Sam, If you go (Discovery Home and Health Website) - you'll come to a forum with lots of threads related to the Merina coil and its side effects - there is quite a lot of reading there! Lots of women complain of weight gain, bloating, pelvic and lower limb pain, loss of libido, mood swings, etc... And yes, it can be painful to have inserted, if you haven't had a baby. I've had mine removed after 4 years because I'd suffered all of the above side-effects and am feeling like my old self again - fantastic. I'm not saying the side effects are the same for everybody and some women on the forums swear by it, but reading some of the experiences may help you to make a more informed decision.

Hi Sam,

I had the mirena coil fitted a few years ago. There was slight discomfort when being fitted (no children by the way) and even more discomfort when I thought that I could go and do my weekly shop straight after - ooooooohhhhhhhhhh nooooooooooooooooo - managed to get the shopping done and spent the rest of the evening on the sofa. But next day totally fine and was fine all the way through the five/six years I had it. I had absolutely no problems - it was lovely. Then had it removed as it had 'done it's job' and went back for another as I found it to be very good - but it proved too fiddly for the doctor at that time - think she tried about three times and we gave up - and so I never had another. HTH.

I looked into the mirena coil at one point also I don't have children, however when I discussed it with the GP and she did an examination I was told I wasn't suitable as I hadn't had children. (cervix too small).

If you are thinking of having it get the GP to check whether they think you are suitable.

Good luck

Hi there,

I am on my second mirena and it has been brilliant for me (no kids). Five years of no periods so far which suits me just fine!

The first one I had fitted was painful, however when I expressed my concern to my doctor about having the second one in because of the pain, she gave me some strong pain killers to take before hand, menafamic acid or something like that, and I didn't even know she had put it in it was fine.

I had mine fitted last april a little discomfort the fit and the first evening I thought I was in labor again lol. the next day though was fantastic, no pain since and apart from a couple of little shows no bleeding since, oh and when it was done I was told I could bleed for up to 3 weeks, for me it was one evening. while it was being fitted I had some fibroids removed. best thing I did.

wow thanks for the all the replies

Another question and its a bit weird lol i know the strings have to hang out in reach to check the coil is in correctly but can the man actually feel them? That would just really weird me out :p.

Thanks again
Sam

Hiya, I had mine fitted 2 years ago (I have had one child before this). No problems at all with it, easier than a smear to have it fitted, and my boyfriend never noticed it either. I chose the hormone free one, as I didn't like the idea of the others. But still have my periods. I can recommend it.

wouldnt recommend

Hi there, I had my mirena fitted 2 years ago as ever since my periods first began they were terrible, i couldn't move and just sat around in bed all day with a hot water bottle taking around 10 pills every 4 hours (at 12 years old) including mefenamic acid then tranexamic acid solpadol, ibuprofen, buscopan, and a pill to counteract the effect the ibuprofen had on my digestive system. I then went on to use Loestrin for 1 year which didn't help at all, i bled through it constantly and had periods every 2 weeks which lasted 2 weeks. I went on a stronger pill which helped for a while however my periods were still agonizing and didn't allow me to do much. I had to change jumbo night pads every hour of the day as blood would seep through. this made school a nightmare. After a good couple of years I started researching the mirena and the doc told me they might not put it in as I was only 15 however I pressed on and got it put in at the family planning clinic, I was awake and in pain! and at first was an absolute god send, however for the last year I have had terrible abdominal and back pains, bloating, spots, mood swings which are just unbelievable, i am now seeing a counselor for these. Also I have had almost every invasive procedure you can think of by the gynecologist and am now waiting for an appointment to get a laparoscopy and have had to go for a very stressful breast exam due to prominent breast tissue. I don't know what to do as I am just starting a full time job as a nursery nurse and I think I'd be better without the mirena coil but I cannot go back to having such terrible periods. I have no official illness so when I take time off nobody understands and I have been left taking over the counter pain killers which do little good as I may get addicted to anything that helps!!!! All that and I've just turned 17 ha ha!!. Weight gain has been unbelievable too, starting off a size 6 and now a size 12 !!

Hi

I had mine fitted at the beginning of March. It was quite painful being inserted(I've not had kids) but I turned down local anaesthetic which my doctor offered - quite painful that evening and tender over the next few days but now nothing... My boyfriend can occasionally feel strings but only with his fingers and if anything my sex life has improved dramatically since. I've had no mood swings and have found I'm not so broody and depressed which at one point I was suffering almost all month round.

I think its important to take all the information and make an imformed choice but for me even if it only makes my periods a bit lighter and less painful it will be the right decision