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Women's health

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Original poster

Mirena coil experiences please!

41 replies

JanS17 · 10/07/2023 20:47

I’m getting the mirena coil in a few weeks and I’m really anxious about the insertion! Everyone I’ve spoken to has told me it’s very painful and traumatic. Does anyone have any experiences to share, both of insertion and of having the coil? I just want to be prepared…

OP posts:

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 10/07/2023 20:57

I've had two, neither were painful or traumatic,

its not obviously particularly dignified having to bumshuffle with your legs in stirrups towards the waiting health professional but no worse than a smear.

I had mine changed over in Feb this year and haven't had a period since. Love it!

Original poster

JanS17 · 10/07/2023 21:01

I’m not worried about having to bumshuffle in stirrups! I had plenty of cervical exams while I was pregnant, so if it’s not worse than that I’ll be fine!

one of my friends told me she vomited and fainted from the pain!

OP posts:

BestServedChilled · 10/07/2023 21:03

I had mine not too long after a rather fast delivery of my baby and it did hurt quite a lot. The nurse said “discomfort” but I told her discomfort is what I felt having a sweep done when I was pregnant. And with the coil that was definitely painful.

It wasn’t agony but i am really glad I took a paracetamol just beforehand.

As for the coil itself - it took aa few months to settle and I had a lot of breakthrough bleeding and since then it is a MIRACLE.

I would go through the insertion procedure every day for a week or a month to get the benefit I’ve had for the last 4 years. Basically no periods or just a tiny bit of breakthrough bleeding, minimal PMT. Whereas previously I was flooding - massive pads and still leaking if I didn’t change every few hours it was like a Tarantino movie.

Slightly scared about having it switched over as coming up to 5 years. Just crossing fingers really!

PercyPhelps · 10/07/2023 21:03

I was so nervous I almost chickened out when I was on the bed all prepped and it was absolutely fine. It’s the same level of discomfort as a smear for me. I had it removed and another inserted last month and that was a bit more uncomfortable but absolutely worth it for 5 years of no periods.

fuckmyuteruslining · 10/07/2023 21:08

I had it during a hysteroscopy. Honestly totally fine. I've had worse smears. Waiting fi4 it to settle with spotting but the period I've had since was a breeze compared to the crime scene the previous month.

BestServedChilled · 10/07/2023 21:08

That’s interesting @PercyPhelps as I don’t normally do much more than wince at a smear test either. Maybe I was still sensitive after having had my baby and that’s why the coil was painful to insert.

The nurse seemed surprised I found it so painful but I had had a really difficult rapid labour and a nasty tear up to my clit (sob) and the area that was stitched is sometimes still too tender to touch nearly 5 years on.

i am a big Mirena fan though and I am forever in debt to the nurse who persuaded me to give it a try because for years I’d been having dreadful periods and just put up with it

Whylurkwhenicanjoinin · 10/07/2023 21:10

Ive not had kids and must admit it made me yelp a bit to the extent i didn't have it removed for 10 years coz im a wimp, I yelped a bit when it came out too but honestly, it was so life changing for me id thoroughly recommend it..it was just 5 seconds of swearing like a mofo but i never had another period, happy days

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 10/07/2023 21:22

honestly I was a bit at the nurse who insisted on holding my hand for my last one, granted I was having a biopsy at the same time but I barely felt either that or the mirena.

scraped my leg really badly getting down off the bed and still have a scar from it, that definitely hurt more!

PercyPhelps · 10/07/2023 21:31

Ouch that sounds like a terrible tear @BestServedChilled no wonder you experienced pain. I had been having horrendous periods too and I’m so glad I gave it a go. Remember having to try and plan holidays, trips out and weekends away to avoid being anywhere but at home for the flooding and pain? All a distant memory!

Suzysuz · 10/07/2023 21:38

I found it mildly painful - but bearable and I'd taken some ootc cocodemol beforehand so was in system (of which I had lots from regular very painful periods), and I did lots of deep breathing during it all.
The measuring bit of the uterus was a bit uncomfortable and fiddly plus my cervix was a bit slippery apparently (had it fit while on period which was recommended to me) so there felt a fair bit of faffing but I'm so glad I had it done! No periods, no heavy bleeds, no pain anymore! And I'll be using it as part of peri/menopause hormones.
I felt a bit faint afterwards, but they kept me laid down until were happy with my blood pressure.

QuillBill · 10/07/2023 21:39

I'm having mine changed this week. It hasn't been a scrap of bother and my periods stopped completely.

I can remember not particularly enjoying getting it put in but it's a means to an end and I certainly can't remember being in pain. Uncomfortable would be a better word.

Orangesandlemons24 · 10/07/2023 21:44

I had my first one a few weeks ago and was also nervous but didn't feel a thing. They had a numbing spray but there's also a numbing cream and an injection option (I went for the spray)

Philosopherstone · 10/07/2023 21:47

Hi op I had my first mirena put in 1 week ago. I had the mildest cramp when they put the measuring device in which last 2 seconds. Then coil was put in straight after and didn't feel a thing. Pain free for me.

