Positive experiences of Mirena Coil?

[blondie87]

Good morning,

I’m due to have a mirena coil fitted next month but I have some reservations. I’m having it fitted primarily for heavy-ish periods with the added benefit of contraception.

My main concerns are potential side effects, particularly acne and bloating but also potential impact on mood and libido, which I’ve heard can affect some users. I made the mistake of reading some horror stories online, but I suppose people are more inclined to share negative experiences.
I’d be interested to hear positive experiences of the mirena but also if people have experienced the above side effects I’ve talked about. Also, on average, how long did it take for people to see a reduction in bleeding or cessation of periods, if they did?
Thanks!

I’m on my fourth and haven’t had a period for 15 years. Saved me a fortune on tampons.

No side affects - least i feel no different emotionally than before (might even say i feel better). Intermittent sore boobs and light bleeding for the first few months. Now I've no bleeding at all. Being able to leave the house without stressing I'll need to get to a loo every hour or I'll bleed out on my clothes is. the best thing ever.

My only regret is not getting it years ago. But that's another story involving a shite GP.

I’ve had one for 4 years and had no issues whatsoever.

Having it fitted wasn’t painful, just a brief cramp as it went in. My periods got lighter very quickly and stopped altogether within about 6 months. No acne/bloating. Hard to say about mood because I was a hormonal wreck going through perimenopause anyway! Once I got the balance right with the oestrogel things calmed down.

I had it for extremely heavy, painful and flooding periods, some days I finished a packet of maxi in a day. My gynaecologist insisted on it and since I was having surgery I got it under general anaesthetia.

It took nine months for it to settle for me. But once it did, it made my life so easy. I always had regular period on it but they were mostly medium to light and were painless. No cramping.

It also gave me a sense of calm. I stopped getting raging pms. I did get occasional spotting in first 2 years but I used natural progesterone cream and it sorted it in 24 hours.

I was in perimenopause, had hormonal issues, PCOS and adenomyosis. If you don't have issues to this order then it might stop your periods altogether.

I am in menopause now. The only regret I had with Mirena was that I didn't get it sooner. I could have saved myself from years of misery.

I had one for about 8 months for heavy bleeding and HRT. It calmed the flooding but I had bleeding after sex and felt like was on the verge of period all the time.

I didn’t get migraines worse than normal, which has been my issue with all other progesterone contraception, but after having it removed realised my mood had been flat and libido low.

Now it's out (gynae recommended to try before hysterectomy) my bleeding is worse but I feel better, other than hormonal migraines and awful periods. Wouldn't have it back again though.

It’s wonderful. Has made me realise what a burden women have with periods.

it did take about 6 months to settle ( bleeding, very tired) but very glad I kept going with it.

I’m on my 3rd and unless trying for a baby I’ll be having them forever! Very few, if any side effects for me and took me from almost constant heavy, uncontrolled periods to none at all within 6 months. It’s not an understatement to say I got my life back.

There are a couple of things to be aware of:

Fitting is pretty straightforward with a couple of paracetamol. Removal is less so, and has got a bit more painful for me each time, with about a day or two of soreness afterwards. But as above I wouldn’t be without it

They can move, and give you some alarming symptoms like unexpected bleeding or soreness. A trip to the GP and referred for a scan = removed and replaced 2 weeks later.

A friend mentioned she occasionally feels like she gets a “super PMS” every 3/4 months, rather than monthly. That said, I get nothing and was someone who didn’t really get much before so might not be a problem for everyone.

Mine has been amazing. Hormonal dose is much lower than tablets and much more local effect so far fewer side effects than tablets. I have had none.

I loved it. I had them from 44 to 55. I had no periods and the menopause passed me by with no symptoms.

I had them from 35 to 54 and just one day of very light spotting each month during that time. Hard recommend.

It changed my life!
previously my periods were awful, a super plus tampax would only last an hour, awful pain and terrible PMT every month.
I can’t remember how long it took to stop having any bleeding but it definitely wasn’t long. I haven’t had any bleeding for about 20 years!
Insertion was a bit uncomfortable but easily bearable, removal was fine but the one I have in currently has disappeared somewhere so I’m waiting for a gynaecology appointment to remove it😬
I am 60 now so won’t have another one but it massively improved my life for years.

Wow thank you so much for all your responses. Much appreciated.

Bloody love mine. On my second now having had my first one put in after DS was born. Uncomfortable rather than painful to have fitted, no side effects, and best of all, no periods for the last ten years!

Now I’m on HRT it means I can just have estrogen patches as the coil gives me progesterone.

Ive had various types of contraceptive pill over the years, and was on Depo for a while - this is hands down the best contraceptive I’ve tried.

I’ve had two (or possibly three) and had zero issues. I think periods disappeared within six months. Insertion/removal was uncomfortable but not painful although I understand this isn’t the case for everyone. I would say similar to a smear test.

Absolutely loved the fact I didn’t have periods, although they weren’t heavy or anything like that. Had mine taken out to TTC and fertility returned to normal very quickly as I was pregnant within three months. Will be looking to get another one once baby is here as not planning a second.

Have had no side effects, apart from spotting constantly for 4 or so months at the beginning, now periods are very light

I’m so glad that the majority of you have had positive experiences!

I am on my third and final Mirena, no periods, the reason I had the Mirena was as my periods were getting really heavy and for contraception. But for me insertion is very painful and has been everytime, I passed out once, that was really embarrassing, my friend has one fitted recently and said she didn’t feel I thing, so for some women it’s fine. I can cope with pain (two babies vaginal births no pain relief not even gas and air) but the insertion is very painful, taking old Mirena out is fine. But worth it not to have periods. Good luck OP, I hope it goes well for you.

I’m on my third. No periods (except sometimes when both my teenagers have their periods it ‘breaks through’ but is very very light) my only side affects were some spots on my cheeks at first but lasted for about 3 weeks until I’m assuming my body got used to the hormones. When I hear my friends moaning about periods or my teens leaking over their sheets I’m so glad I got the coil. Insertion was a bit uncomfortable but nothing I couldn’t cope with!

I've on my third Mirena and never had any issues or side effects. First six months, periods all over the place but since then almost no periods ever, very ocassional spotting after sex.

I try not to tell my friends what they should do but I have to bite my tongue when my friend is complaining about her heavy and painful periods as I feel Mirena is an easy way out.

I found insertion painful and upsetting, but I'm not sure whether that was the doctor or me or the mirena. (I changed GP surgery so I never had to see that Dr again.) Had about a month of spotting and being a bit crampy, and after that no problems. Don't think I had any mood or libido related side effects. Couldn't face having another one put in, and I was really worried about the removal, but it was fine.

On my third. After the second, I had it out because we wanted to get pregnancy and I was within six weeks.

I think it’s great. My (very small) problem now is my DD is on the cusp of getting periods and I am out of touch with good products. And maybe I’ve had menopause. I can’t be sure.