Mirena coil - advice please!

[Jellylegs007]

Hi there, having just had two babies quite close together I definitely don't want to get pregnant for at least a couple of years. I've heard that the mirena coil is a good bet - doesn't lead to mood swings and lessens period pains. Has anyone got any comments - good or bad! - on experiences with mirena? I don't like the pill as get very moody on it (also been advised not to take it due to history of breast cancer in my family).. So mirena coil seems like obvious choice but want to be sure of any pitfalls before I get it fitted!

Thanks in advance :-)

[Beatrixpotty]

I had a Mirena years ago before having children,and now I have had 3,I'll be having another one.Good points:don't notice it is there,v light or no periods(think pantyliner a not tampons or pads).No hormonal side effects(hormones in Mirena are about 1/4 dose of mini pill).Can be removed quickly by GP and fertility returns to normal.
Bad points;pain when fitted,like bad period pain lasting a few weeks sometimes.Can get light spotting for up to 6 months(they will say 3 months but it really can be 6).
I think overall it is a great choice for you if you have had a couple and want to space things out a bit and don't mind the idea of having it fitted.

[Jellylegs007]

Thanks that's really useful. Good to know that it didnt affect your fertility too! I've been reading horror stories about where it gets lost in your womb etc but assuming in the vast majority of cases it's ok... Cheers!

[BigBoobiedBertha]

There have been a lot of threads on the Mirena on here. Not everybody would agree that it doesn't have any hormonal impact or cause mood swings/weight gain/non-stop bleeding. It is worth a search for the threads because they do show both sides to the story.

Some people just don't handle them very well and have to have them removed.

That said I was OK with mine although I am not convinced it didn't have a role to play in weight gain. I was over eating but at the same time, when I cut down I didn't lose weight until I had it removed.

On the plus side it is very easy to fit and didn't hurt for more than a moment or 2. Changing it was less pleasant - apparently when you remove one (which was so easy I didn't even notice she had done it), your cervix can snap shut, making it very difficult to get another back in. They sprayed my cervix with asthma inhaler of all things, to get it to dilate again. Even then that was unpleasant. That could be avoided if you had one taken out and another put in on different days.

I agree the plus side was for me non-existent periods. They stopped almost immediately, bar a couple of days spotting for a couple of months which returned when it was getting to the end of its life.

[BigBoobiedBertha]

This thread is the biggie on Mirenas

It is a bit doom and gloom but that doesn't mean any of the problems will affect you. Problem is that you don't know until you try it.

[leeanne6385]

i got mirena fitted 2 weeks ago and i cant feel the wire strings is this normal ?? also i bit worried if u jump up n down n bend etc can it dislodge coil make it fall out or move it ?? iv 4 kids 3 under 5 and i so scared to fall preg again

[BigBoobiedBertha]

Do you not have a month or six week post fitting check up booked leeanne? I had to have one but I don't know if they are standard practice. They should be able to reassure you about whether or it is still there then but if you really think it might have fallen out you could go sooner I am sure. They do very occasionally drop out but from what I have heard, you know about it as it isn't very comfortable whilst it is working its way out.

I doubt very much you can dislodge it if it is fitted properly, at least not by jumping or bending. It is so small that I doubt those kinds of movement would have any impact on it.

[Jellylegs007]

Thanks for the link BigBoobs it's pretty scary reading but good to know. I think I might still try it out but be vigilant about looking out for those symptoms.. Just can't think of a better alternative contraception and definitely not ready for number three just yet!

[BigBoobiedBertha]

I would give it a go because when it works well and suits you it is brilliant and most people don't have any problems. For peace of mind without any effort (like remember to take pills, have enough condoms etc) it can't be beaten really.

I was just putting the other point of view because a lot of doctors don't acknowledge that it isn't ideal for everybody and that despite the low dosage of hormones people can and do have side effects.

In the end, if it doesn't agree with you, it is very easy to just take it out so I think you have made the right decision.

[Sophiathesnowfairy]

I think everyone responds to it differently I had mine put it at the end of Jan and have been bleeding ever since, not spotting actual bleeding. The nurse offered to take it out last week and I said no be ause I thought I would at least try till the 3 month mark but I don't think it will stop tbh.

I am miserable because of the bleeding but don't think it has given me mood swings. I am trying to loose my baby weight and am loosing 1 or 2 lbs a week which isn't too bad.

I just wish GPs could be honest about them rather than claiming they haven't heard about the problems people have had.

[Anoushka2013]

Hello, I had a marine coil put on just over 2 month ego and put on 3kg whilst exercising and eating well etc. 2 weeks ego went to my doctor to have it take it out for that reason. Doctor told me firmly that my putting on weight has nothing to do with the marine coil, so he advise me to keep it. I'm trying to loose weight and nothing happens the extra 3kg just stack.
Please advise if it happened to you and it is possible that marine makes you put on weight. x