is getting close to replacement). The patches along with the coil have massively helped my HRT symptoms (it's not a total resolution but a significant improvement). I would absolutely agree with @the5percentclub if it works it's brilliant but can be grim if it doesn't but its easily removed, I've heard both sides of the story from various people.

It's totally solved my heavy peri period problems. I went from excruciating, heavy, long periods which left me totally drained to very light periods, to no periods at all in the space of about 5 months.
It's been really good for me. Worth a go if you've got on with the copper coil in the past.
I also have estrogen patches.

@WhereAreWeNow thank you- I think I'm going to give it a go.

When you say 5 months- you didnt have any continuous bleeding did you? I've seen people say it took ages for it to kick in and some said they bled continuously

I'd be worried about the amount of time I'd have to wait for an appointment to take it out if it doesn't suit me, particularly if I lived in the UK.
I also have a bulky womb and bigger fibroids than yours.

It has really helped me too. I had fibroids and a polyp and had them removed under general and a mirena put in. It did take a year of still heavy bleeding that went on for a long time but it eventually petered out and is completely manageable now. Have nothing but positive things to say about it.

I'm 47 and had one put in last year, and I was really, really hesitant as have heard many negative accounts and am quite cautious about anything with a potentially long lasting impact.

Best thing I ever did really, no more periods. No flooding every 3 weeks. Now just using patches for hrt, it's been perfect.

Forgot to say, also have some fibroids and tilted uterus.

I'd had one before and found it excellent, but in peri it didn't help at all with flooding and clotting, and in fact I bled it out in an extremely unpleasant experience. I'm on the mini pill now and that's helping more,

I also have a tilted uterus- no idea what that means for an IUD though. I did have the copper IUD for years when I was younger and loved it

@frogpigdonkey ah thats a shame - but glad you found something that works for you

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. No, it wasn't continuous. I think in the first month I had a very light bit of spotting on and off. But when I say spotting, I mean the kind of thing you wouldn't even notice if you were wearing dark knickers. Then the spotting stopped and I had very light periods for just a couple of days each month for a few months and then they got lighter and lighter and stopped.
Honestly, it's been amazing. My periods were so awful before and it's so liberating not having to deal with them anymore.

@WhereAreWeNow thanks, the continuous bleeding is something I'm a bit scared of, its already bad enough as it is!

I've always had really heavy periods. In peri I am absolutely ridiculously heavy - I wear heavy duty nighttime pads and will still soak through clothing. My periods are also now more irregular than before, and sometimes come every couple of weeks. It's horrible. I was also advised the mirena coil would help, I refused as I had one in not long after my son was born. It did not suit me at all, I felt absolutely awful and virtually begged the GP to have it removed. I know others who had a far better experience so I guess that its very subjective.

I'm sitting on the edge of this decision too. I'm struggling to find a way to take enough micronised progesterone as it makes me feel rough so Mirena might be an option. Like others I'm really concerned about it not suiting me and getting stuck with it for 3 months plus.

I guess I'll try to find a private option for removal to give me the peace of mind if it doesn't work for me. They might give me the confidence to try it.

I'm 49 and on my second Mirena. Had awful flooding periods before Mirena, debilitating and embarrassing. Not had a period for over 7 years now - the first Mirena took about 6 months to settle, I had greasy skin and brown spotting for a few months, but once my body adjusted to the hormones I've not looked back since so it was well worth riding that out. Also not had weight gain which is the other thing I was worried about (although I also eat a lot less as each year passes as my metabolism's clearly slowing down as I get older...)

I have had one fitted fairly recently. Procedure was better than expected. Waiting to see if it works, but the peri periods were not nice and I found myself planning things round them without even realising I was doing this. I decided to give it a go.

A PP mentioned wait times in the UK to get seen if you need it removing. I suspect that isn't as much of an issue as it could be, as you get to see a nurse rather than a GP. I could have mine fitted within a week. I would anticipate the same for removal.

Really interesting to hear about your experiences. I'm due to have one on 6th Nov after having copper coils for years. My periods are getting heavier and longer in my mid 40s. Hoping this will help. I also have PMT now when I never used to. Am very tense and irritated 1 week pre period. Is mirena likely to address this?

Regarding waiting for it to be removed, - I was told by my GP there is a wait for GP to do it but you can get an IUD inserted or removed via local sexual health clinic much quicker and they do it regularly so might be worth a try there if its possible in your area, rather than having to pay privately

BTW thank you everyone - its good to hear your experiences