Mirena experiences?

[Lostwords]

Have an appointment for Mirena insertion on Friday, but struggling to decide whether to go ahead with it. What puts me off is my experience of the Progesterone Only Pill. I don’t think I’ve ever tried it for longer than about 3-4 months but I had the impression it affected my mood, and I disliked the breast tenderness & irregular bleeding. I know Mirena is a lower dose of progesterone, but I’m worried how it will affect me. I’m a migraine sufferer so can’t take the combined pill. Not keen on copper coil as my periods are heavy anyway. Some people also think migraines improve with Mirena. How have you found Mirena, if you’ve had one?

I've got one. It is brilliant. Was easy to fit (GP did it and she was telling me she had one as well). No problems at all but gradually my periods just stopped. I used to get headaches with my periods but since they stopped, the headaches have as well. Just go for it but if you have any initial problems just give it a few months.

The only thing I did find is that they are supposed to last 5 years. I found the progesterone started running out at 4 years as started to get light bleeding. GP warned me it could happen and she just changed it.

I hated it. I completely lost my sex drive (so in that sense it worked as contraception lol) and didn't feel like myself. I had only ever been on the mini pill before then but had no problems. I had it replaced with a copper coil after 6 weeks and I'm very happy. Yes, my periods are heavier and my cycle is shorter but my sex drive is as it should be and I've had no side effects at all. Lots of my friends are on the Mirena and love it so I think most people are fine on it. It's worth a try as it's easy to replace with copper or just remove if you don't like it.

I have the Mirena. It’s completely stopped any bleeding but I’m sure I do still have PMs every month. I have gained weight from it but my diet isn’t the best. It made me insanely spotty for the first six months but this has settled.

I had it for a few months. I had almost constant spotting. My stomach felt bloated and I became tearful and quite depressed. Like you I'm sensitive to progesterone.

I had it fitted end of April. It was during my period, the spotting cleared up and I got my next period as normal at the end of May. After then I got my period at the expected time. It was a lot lighter. I then had spotting most days so I couldn't actually say when my period properly ended then it was brownish discharge. I haven't had any spotting or discharge for over a week so I'm now confused about my cycle.

I have been feeling slightly depressed but it might be a reaction to recent stressful events. I do feel hungrier but that's because I don't eat breakfast for half the week because of an early start at work.

I am in my fifties so maybe my periods are erratic because of that. The Dr said Mirena doesn't make them stop.

I've had two and barely noticed any side effects. Had the POP between babies and it was awful, acne, bleeding, mood swings. Getting another Mirena once this baby is out! The lower dose of progesterone really does make a difference.

I had the mirena for nearly 2 years, was a terrible mistake. I was plagued with wierd thrush/ discharge symotims which never cultured anything. Then regular UTIs. The no periods were great, the very low risk of pregnancies was great, but the symptoms were awful for me.

It didn't hurt going in or coming out, but I wish I never had it put in in the first place. If I could go back in time I would. They don't tell you about these side effects, I would never ever have anything hormonal again as a contraceptive.

Thanks everyone. Lots of different experiences here, which is to be expected, I think. The fitting was fairly painless, no worse than a smear. Today I felt a bit low and irritable, which I haven’t been lately, but surely too soon for this to be a side effect, 3 days later?!

I would be surprised if the Mirena has caused this in such a short space of time. Low level hormones usually take a while to take effect. Hence why it takes a few months for periods to lighten or stop

Yes, that’s reassuring. Thanks Marie.

I have had mine almost 4 years - one of the best things I did. No bleeding at all. A bit of breastfeeding tenderness each month but that's the only side effect. I used to get migraines in the pill but none with the mirena, hope it works for you