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Original poster

Mirena coil for 16 year old?

37 replies

BlitherBlather · 16/01/2023 20:46

16 year old Dd has had heavy painful periods since they started 5 years ago, she also gets nausea and diarrhea.

She has tried Tranexamic acid and three different pills. The tranexamic acid made her nausea worse and all three pills have had bad side effects, mainly making her feel down, anxious and tired.

She is back from another trip to the GP and they have suggested either:

  1. Try yet another combined pill
  2. Progesterone only pill
  3. Depoprovera - injection every 3 months
  4. Mirena coil

Now, I have a Mirena and it has worked wonders with my own periods, I have however had 3 children so obviously am likely to find such things a bit easier than a child free teenager, but even I had to go to the hospital to have it fitted as I have an awkward cervix (they tried and failed for 20 minutes at the GP surgery 😬) and it was still pretty uncomfortable. Does anyone have experience of having a Mirena fitted pre-children? How did you find it? Thanks

OP posts:
BJ22 · 16/01/2023 21:07

Im sorry to hear youe daughter is struggling so much with her periods!

I had this fitted before having children and it was pretty uncomfortable but nothing that would deter me from having it again. The pain was incredibly quick and brief and felt like the cramping you have when bleeding, just a little more intense. Just a loud "ouch!!" And done.

If its going to help with her periods then I'd say go for it. It really was over in a flash for me. Bit achey the next day or two but nothing some Painkillers couldn't sort out.

Good luck! I hope she finds something that helps 🙏

Original poster
BlitherBlather · 16/01/2023 21:32

Thank you BJ22, that's very encouraging to hear.

OP posts:
Everydaywheniwakeup · 16/01/2023 21:45

I had a mirena 5 years ago - I had a child but via csection. I found it excruciating painful to put in and then permanently uncomfortable when it was in. I ended up having a hysterectomy a couple of years later where they found I had adenomyosis, so don't know if that's related to the pain of the coil insertion and then after. I also had a tilted uterus and pcos, so a bit of a mess really.
Dd's periods are pretty dreadful, but due to my medical history they tested her for pcos at 14 - she has it. If she wanted a coil I'd support her choice but for me it was incredibly invasive, upsetting and so painful I would hate for her to experience the same.
Apologies for the negativity, just giving another view.i suffered horrific periods, pain, fainting, flooding etc from 11 until my hysterectomy, so I totally get it, but I'd suffer them forever rather than have a coil again if I were in that position.

Xiomara22 · 16/01/2023 21:49

I had it pre-child and it was horrendous going in and for a few days afterwards I had stomach pains. After all that it didn’t help my periods unfortunately and I had it out after 12 months.
Could she ask to try a Triphasic pill? They really helped my heavy periods. Never heard of them myself until I managed to get a really understanding doctor.

Iwasntgettingasandwich · 16/01/2023 21:51

I had one when I was about 23,pre dc. It was awful, I'm not sure how I got through it. Worked well for me though but I was terrified of having it out (that was fine). My second one after dc was really easy. I know lots of people who had the implant though, is there any reason that wasn't an option?

ChristmasTensions · 16/01/2023 21:51

I found my coil excruciating when it was inserted. I really wouldn’t recommend it for someone so young.

RecoIIectionsMayVary · 16/01/2023 21:52

No, I wouldn't recommend and I'm surprised the doc has.

I was told that they are only suitable for someone in a committed relationship due to the complications that a IUD could cause if they contract an STD, (I think it is chlamydia that is the risk as it can be transferred from the vagina to the uterus via the coil.

They can be excruciating to insert even after children, and can still be uncomfortable. Also they can be felt during sex which is OK in a stable relationship but will make first encounters difficult

whatausername · 16/01/2023 22:12

It was brutal. Never ever again.

Nandocushion · 16/01/2023 22:34

RecoIIectionsMayVary · 16/01/2023 21:52

No, I wouldn't recommend and I'm surprised the doc has.

I was told that they are only suitable for someone in a committed relationship due to the complications that a IUD could cause if they contract an STD, (I think it is chlamydia that is the risk as it can be transferred from the vagina to the uterus via the coil.

They can be excruciating to insert even after children, and can still be uncomfortable. Also they can be felt during sex which is OK in a stable relationship but will make first encounters difficult

This is....just not true. Every time you get a Mirena (I'm on #4), or any other method of birth control, you will be told that you still need to use condoms in order to reduce your chances of getting an STD. But IUDs are fine for anyone who is being normally careful with their sexual health, and they certainly aren't only recommended for people in committed relationships.

OP it's a great idea, if your 16yo could handle the insertion - tbh at that age they haven't had smears yet etc and maybe aren't prepared for how it feels. I have always found it crampy but hardly unbearable, and I've never had a vaginal birth. I'd recommend one to my own teen, but only if she could have more pain relief for the insertion as she's got a very low pain threshold. I'm pretty sure someone on MN said they actually got heavy sedation for insertion.

On the other hand, maybe try the progesterone only pill first to make sure your DD doesn't have a bad reaction to progesterone? Especially as she's had issues with other pills.

