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Women's health

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Original poster

Mirena due out, what to expect?

33 replies

goldpendant · 05/10/2021 15:06

Hi all,

My Mirena coil is due to come out next month. Bar the first three months of spotting I've been very happy on it, but I don't think I'll have another one. This was was inserted under general anaesthetic (don't ask), and I'm hugely anxious about having a coil put in under normal circumstances.

What should I expect in terms of pain when it's taken out? I've read it's not too bad...

And also, anything I should expect in the days/weeks/months afterwards?

Any insight much appreciated.

OP posts:

TheLongDrop · 05/10/2021 15:28

Coil removal is very easy generally. Both before I had two babies and post that.
I had my first coil put in via GA too.

Cough and it's done. I found the speculum bit of it worse than the removal.

Rockbird · 05/10/2021 15:33

Snap. Except I'm having another put in. First was easy as pie but I've read lots of horror stories since then...

Bichette · 05/10/2021 15:36

Completely painless for me.

mrsjg · 05/10/2021 15:37

I'm on my 3rd coil. Both removal and insertion were horrendous even with gas and air. They ask you to cough and remove it. The speculum is the worst bit. Sorry if it's not what you want to hear.

Following on from recent news stories about pain relief for IUD fittings, when it's time for mine to be removed (thankfully the last one I'll have) I will ask for sedation/ GA and won't take no for an answer.

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 05/10/2021 15:39

No problem at all with removals, three now.
Very little problem with insertions now, since discovering you can ask them not to use the horrific pliers on your cervix to hold it steady while the pop in the new one.

Recycledblonde · 05/10/2021 15:39

Completely painless removal for me, passed out from pain when it was inserted.

user4678497 · 05/10/2021 15:45

I've had two removal/replacements. The first was at the GP, and was pretty unpleasant (the removal was fine actually, but the replacement was v painful). The second time, I went to the NHS sexual health clinic at the local hospital, and it was so, so much better. Even though the strings had got lost, so the clinician had to do a bit of fishing around to find them. But she was incredibly calm and reassuring, and talked me through the different pain relief options, saying that she preferred to wait and see if they were needed, rather than jumping in straight away with the sedative. (In the event, I had the numbing gel once it became clear that the strings weren't easy to grab, but not the actual injection.) I'm not saying it was how I'd choose to spend an afternoon, but it was honestly fine. Based on my experiences, I'd go to a specialist clinic if you can.

Badoukas · 05/10/2021 16:00

There was a moment of pain when it was removed, just a few seconds.

DramaAlpaca · 05/10/2021 16:03

The removal of mine was completely painless. I didn't have it replaced as I'm post menopausal. I hadn't had a period since it went in, it was wonderful.

Ellarain · 05/10/2021 16:06

I attended my GP to have mine removed last Friday. Unfortunately she couldn't find the strings so I was referred to the hospital that put it in. I'm waiting on an appointment. I only have it in five and a half months but doesn't suit me at all and need it removed ASAP.

Wombat49 · 05/10/2021 16:20

I've had 3, 2 by sexual health people and one by the GP. It's not pleasant but very quick & I didn't have any pain.

Miller2021 · 05/10/2021 16:27

I've had 2 coils - the mirena and the copper. For me, both times insertion was extremely painful (had to take time off work kind of painful), but removal was completely fine both times. Uncomfortable but not painful.

Original poster

goldpendant · 05/10/2021 17:39

Thanks everyone.

I'm going to have to investigate alternative contraception as there's no way I want to go through an insertion!

OP posts:

user4678497 · 05/10/2021 21:07

I wouldn't rule it out if it suits you. Even after my first painful reinsertion, I still chose to have another one, because five years of not having to think about contraception or periods is so worth a few minutes of pain (and if you're very anxious about it, you can probably insist on anaesthetic). I realise mirena doesn't suit everyone though.

Original poster

goldpendant · 05/10/2021 21:51

I think I'll ask the GP about having it done sedated? Does sedation help with pain? Or do they do a local too?

OP posts:

Bells3032 · 05/10/2021 21:57

Had mine put in under general due to pelvic pain issues. Removal was fine. Took a few minutes and was like 1 second of pain and done. If you've had a smear test it's not really much worse than that

SweetBabyCheeses99 · 05/10/2021 22:01

I don’t think I even felt anything when it was removed, you just cough and then the nurse has done it. But then I didn’t find having it put in that bad at all either.

Original poster

goldpendant · 05/10/2021 22:33

My last smear was completely fine so hopefully having it out will be fine.

OP posts:

38greenbottles · 05/10/2021 22:49

I don't remember removal being a big deal, they just yoinked it out and it was done. Insertion, well there was an aspect of someone trying to shove a cocktail umbrella up me faster than I could retreat up the trolley 😃 but mainly the issue was a bit of faintness and cramping afterwards.
...
...
...
I have been in the same house as someone giving birth on gas & air and there was a LOT of noise. I appreciate I may have been fortunate with my Mirena installation/removal experiences, but it still seems like a great bargain compared with childbirth or even the worry that a skipped pill can cause.

ProcrastinationIsMySuperPower · 06/10/2021 15:05

I had local anaesthetic when mine was inserted - this should absolutely be an option for you.
Mine is due to be changed, but sadly the nurse couldn't find the strings (despite spending a lot of time digging around in my cervix with something that looked like a skinny bottle brush ) so now I'm waiting for a scan to find out where it's gone. I'll definitely have another though.

giftswap2020 · 06/10/2021 15:12

No one told me that I would have a horrendous heavy period, super tampon flooded in 2 hours. This went on for 4 days, so maybe be prepared for that. I had it in for 3 years.

Purplewithred · 06/10/2021 15:14

On my 6th. Brief ping on the way in and out for me, nothing more. But I had mine replaced immediately so no idea of periods etc post removal.

Original poster

goldpendant · 06/10/2021 20:25

Lucky you @Purplewithred I've heard so many horror stories of insert toon but I am tempted to try, as far as contraception goes it really suits me.

OP posts:

rosegoldwatcher · 06/10/2021 20:33

Mine was removed when I had my last smear test.
It hurt ( I swore) but was over very quickly.

Take some painkillers before your appointment!!!

Rockbird · 07/10/2021 17:52

See now this gets me. Before covid I asked if I could have the Mirena changed at the same time as my smear and was told it was impossible. But clearly it isn't. Surely it would save so much effort as they're down there anyway.

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