Mirena Coil

[Eagle_1]

Hi, im not seeking medical advice just a little bit of info, thats all :D

If you were thinking about having the mirena coil fitted what questions would you ask your doc ?

Whens the best time to get it fitted ?

Do you go to the family planning clinic or is it just a GP appointment and if its gp appointment do you book a double appointment or anything like that ?

Does it hurt :o

Having painful/heavy periods is now really becoming a problem and last time I seen my GP he mentioned the Mirena coil might be the way forward but didnt go into real details he just said it might be something to think about. im a real wuss so am a bit panicky about whats gonna happen if I get it :o

[suki1964]

best time to have it fitted is at the end of a period, but if like me they dont end or are totally unpredictable - anytime.

Ive had two inserted at the family planning, was given a couple of pain relief pills 20 mins before hand, and one inserted on the day case unit. No pain relief for that - and believe me although that was an awkward removal of the old coil (threads cut too short) and hurt like hell - it was bearable and I was fine to leave after a 10 min rest.

Best thing is to go back to your GP and tell him/her that you would like to go ahead with the mirena and he will organise it. Different gps have different protocols, some are happy to fit them their selves, some refer you to the FPC.

My first ever one was prescribed by my gynaecologist but the health trust wouldnt fund it. I had to go back to my gp, get a prescription, go to Boots to get it and take it back to the gynaecologist for him to fit it:shocked:

Thankfully its now an accepted and approved treatment :)

Im off to get a new one next week as this one hasnt been fitted correctly :( Not looking forward to it but the benefits more then outweigh the discomfort of having one fitted

[brownjasperdog]

Hi there

I had one of these fitted a few months ago at my doctor's surgery. I had ibuprofen beforehand and it didn't hurt much at all. I was having heavy periods and have all but stopped since. The strings are a bit weird at first but it doesn't take long to get used to them! The only real annoyance I've had is that until I had children I always had oily, spotty skin and then it went dry and much clearer. Since the coil was inserted my skin has been awful again...damn! I didn't go through all the pain of childbirth to have the benefits taken away from me again!!!

[mini_huny_money]

am thinking about getting one fitted.....what do you mean about the strings???? are they visible??? feelable during ... sex???....or is it like tampons

does it affect your mood, will I feel like climbing and rollerskalting down mountains ?????

[JennyW]

I had one fitted 3 months ago.

I had endometriosis and had surgery to remove it. My consultant said that whilst i was under, he would insert a Mirena Coil and went through it all with me. Although I'm not a big sufferer of heavy periods, he said that I would benefit from it, ie light or no periods, no pain etc.

Anyway for the first 3 months you will have terrible spotting, sometimes every day, you may get a show of a period but that's it. After 6 weeks you go to the nurse to get checked out (that it's in the same position).

Apparently it can take up to 6 months for the mirena to settle. However the only thing I'm not happy about is that I dont seem to get my periods now - but that's expected. Apprently there is a high % of women who stop getting periods, you just get some slight cramping. However I feel a bit odd that I'm not getting a regular period so for that reason I'm considering having my removed. Not that the mirena is causing me any problems, but
psychologically it feels odd to me not to have a period

As for the strings - no you don't see them or feel them, they are very high up in the uterus - they are just there so that the mirena can be removed.

Mirena have quite an informed website if you want to check it out.

Oh and it's a great contraception too - giving up to 5 years protection. The hormone release is confined to the uterus which prevents hormone spread throughout the body (apparently)

Here is the site, you'll find loads of info:
www.mirena-us.com (http://www.mirena-us.com)

[tobyjug]

I have had one for 3 and a half years.Purely for contraception, I had been on the pill for a long time and didn't want to go down the whole sterilisation route.

They put it in straight after your period to make sure that you are not pregnant or you have to "obstain" until you have it put it.

My GP runs a specialist family planning appointment session but other GP surgeries just have a specific Gp who will fit them in their normal surgery times.

Yes it is uncomfortable and feels very pushing and nipping but it is soon over and after childbirth doesn't really feel like much of a big deal.

I bled erratically and at times heavily for the first 3 months and then it stops and for me I don't think I had a period for about 4 or 5 months.

Now I have a small day of bleeding every couple of months but the downside is that there is no sequence to this.

But I would prefer that to anything else.

I would not be without it. no mood swings, my skin is ok and I think I am definately calmer now than without it. I have recommended it to my friends and a couple have gone on to have it and they haven't had any problems.

[missjennipenni]

I had a Mirena coil fitted 4 months ago. I am currently 13 weeks pregnant :eek:

[JoeyEmma]

I had one fitted at the start of the year. Had been on depo provera (another progesterone only contraception) so thought I would be fine with Mirena.

I had no problems with spots, weight gain, cramping etc from it. I became very anxious and panicky at times, having trouble sleeping, snapping at my other half. He spent some time looking up Mirena on the net and suggested that my mood problems might be due to it. I had it taken out about a week after and have found my anxiety etc has gone back to normal

[alanalea]

I had one fitted last February, so it's been in for 20 months. My first one came out after 6 weeks, so I had a second fitted. I chose to have a coil because I couldn't tolerate the pill- It gave me depression. (The amount of progesterone that the Mirena emits over a month is about the same as 4 days worth of pills)

I haven't had many problems with the Mirena, I put on quite a bit of weight with it. My periods have become very irregular and very very light- only bleeding for a couple of hours every few months which is great.

My hubby can't feel the strings during nookie :D

[suki1964]

My hubby can't feel the strings during nookie :D

Mine can :D:D

Which is why im having it removed and a new one inserted with the threads cut VERY high

[Eagle_1]

Thanks very much for your helpful replies, I think its time to make a further appointment and see about getting one fitted.

