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[PeriWhat?!]

Hi everyone, starting a new thread for this question.

Has anyone had any positive experiences with Mirena coil in peri? Logically, it sounds as though it may be a good option for me to try next... if I can get over my fear of the fitting/removal aspect of it, especially as my last smear test was unexpectedly painful due to dryness. I think I want someone to come along and tell me it will be ok 

I've so far tried two HRT regimes for peri, Evorel Sequi, then Evorel50/Utrogestan. So far, oestrogen is a success with physical symptoms, but progesterone is not helping extreme peri mood swings/anxiety, in fact Utrogestan made them much worse - very, very dark, suicidal thoughts ramped up a lot - it was scary so I stopped taking it and within a couple of days I felt a million times better, so it seems I may be intolerant to progesterone.

I've been offered these possible alternatives and told to come on here to find out more about them:

1) oestrogen patch + Mirena coil

2) Femoston oral tablets

3) Timbolone (synthetic)

4) oestrogen patch and progesterone pessary

I'd be very grateful to hear from anyone with any experience of any of them! Thanks in advance. x

[Grheliz1]

I have oestrogen gel (rather than patch) plus Mirena and it works very well.

I was apprehensive about having one fitted but managed the procedure well. A bit of initial bleeding and occasional spotting six months later, but I really and truly don't give it much thought at all now. It doesn't have a noticeable effect on my moods.

[PeriWhat?!]

I have oestrogen gel (rather than patch) plus Mirena and it works very well.

I was apprehensive about having one fitted but managed the procedure well. A bit of initial bleeding and occasional spotting six months later, but I really and truly don't give it much thought at all now. It doesn't have a noticeable effect on my moods.

That's really good to know, Grheliz1, thanks for replying. Was it painful to have it fitted, or just uncomfortable? Great to hear your moods haven't worsened with it.

[scrubdub]

I had a mirena coil fitted for peri 2 years ago and use Oestrogen patches /gel  and it works well for me.
I had a General Anaesthetic to have the coil  fitted but my Gynae did a hyscopopy as well. I felt a bit sore for 2-3 days after and some spotting but it settled down within a few weeks.
I'm in peri - still having periods but are very light - I can get away with a panty liner. I still have odd anxiety moments but I can work through them. I need to have it replaced in 3 years- I'm hoping my Gynae hasn't retired by then!
I don't know why I didn't have a coil fitted sooner.

[PeriWhat?!]

I had a mirena coil fitted for peri 2 years ago and use Oestrogen patches /gel  and it works well for me.
I had a General Anaesthetic to have the coil  fitted but my Gynae did a hyscopopy as well. I felt a bit sore for 2-3 days after and some spotting but it settled down within a few weeks.
I'm in peri - still having periods but are very light - I can get away with a panty liner. I still have odd anxiety moments but I can work through them. I need to have it replaced in 3 years- I'm hoping my Gynae hasn't retired by then!
I don't know why I didn't have a coil fitted sooner.

Thanks for replying @scrubdub - is this in the UK/on the NHS? It makes me think it must be painful if you needed a general anaesthetic, however, I'm also wondering how I would get access to general anaesthetic and a gynaecologist considering I can't even get access to a GP to discuss this!

[Denise Didi]

I struggled with depression and anxiety and  tried various progesterone alternatives but didn't help. I finally went for the mirena and patches which works well. I was not keen but insertion was straight forward and told it can be taken out quickly if needed. However despite a horrible couple of months of heavy bleeding it eventually settled down and made a difference. It gives the smallest possible dose of progesterone - as too much made me depressed.
Didi

[Kathleen]

Hello PeriWhat?!

In my time I have tried both Oestrogen patches and Tibolone which is also known as Livial. However I was post meno before I started HRT so my experiences would likely not be relevant to you, plus it was a long time ago lol!

