Mirena Replaced - 3 weeks bleeding since.

[Luluelle]

I have been trying to find out if it’s normal to be bleeding for 3 weeks after a Mirena has been replaced. I would appreciate it if anyone would share if they have had a similar experience as I’m starting to worry something is wrong.

I am early forties and had my first one 5 years ago (it took 9 months to fully settle). It then literally changed my life for the better and avoided a hysterectomy due to adenomyosis and heavy uncontrolled periods that were affecting my daily life. After the settling period, I just had a regular monthly, v.very light period/spotting lasting 5 days on average.

I had a new one fitted at the 5 year mark as I’d noticed the last few cycles were getting quite a bit heavier again so I thought that was a sign to have it replaced.

Since I had the new one put in (on the first day of my cycle 3 weeks ago), I’ve literally spotted or bled like a light period every day since. The constant bleeding and period like cramps are starting to get me down and make me feel depressed as I wasn’t expecting this considering it was a replacement and my cycles had been regular for the previous 4 years +. I’m due my actual period again next week and not sure I’ll even be able tell when I get it as the bleeding I’ve had every day so far is similar to a light period.

Wondering if I should go to the GP or if this is normal with a replacement coil and it needs more time to settle?

Any advice most welcome :)

As it’s not your first coil I think you’d be right to ask the GP, but it’s not something I’d worry about.
I had some heavy bleeding once and a scan showed that it was in the wrong place.

Thanks, I managed to get an appointment this morning with the GP, they have referred me for a scan to see if it’s in the correct position.

May not be relevant given you've now seen a GP, but in case it helps I had my 3rd Mirena fitted a year ago and spotted/lightly bled literally every day for 2 months. Didnt happen with my first 2 mirenas! and then it just stopped and everything's been completely normal since then. I'd have been worried but I had a friend who had had exactly the same experience, and it was light enough not to make me think there was anything about placement causing the bleeding. So I think it was just a hormonal adjustment (and I wondered if the difference from previous 2 mirenas was that I'd had children in between, but no idea if that was actually why it happened)

Thank you for sharing your experience of something similar happening to you. It is reassuring to know it could be normal as there is not much info on the net about a replacement coil with ongoing bleeding. I saw the GP earlier and they have arranged an urgent scan to check the positioning of it. If that shows it is ok, they said that while uncommon with a replacement coil, the bleeding could just be normal for me while it settles again.

I thought I’d come back in update as it may help others in the future, the ultrasound scan showed the Mirena is positioned too low :( The results will go back to the GP and then I guess will need to be removed and replaced. Dreading the same happening again.

I went for a hysteroscopy and it was in the right place when they got in there, or perhaps the probe pushed it back up, who knows!

Thanks for sharing. If I need that procedure, I would only want it done under GA as I’ve got some trauma from having a polyp removed that was an horrendous experience before. I can’t bear the thought of something so invasive or painful going on again.

I built up the courage to have the replacement Mirena at my GP’s instead of at the hospital like last time and wish I had asked for it done at the hospital now in retrospect.

I suspect the fact I have adenomyosis makes fitting it trickier. The nurse told me they can only fit them at the surgery if your womb is up to 9cm. She measured mine as 8cm during the fitting but they told me during the scan yesterday that it’s actually 10cm (it was measured as 11cm when I had my last one fitted so). I had been surprised when the nurse said it was only 8 cm and thought it was a bit strange. It now seems that wasn’t the correct measurement. Nightmare!