Thanks again for the info :D

I had a Mirena coil fitted 4 months ago. I am currently 13 weeks pregnant
Oh dear :eek:

[Sagaris]

I'm currently on my second one - would recommend it to anyone!
No periods, no spots, no mood swings, no cramping - I've put on a little bit of weight but that could be down to my much improved domestic circumstances! Neither of us can feel the strings, I wouldn't know it was there at all.
Mine was fitted at the local family planning clinic, my GP had problems with it, can honestly say that the removal of the old one was uncomfortable (I'm a real baby and was expecting agony!) but inserting the second one was so easy I didn't realise the doctor had inserted it until she was removing her rubber gloves! I took a couple of ibuprofen before hand which may have helped too.
Give it a try - you have nothing to lose.

[keelykat]

Hey, my doctor suggested i have a coil fitted-as i had to come of the pill because of high blood pressure and ive had problems with condoms as im allegic to latex.

I wasnt keen at all to be honest, esp as i havent had any children yet and some people have told me they dont usually recomend a coil untill youve had a baby? But apart from that i simply couldnt face having it put in-im a bit of a wimp lol!

Since then ive found durex avanti condoms have been fine, and my blood pressure is normal now (on low dose of meds to help with that) and have been told i can go back on the pill now if i want..... only thing is theres no point now as were trying for a baby after xmas!

I might consider getting one fitted after having a baby though-will have to see how i feel i guess.

keely.

[missjennipenni]

Thanks very much for your helpful replies, I think its time to make a further appointment and see about getting one fitted.

Thanks again for the info :D


Oh dear :eek:

Ive come to terms with it now, and i am quite happy (finally lol)

[arkonite_babe]

Anyone having problems while a mirena is fitted?
I've been back and forwards to gynae with abdominal pain. I'm now waiting for another check up where I may have to have the mirena removed. To be honest, I'm gutted and would really like to find that my pain is being caused by something else. :(

If I do get my mirena removed, I was investigating the possibility of having implanon fitted instead. How does it compare to mirena? Is it as effective and does anyone have any recommendations for where I can read up on recent implanon advice? All the articles I can find on line are more than 2 years old.

TIA :)

[missjennipenni]

Anyone having problems while a mirena is fitted?
I've been back and forwards to gynae with abdominal pain. I'm now waiting for another check up where I may have to have the mirena removed. To be honest, I'm gutted and would really like to find that my pain is being caused by something else. :(

If I do get my mirena removed, I was investigating the possibility of having implanon fitted instead. How does it compare to mirena? Is it as effective and does anyone have any recommendations for where I can read up on recent implanon advice? All the articles I can find on line are more than 2 years old.

TIA :)

My 1st mirena was pain free, i didnt feel it at ll. My 2nd one caused me a lot of pain like you have described, it had fallen out of place and was situated in my cervix (hence why i fell pregnant). I even got a Dr to check for me, but she said it was fine!!

[Eagle_1]

Ive come to terms with it now, and i am quite happy (finally lol)


Thats good, I was sat here thinking "oh heckers", didnt wanna get into debate with you because I wasnt sure how you felt about it.

[arkonite_babe]

I have had an internal scan :eek: and been checked by my GP and gynae who both say it's fine :confused:

I really like the way I have no period on mirena and my PMT has disappeared completely as well, that's why despite the pain, I'm reluctant to get it taken out. I really don't know what will happen. Gynae say that if the pain goes when the mirena is out then that's the cause, if not then they will start investigating to see if I have endometriosis.

[Essex-girl]

Ive had mine nearly a year now - brilliant.

Best bit of advice I had was that it is much better to have it fitted by someone who does it reguarly - rather than maybe a GP who only does one every now and then.

I did find it uncomfortable to have it fitted and I bled a lot at the time the doctor advised the nurse he was training that that does happen but its not usual. Only light bleeding now once a month.

[samanthag]

hi all
im having the mirena coil fitted tomorrow at the local family planning clinic.
it will be my fourth day of my period but i have really heavy periods will that still be ok.
i cant wait to have it fitted as i suffer terribly with pmt and really heavy periods so im hoping that it is going to help me
any other advice is gratefully recieved
sammy

[suki1964]

Take some pain killers before you go and believe it or not drink coffee -apparently it works as a natural pain relief.

Im getting mine done tomorrow as well and basically Ive planned to have an easy afternoon as i know i will be getting some cramping going on for the rest of the day.Also have some pain killers to hand as I know for the first few days the cramps can be harsh - think heavy period pain.

Good luck for tomorrow and remember it can take 3 months before you notice any improvement and it can seem at first things are worse but stick with it and things do settle down

[mum2one]

I had mine fitted 3 years ago, its been an absolute god send, after having my daughter my periods went !!!! eyed, the last time I was on was 6 months solid, costing me a fortune, but obviuosly intrusive on my life, I had all the tablets from my gp, inc metroformin ( diabetic tablet, but also reduces blood flow), my gp and the nurse fitted it at my gp surgery, I was flooding when it was fitted, stopped bleeding after couple of days, had no pain relief, it was just a little ache, but would say its on par with a smear.

In 3 years, ive had 2 days of bleeding, which I used towels, after a precancerous scare and surgery in 2000, I was advised not to use tampons.

Ive had sex since with 2 partners, and neither of them have mentioned the strings,

From a contrecatption view, they are not as reliable, if you are like me built for comfort not speed (Im overweight), but that is a question I would ask.

Good luck x