DrCharlotteKing · 10/07/2023 21:50

I was so scared after reading about people fainting and being sick too, I nearly didn't go through with it.
I was totally fine, a bit uncomfortable but not painful. I took paracetamol about an hour before I went too.

My periods stopped after a couple of months completely, haven't had any issues with it. I had it inserted because I was bleeding every day on the pill so it was a big relief for me that the bleeding stopped.

Due to have it removed and can't say I'm looking forward to that!!

BunnyBettChetwynd · 10/07/2023 21:57

Someone told me to take two paracetamol and have a very strong cup of coffee before I had it inserted and I would say it was no worse than bad period pain but it only lasted seconds. Then no worries for years. Definitely worth a few seconds of discomfort for. I've had more painful waxing.

BunnyBettChetwynd · 10/07/2023 21:57

Due to have it removed and can't say I'm looking forward to that!!

I barely felt the removal.

ShiteRider · 10/07/2023 22:00

I had one put in under GA, it was horrendous while it was in and excruciating to have it removed.

While it was in I got depressed, put on weight, felt physically unwell, lost any sex drive. Would never, ever have another one.

coolpineapple1 · 10/07/2023 22:21

Had one put in 2 months ago, I was so worried about a painful insertion. It was absolutely fine, uncomfortable for about 10 seconds then nothing, I even asked the dr had she actually done it as was expecting so much worse. I've had bleeding on and off but not heavy so hoping it will stop completely soon.

whiteroseredrose · 10/07/2023 23:42

I'm on my 3rd and never had any pain. Up and out straight after.

LadyKX · 10/07/2023 23:49

I had 3 different people (unsuccessfully) attempt to insert one, it took over an hour and was bloody painful.
They wanted me to go back for another go. I declined.

Lavender14 · 10/07/2023 23:49

I had mine before I had ds, it's meant to be a bit nippier if you haven't had kids and easier if you have. They recommend getting it done on your period.

It was all very smear test and then there was a couple of seconds of quite sharp pain. It doesn't last long at all so it's not the worst in the world but it made me feel very dizzy and I blacked out for a few moments. The doctor said some women just react that way when the cervix is being worked at. I had driven myself over and then needed to wait for an hour in Starbucks before I could drive myself home so I'd suggest getting a lift from someone if you can just incase.

I had a pretty grim experience with it all round tbh, it took about a year and a half for the pain to settle and I still got heavy periods. Truthfully the only reason I kept it so long was because I was scared of getting it removed after the insertion. But that was absolutely painless and done in no time. So if it doesn't agree with you then just know that removal is much much easier!

Wishihadanalgorithm · 10/07/2023 23:59

It was incredibly painful to be fitted and I was in real pain for several weeks after. Even after 12 months I get the occasional twinge. However, my smear test a few weeks earlier had killed and these had never been a problem so I think I suffered because I’m in peri.

I don’t have periods or period pain now though so for that it was good I have the mirena for HRT. I am not in a rush to ever have it removed.

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 10/07/2023 23:59

I had two. Insertion no problem. I had it put in at a clinic, they can give you an injection to numb cervix. Some cramps after but definitely not as bad as period cramps. Fairly quick, not traumatic. Having it out also easy, doctor pulled the strings and there was a weird pulling feeling but no pain whatsoever and it was out within seconds.

Having it in for a bit was great. No periods, no thinking about contraception. However, progesterone only birth control just doesn't agree with me and I got problems. I ballooned in weight, particularly water retention. I also got a cervical ectropion and the strings irritated it so bad even walking or a bowel movement would result in pain, cramping and bleeding. It also made me anxious and my sex drive took a nose dive.

After having it out, I lost 5kg in water weight almost immediately and another 5kg within a couple months without trying. Suddenly lots of things that made me anxious didn't any more, my eczema disappeared, my acne cleared up, I had a sex drive again! Most of these the doctor would have insisted had nothing to do with the coil, some of what was affected I didn't even notice until I felt the difference after removal.

If it had agreed with me, would have been wonderful though. For many it is. Just don't be put off having it removed if the doctors tell you it isn't causing the side effects you experience.

Kyliealwayshadthebestdisco · 11/07/2023 00:20

Mine felt like a smear test basically which for me is no big deal just slightly uncomfortable. I had it put in for pelvic pain from endometriosis. I did have constant heavy bleeding for months afterwards and was about to ask for it to be removed when it all finally settled down and I’ve had no bleeding or pain at all since which is great.

notquitesoyoung · 11/07/2023 02:37

I'm on my 4th and was told this one can stay in longer than the usual 5 years to see me through menopause. It's definitely worse when you are 5 years in and need removal plus new - I did almost faint then. It's not guaranteed that it can be done at the same time. For me it's been a great option, appreciate like most forms of contraceptive that it's not for everyone though.

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