Original poster
BlitherBlather · 17/01/2023 09:51

Thanks for all the responses, I think this highlights the main problem of 'one size doesn't fit all', which makes it so hard to know what to do, any of the options could help, but they could also make things worse 🤔

@Nandocushion, good idea to try the progesterone only pill prior to Mirena to see if DD has a bad reaction to progesterone, hormones do seem to effect her moods very badly.

@Xiomara22, I've never heard of a triphasic pill, will do some research!

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/01/2023 09:56

"She is back from another trip to the GP and they have suggested either:
Try yet another combined pill
Progesterone only pill
Depoprovera - injection every 3 months
Mirena coil"

Would say no to the above particularly the depo provera.

Why have they not referred her to a gynaecologist?. She is being fobbed off here big time. She will need to have you to advocate for her.

The CAUSE needs to be properly determined, all the above will do is try and treat the symptoms. None will address the root cause and my money's on endometriosis given how long she has had such problems too.

BooksAndHooks · 17/01/2023 10:00

I would try the mini pill before something more invasive.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/01/2023 10:00

NHS waiting lists for gynaecology at this time are miles long in many areas. If she is willing I would contact your local private hospital and arrange for her to see a gynae for an initial consultation.

I have suffered similarly to your DD with regards to both heavy and painful periods and in my case the cause was endometriosis. Your DD warrants further investigation to determine the cause rather than just pills because that can take a long time to get diagnosed.

Suprima · 17/01/2023 10:07

Absolutely not. She needs a referral, not hormones and an invasive medical procedure.

I have had a good experience with a Mirena coil. I have had a bad experience with my second, and a previous bad experience with a copper coil. The ‘bad’ experiences were irregular black bleeding, pain, cramps, etc.

If she has similar- I would not want to risk a 16 year old having to do the okey kokey with coils in and out. She is a child, and it’s grim. If she wants to use it as contraception at some point that’s up to her- but certainly not as treatment for something they don’t want to investigate.

orangegato · 17/01/2023 10:08

I had one young. Worth 10 mins of pain surely? Not pleasant but neither is childbirth and people do that.

Kim82 · 17/01/2023 10:09

I can’t comment on the coil as I didn’t have one before children but my 15yo dd suffered similarly to your dd. She has been on the mini pill now for around 4/5 months and the only side effect she has had is her periods stopping completely which is exactly what she was hoping for. I’d definitely recommend that your dd give it a try to see how she gets on.

zoinkss · 17/01/2023 10:10

My 16 year old got the implant fitted about 9 months ago and it's been a total game changer for her.

I recommended it to her as it really helped me (although I did have spotting for ages after my first was fitted). They last three years and I'm now on my second with no spotting, no periods and no cramps. Still get a little hormonal occasionally, but that lasts for less than 24 hrs then I'm back to normal.

My 17 year old waited to see how her sister got on and is now getting hers fitted next week.

fantasmasgoria1 · 17/01/2023 10:10

I have one now. A small amount of discomfort but no real pain.

SallySailor · 17/01/2023 10:20

Is she sexually active? I ask because, for comparison, they will not usually perform a transvaginal ultrasound on someone young who is not sexually active. Fitting a Mirena is a whole different level of invasive. (Both Dd and I have similar issues). I have just had a Mirena fitted. I could cope, but for someone not used to anyone touching those bits it has the potential of being quite traumatic. You don't really know how your body responds until you're having it done. For DD the minipill has helped a great deal, but she tried a couple of different pills before settling on this one. She's in desogestrel, which is less prescriptive about being dead on same time every day, compared to some minipills, afaik

Hangupsrus · 17/01/2023 10:23

My 16 year old DD is on the pop and has been for a couple years due to heavy periods and low/erratic moods around the time of her periods. She's been much happier and more settled on this, doesn't get periods at all which is a massive bonus, just occasionally gets light break thru bleeds for a day here and there. I'd definitely try this first before going straight for the coil.

VeggieSalsa · 17/01/2023 10:26

I had it pre children, and found it uncomfortable and unpleasant going in. Then once the nurse had finished and I stood up I fainted and felt awful for the rest of the day.

I said at the time I wouldn’t do it again. It’s not so much that it was painful just the whole experience was very unpleasant.

newtb · 17/01/2023 10:26

I had a copper-7 and then a gravigard-t before DC. Slightly uncomfortable, and periods no worse than on the pill.

AuntieSoap · 17/01/2023 11:59

That's quite a risk to take. I had the mirena coil post kids. The procedure itself was deeply uncomfortable, I bled constantly for the first six weeks, then although my periods stopped in terms of bleeding, I experienced horrendous PMS symptoms every three weeks for at least a week. I'd be crying, angry, depressed, I didn't recognise myself. I also got terrible acne, like awful boils on my face and neck. And I gained ten pounds. I'd never go there again. The moment I had it removed, I felt immediate relief.

Localher0 · 18/01/2023 18:40

My DD also had dreadful periods. Tried every pill going but to no avail. Saw a wonderful private gynaecologist who did lots of tests and recommended the mirena. She had it inserted under GA so apart from cramping afterwards it was absolutely fine. However after 11 months her periods have started again ( see my other post) and we are back for a follow up
To check if the mirena has failed or something else going on......watch this space.
I would say in the 11 months she had no periods she was very happy.

Nat6999 · 18/01/2023 19:15

The combined pill would be good, the mini pill can cause breakthrough bleeding, when I had it my periods were worse than before I took it.