Has the Mirena coil given you side effects?

[hellosailor]

Advice and feedback sought..

I'm thinking of having a coil fitted but am loathe to have the copper coil as I know it can make periods heavier and more painful and mine are just terrible already!

But having been on the pill for years when I was younger (microgynon) and felt horrible mood swings / depression / pretty darn mental a lot of the time plus weight gain, I'm also loathe to try anything with hormones. The GP said that because the hormones are localised with the Mirena, it doesn't effect women in the same way as the pill and the chances of hormone related side effects are extremely small but have had a quick google and some women do seem to find it makes them feel dreadfully hormonal and down, big weight gain too.

What are people's experiences with the Mirena coil? Do PM me if you don't fancy replying on this thread, thanks!

[ludoscotts]

Hi I had it fitted after having my son, I bled constantly for 6 months then nothing so once the periods had stopped in that respect it was great but as time went on I noticed that although I didn't have a period I could tell when I should have been due as my hormones would go crazy. I was snappy,shouting at the kids for the smallest things I had no tolerance with anything, my husband and I argued about everything for a few days then it would go again. All stopped as soon as I had it taken out.

[Saffron]

I had a coper coil (IUD) before and after my pregnancy. I had changed from the combined oral contraceptive to the copper coil to ditch the hormones because they were giving me symptoms of interstitial cystitis.

It worked. My periods were a bit longer, but the constant urinary symptoms dissappeared. I only got premenstrual urinary symptoms a few days before my period, linked to natural hormone changes.

When my last IUD expired, I switched this January to the Mirena (IUS) to stop my periods, because I'm having a complex problem with low iron exacerbating a rare clotting disorder.

I was bleeding lighly off/on for about 5 months. Now, I have cyclical spotting only. I'm waiting for my next round of routine bloodwork to decide if I want to keep the Mirena. Not only has it brought back urinary symptoms, my mood has absolutely plummeted to nearly PND levels. I'm only coping because I know it's caused by the hormones, and I'm pushing myself mentally to fight it.

My piece of advice would be, in hindsight, that if you are concerned about mood changes, you need to take a clinical questionnaire for anxiety and depression BEFORE you start the Mirena, so you know where your baseline was. Then retake it at intervals to check if the Mirena could be altering your mood.

Also, you could consider having the copper IUD and combine with NuvaRing to mitigate heavy cycles if they become a problem. xx

[Lochie]

Hello, I had the Mirena coil for about 3 years and my perception at the time is that it was a marvel. Literally no periods. So easy as you don't need to do anything you can just live your life and not worry about getting pregnant! I would echo ludoscott in that I had monthly 'PMT' mood symptoms (without the bleeding) - but then I have them anyway. Despite that I felt it was such an amazing contraception in terms of no periods/no daily worry about forgetting to take pill, that it was worth it. The only downside I would say is that it lowered my libido quite a lot - I find it annoying when doctors say that the hormones won't affect you as they are 'localised' because everyone is different and has different thresholds of sensitivity to hormones. With that in mind I would say there is no way to predict really how you will react to a contraception as we are all unique and as I said, have different sensitivities to hormones (I suffered from severe PND after my first child and am very nervous of taking anything hormonal as I know hormones affect my mood big time - but the Mirena wasn't a problem in that regard for me, though with my history of PND it could have been).

I've just spent the last 6 months on the minipill which was horrific in comparison to the Mirena, so I would consider getting the Mirena again.

If you do get it fitted then take some pain killers before hand (pain is completely manageable but pain killers help).

Good luck whatever you decide (I'm completely fed up with contraceptive choices at the moment - I'm giving my body a 'break' from all hormones) - and remember you can always have the mirena taken out if it doesn't work for you!

[hellosailor]

I really appreciate these replies and the PMs, it's tricky cos everyone has such different things to say about it! I guess the only way to know for sure is to try it and have it removed if it's problematic. Hate the idea of hormones altering my mood but love the idea of no periods?.tho lots of people say they bled for a few months which is also tedious!

I'm going to mull it over for a few days and then make my decision??thanks everyone!

xx

[Oxalis]

There another coil now called "jaydess". It releases about 2/3 the dose of progesterone compared to the mirena coil and lasts for three years.

http://patient.info/doctor/intrauterine-system-pro

[hellosailor]

Thanks! Will look at that now

[ifnobodyspeaks]

I had horrid mood disturbance on microgynon, was a bit worried about mirena but have been fine from a mood point of view. Was hoping it would also sort out my very heavy periods, if I'm honest I'm not sure it's done much. I still bleed very heavily for 2 days unfortunately. Not everyone is lucky enough to have no periods sadly!

[treehugger]

It may sound dramatic but the Mirena coil really transformed my life. After two children my periods became so heavy that it was causing me great difficulties. The coil stopped the bleeding, apart from a very light two day period (one small lillet a day). No major hormonal problems, but then I hadn't any beforehand, so can't be helpful on that front. Also no weight gain. However, it is painful to have put in - make sure you take painkillers and be prepared to spend the rest of the day in bed (like heavy period pain). All totally worth it, in my opinion.

[Growlybear]

I had a Mirena coil for about 8 years and at the time I thought it was wonderful. But I'm now aware of the research linking the coil to an increased risk of breast cancer and would never have had a Mirena if I had known at the time. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, my breast surgeon was very concerned that I had been using the coil and felt that it was a contributory factor. I always felt well when I had my Mirena, I didn't put on weight, and I didn't have a period for years, but I wish I could put back the clock and have been sterilised instead.

[Sazzle30]

I used to use mycrogynin as it was the only one my GP would prescribe and suffered bad side effects.

The GP retired and I went to the family planning clinic, they prescribed Yasmin a new generation pill and it changed my life. No side effects amazing.

The FP GP said many GPs won't prescribe it as it's the most expensive pill (mycrogynin is the cheapest as it's very old), however I now buy it online via Superdrug.com - ?50 for 6 months worth and they deliver to your door next day. They sell all sorts of pills on there besides other pharmacy goods.

I don't mind spending the money for the convenience and having the best pill I've ever been on.

[Grotty]

I have had the copper IUD for 10 years. Previously I had medium bleeding for 5 days - since getting the coil I have heavy painful periods for 2 days. I also hated the pill and am very sensitive to hormones so wanted to avoid the mirena. Just to say that I have many friends on both types of coil and everyone seems to have different experiences. Whichever one you choose there does tend to be 6 months where everything is rubbish - heavy long bleeding but it usually settles down. Maybe try the copper one first to see if its tolerable for you if you want to avoid any hormones?

[sanity girl]

I've had the mirena coil for just over a year now, to manage very heavy periods. I was previously on the pill (loestrin 30) for this, but it stopped being effective. The mirena has been amazing for me - I haven't had any bleeding at all since I had it fitted. I did have some hair loss and a little weight gain especially around my middle, but the hair loss has slowed down and a year on some of the weight has dropped off a bit. I still notice some moodiness and bloating at certain times of the month, but not having a period at all has been miraculous as they were so debilitating before. I am prepared to put up with the side effects for that result.

[Emski]

I've had Mirena coil for around 18 months. Love it! By far easier than remembering pills I've also had minimal periods and less PMT. Only Downside was spotting/bleeding for the first month. Recommend!

[missyelliott]

Mine fell out! not so good. Feel so much better now it has been removed. It was ok at first but then my pains were awful and prolonged every month