Think I need my Mirena out - mini pill? I need help with a plan!

[IHeartKingThistle]

This may be long! OK so:

I'm 44. Was on the pill forever apart from when I had the DC (now teenagers). Periods after both DC were heavy and painful.

Last year doctor told me I was too old to be on the combined pill and that the Mirena was a good choice.

I had it put in in May. It was horrendous going in and I felt like I was in labour for the first few days. They told me to give it 6 months.

Since it's been in I have crippling pain around the time I ovulate, lasting days. It took ages to figure out it was ovary pain but it definitely is. Feels like a hot poker, awful.

Since it's been in I also have a lot of joint pain and waves of horrible anxiety.

Saw the doc today who said I can have it out whenever and has referred me for an ultrasound to check where the coil is and to check my ovaries.

I said I was worried about having it out without a plan - if it's ovulation pain I'll probably still get it and then I'll also have period pain. She wants me to go on the mini pill which is progesterone only. I'm worried I'll still ovulate on that and that the anxiety won't go.

I'm going round the houses trying to figure out what's going on. Ovarian cysts, endometriosis, peri menopause? I just feel like everything was controlled when I was on the pill and now it's a bit of a mess.

Anyone had similar? Can anyone tell me about the mini pill? I need advice before I agree to anything! Thanks if you got this far!

Any ideas?!

One last bump...

Sorry I don’t have any words of advice, but saw your unanswered thread.

I have the mirena, for hrt, I use Oestrogel along side. Would it be worth trying some oestrogen (patch/ gel) in case that helps balance out the progesterone from the coil? There is no risk of blood clots with hrt absorbed through the skin.

I’m 45 and have been on the mini pill for last 3-years to deal with horrible pain and heavy periods caused by endometriosis and adenomyosis. For the first six months or so I had very light periods and now I get the occasional couple of days of spotting maybe every three months. Hormonal spots and anxiety improved very quickly and most importantly no more crippling period pain. I did put on weight, but this did coincide with lockdown when I was probably less active and eating more junk.

Like you I’d taken the combined pill for years before and between kids without problem. I was offered the mirena coil when I talked to the doctor about the pain I was experiencing, but hated the idea of it being inside me. GP also referred me for blood tests and scans with gynaecology.

Patch is a great idea, thank you. Ooh this could be promising then. Thanks so much both of you!

The desogestrel mini pill can stop ovulation in a lot of women.

Are you overweight, do you smoke or do you have high blood pressure? If you don't have these risk factors then you can stay on the combined pill until age 50

Was there a reason other than age to stop the combined pill? Being 44 isn’t a reason on its own to stop it. If you’re a healthy BMI with normal blood pressure and haven’t smoked/vaped in the last 12 months, or have migraine auras etc, then age alone is not a reason to stop it. Combined pill can be safely taken up to age 50 if there are no health reasons not to. If the GP isn’t happy to prescribe it I would contact your local sexual health clinic.

This is interesting! Not overweight, not a smoker, no migraines, blood pressure fine.

I went in last year for heart palpitations that turned out to be nothing and the doctor was horrified that I was still on it 'at my age' - 'don't you know you could have a blood clot?' She was very young but she was good so I just assumed that was the current advice!

I could have had another 6 years?!

Obv I don’t know your personal medical history but yes, with no contraindications combined contraception (pill, patch, ring) can be used up to 50. It’s very outdated to tell people under 50 to stop based on age alone if they’re otherwise healthy. If you want to stay on it then I would go to a local sexual health clinic for a discussion!

https://patient.info/doctor/contraception-from-40-to-the-menopause-pro

I'd ask for a 2nd opinion if you don't have any of the risk factors