Here I am going to share my experience of the Mirena coil. In 2022 I started to get really heavy periods, they were also extremely painful. After 6 months I made an appointment with my GP. As I cried down the phone to her she reassured me we would get this sorted. Fast forward to the 2nd January 2024, I got my Mirena coil inserted during a procedure to remove endometrial polyps. You can read more about this here. Here I plan to share my experiences with you in case you are considering getting a coil put in.
What is a mirena coil?
The full information about a coil is on the NHS website here. The mirena coil is a small T shaped device that is placed inside your womb. It is a contraceptive but is also used to help with heavy painful periods. Periods can be made lighter, or they can stop altogether. This was why I had it inserted. They can be effective for 3 to 5 years. The strings from the coil hang down slightly. This is for removal.
Although my coil was fitted in hospital this was because I was having another procedure. More often than not they can be inserted at some G.P practices or sexual health clinics.
You will be advised to get the position of the coil checked by a medical professional 3-6 weeks after it has been inserted by them checking the strings. It is also advisable to feel for them yourself after each period to ensure it is in place.
Known side effects
The NHS website states most side effects last for the first few months, and many do not experience any after this time. I was advised by my consultant to wait at least 6 months to understand how it will be for me.
- Period like pains
- Spotting
- Harmless cysts on your ovaries
There are other side effects people say they experience but there is not enough evidence to confirm they are caused by the mirena coil. These include:
- Headaches
- Acne
- Sore breasts
- Mood changes
My experience of 1 week with the mirena coil
I had my mirena coil put in while I was asleep having a hysteroscopy performed. I was told I may experience cramping similar to period pains. They also advised some people have light spotting which may stop and start.
1 week after having it put in I have experienced hardly any cramping, and I have had light spotting. I wouldn’t have been aware it had even been put in. I have not had to take any painkillers I have booked an appointment with my practice nurse to check the strings in around 5 weeks time.
My first period after having the coil inserted is due in a few weeks so it will be interesting to see what happens then.
2 weeks after having the mirena coil
So, today marks exactly 2 weeks since I had the coil fitted. For the first 2 weeks I have had some light spotting. I have had no pain, I have been constipated but not sure if that was to do with the coil. I finally went without a liner in my pants a few days ago, only to have to put it back in today!
My period is technically due next week but I am having quite bad cramping today. I have the feeling of pressure as I often do during my periods. At the moment I also have quite tender breasts which is new! I will keep you posted on any new developments!
6 weeks after having the mirena coil
6 weeks after having the mirena coil inserted it is recommended you get it checked. I booked in with my practice nurse to get mine checked. The process was similar to having a cervical smear. I had to undress from the waist down, she used a speculum and checked the strings were visible. Luckily they were!
My second period since the coil was inserted is heavier than the first but not anywhere near as heavy as it was before the coil was fitted. There are 2 things I have noticed though, firstly my skin is really bad. I have hormonal acne. The second is that I am the moodiest b*tch known to man 😂.
However, all that seems manageable compared to before I had the coil put in, so I will persevere and see how it goes.
10 weeks later
So I am now 10 weeks into having the mirena coil put in at hospital. Overall, I would say my experience is still good. The constant bleeding has stopped, and I am having periods but they are very light.
One thing I have noticed is that I am MOOOOOODDDDDYYYY! I’m not sure whether it’s the coil, time of life, or generally feeling down in the dumps. I feel like I am not always a very nice person to be around at the moment. I don’t want to feel this way so I started to look at ways to be more positive. Hopefully this will help!
3 months later
So after thinking the constant bleeding had stopped, it started up again. There isn’t much, but I am having to use a liner or period pants most days just in case I bleed.
My mood hasn’t got any better. I have been trying to be more positive but with the Easter holidays this hasn’t been easy🤯. It is something I am going to continue to work on. I have thought about trying some natural relaxation meds to help with this too.
6 months on
It has now been 6 months since I had the mirena coil inserted. My mood is mostly better, but I am still taking the herbal tablets. I am also beginning to wonder if I may be peri-menopausal 😬
It feels as though things may be returning back to the way they were before. My periods are becoming heavier and more painful again. Having said that I have done nothing about the weight I was told to lose. So here begins my weight loss journey – again!
18 months on
I thought I should check in again further down the line and let you know my experience of the mirena coil further down the line. I have now had it in place for 18 months, so I feel it has had time to settle and my experiences are a balanced reflection.
Firstly, my periods are MUCH lighter than they were before, and also much less painful. Having said that, it is hard to know whether it is because of the coil or because my polyps were removed. Either way not having to worry about flooding through my pad and underwear is lovely. The thing with my periods though is that they do last longer, I would say I bleed for 10-14 days at a time. I often have a day or 2 in the middle when it stops and then it starts again. They also aren’t regular and because of this I find I have to wear liners every day as I never know when it might strike!
Before the coil my periods would be very painful, and the pressure I would feel would almost be unbearable. Now the pain is very minimal and doesn’t affect my day to day life at all. I don’t ever need painkillers or hot water bottles to ease the pain any more.
Side effects
The main issue I have is that my moods have not improved at all. I know at times I am absolutely vile and there is nothing I can do to stop it however much I try. The Nytease tablets I have been taking do seem to help to a certain extent, but not to the point where everyone in my house doesn’t know when my period is due. I am extremely ratty, have no patience with the kids or anyone really. Poor Mark takes the brunt of it, and he never complains (well hardly ever!), luckily he has the van so when I get too much he leaves me to it 🤣. It does make me feel unhappy at times that it makes me feel this way, so I have been looking into self-care and grounding techniques to help me with this also.
Would I recommend the mirena coil?
Overall I think the answer is yes, it’s very tricky to give a definitive answer though. I hate how moody I am, and recently I thought about getting it taken out because of this. I begun to have concerns over my relationship and whether it would become too much for Mark to put up with. Also, I wondered if my periods may have got better now the polyps are gone. Having said that, I still haven’t lost weight, despite signing up for weight watchers for the umpteenth time! So it wouldn’t surprise me if I developed polyps again in the future.
The reason I didn’t get it taken out is I cannot bear the thought of going back to those heavy, crippling periods. I remember all the times I was in tears over them, and the times I would be worried at work or out and about in case I leaked blood. It was awful. I was also told I would have to have it refitted at hospital rather than the GP practice because of the position of my cervix, so I know it may not be an easy thing to re-do if I decided it was better in.
So at this moment in time I am keeping mine in, by the it is due for replacement I will be 43 and am pretty sure my menopause journey will be beginning. I think I might try to go without it then and see how I get on. Every person is different and I have heard good and bad stories about the coil. Please do your research and see what you think would be best for you. If you have any questions, I am always happy to answer the best I can.
Sophie x
