How does this work. Please help me understand

[Imalmostatthatage]

I’m 44 and have had heavy period causing possible low iron which is affecting me in a lot of ways so i’m trying to get to the bottom of things.
Periods are are still regular although my cycle is getting shorter and shorter i’m currently on 25days and feel wiped out for about after period starting.
Read that hormonal coil can help with with lighten period but would you start such a big thing just to ease the period?
Also should gp do any investigation gynaecology wise before we go ahead try one of these hormonal contraception?
Also what happens if i’m on these and my body wants to go through menopausal or will it just not happen if im on it?
Does it also help with menopausal symptoms?

I had symptoms similar to yours so asked for a gyny referral.
The female consultant l saw offered me a cervical oblation (similar to a d and c). It stops periods altogether in 50 per cent of women. It did mine and l was very grateful not to have any more periods. I did worry once l reached 50 that l wouldn't know if l was beginning to go through tbe menopause, but no worries on that score it turned out- you'll know!

Yes, I did start the Modena coil for the same reasons as you and it was life-changing. I still needed treatment to deal with the anaemia but not having flooding work/ waking up in a scene from a horror film regularly were two great benefits. It also took the edge off a lot of menopausal symptoms.

For some people the coil massively lightens periods.

If it's like the POP - on that I went from a 2 day heavy flow, to a 1.5 day light flow. Yes you'd go through menopause as normal I think?

If it's like the POP - it's not necessarily going to help with mood, but it might do, just from having more regularity.

I personally didn't love the POP, as I felt too calm and a little unmotivated and my skin went dry, but there are different progesterone only coils that are lower in strength than the POP

Thank you. I’m a little scared as already suffer with quite a bit of up and down moods and worry that the coil will push me even further

I had very very heavy periods in my 40s that got closer together and I had the mirena coil fitted. It was a game changer for me. I’m not on my 3 one. I’d definitely try it before any surgical intervention op.

The Mirena coil isn't really such a 'big thing' as you might think.
It's a very common way of stopping heavy periods in peri menopause.
You can try it for 3 to 6 months and if it doesn't suit you, it can be removed.

Your Gp might want to refer you for a scan to check you've nothing else going on like fibroids. but to be honest, it may not be necessary. If it's a GP who is any 'good' with gynae issues they may feel your womb to check if they can feel any big fibroids but small ones need a scan to be found.

With menopause, you may still get all the symptoms like hot flushes etc because the coil won' t stop those- it's loss of estrogen that causes them.

The coil can be used as the progesterone side of HRT and just estrogen is added - tablets, path, gel, spray- your choice.
If you find low mood is a problem you can add in estrogen when you feel ready.

Hope this helps.

There is a huge amount of material available on MN and everywhere else about peri and meno. So get your google on! :)

A key point is that it's different, sometimes very different, for every woman and each woman needs to be a noisy advocate for herself. Keep going to your GP/consultant/medico. What works for someone else might not work for you and vice versa. Some GPs and other medicos are more knowledgeable than others so you should try to see as many as you can and, again, read as much as you can find.

Hormonal treatments both for contraception and for peri are meant to help regulate your peri/meno experience by providing a consistent level of hormones, tapering as you age, as compared to the stop/start rollercoaster of unmedicted peri/meno.

There is a certain element of 'suck it and see' because every woman is different.

Thank you. Apparently it’s so popular that there is a waiting list to get it done at the gp

I had a Mirena coil inserted several years back for heavy periods in my 40s having had no luck with Tranexamic acid tablets. The procedure was uncomfortable rather than painful and I had cramps for a few days. My periods lightened over 4 months then stopped altogether. Not had one since.

In my friendship group, almost everyone has done well with a coil.

It provides a progesterone dose so I also take oestrogen for my HRT.