I see that a progesterone pessary  has been suggested to you, does this mean that you haven't yet used the Utrogestan capsule vaginally? As you probably know many of us use it this way to reduce progesterone side effects. Apologies if you have already tried this and found that it hasn't helped you.

Testosterone could also be beneficial and is supposed to help with mood and energy. I think Testogel is available on the NHS and Androfeme is also available but only privately. Ladies are told that they need a good level of Oestrogen before beginning Testosterone but I don't think you would have to wait as I imagine your Oestrogen levels are sufficient.  I guess you have experimented with Oestrogel as well as it doesn't feature as a suggestion.

I mention the above because they could be included as options if necessary, worth bearing in mind perhaps.

I hope you get sorted soon and take care.

K.

[PeriWhat?!]

I struggled with depression and anxiety and  tried various progesterone alternatives but didn't help. I finally went for the mirena and patches which works well. I was not keen but insertion was straight forward and told it can be taken out quickly if needed. However despite a horrible couple of months of heavy bleeding it eventually settled down and made a difference. It gives the smallest possible dose of progesterone - as too much made me depressed.
Didi

That is really great to hear, Didi, thanks for posting. X

[PeriWhat?!]

Hello PeriWhat?!

In my time I have tried both Oestrogen patches and Tibolone which is also known as Livial. However I was post meno before I started HRT so my experiences would likely not be relevant to you, plus it was a long time ago lol!

I see that a progesterone pessary  has been suggested to you, does this mean that you haven't yet used the Utrogestan capsule vaginally? As you probably know many of us use it this way to reduce progesterone side effects. Apologies if you have already tried this and found that it hasn't helped you.

Testosterone could also be beneficial and is supposed to help with mood and energy. I think Testogel is available on the NHS and Androfeme is also available but only privately. Ladies are told that they need a good level of Oestrogen before beginning Testosterone but I don't think you would have to wait as I imagine your Oestrogen levels are sufficient.  I guess you have experimented with Oestrogel as well as it doesn't feature as a suggestion.

I mention the above because they could be included as options if necessary, worth bearing in mind perhaps.

I hope you get sorted soon and take care.

K.

Hhm, this is interesting, thanks for replying. No, I haven't used Utrogestan vaginally, it hasn't been suggested to me. The packs of Utrogestan I have say they're for oral use, so it must be a different prescription for vaginal use perhaps? Does it stop the mental side effects that some of us get with peri progesterone pills and patchss?
Googling Mirena coil fitting brings up an awful lot of painful horror stories. 

Testosterone hasn't been mentioned to me.

I haven't experimented with oestrogel either, I feel so clueless about all this!

A big problem is I'm having a lot of trouble trying to speak to anybody medical - I can't even get a telephone appt with a GP, it's very frustrating. I have another thread where I've been keeping track of my HRT trials/tribulations and it's all in there so I won't go over it all again here, but it is getting to a point when I'm spending hours and hours when I should be working, just trying to contact a GP, or anyone professional who could help.

Apparently there is a menopause clinic near me, but the route to it is through a GP...

[scrubdub]

I had a mirena coil fitted for peri 2 years ago and use Oestrogen patches /gel  and it works well for me.
I had a General Anaesthetic to have the coil  fitted but my Gynae did a hyscopopy as well. I felt a bit sore for 2-3 days after and some spotting but it settled down within a few weeks.
I'm in peri - still having periods but are very light - I can get away with a panty liner. I still have odd anxiety moments but I can work through them. I need to have it replaced in 3 years- I'm hoping my Gynae hasn't retired by then!
I don't know why I didn't have a coil fitted sooner.

Thanks for replying @scrubdub - is this in the UK/on the NHS? It makes me think it must be painful if you needed a general anaesthetic, however, I'm also wondering how I would get access to general anaesthetic and a gynaecologist considering I can't even get access to a GP to discuss this!

Yes it's in the UK. My Gp referred me to see the Gynae because of my heavy periods and I managed to get it all through my private health insurance. I was happy to have the coil fitted without the General Anaesthetic but my Gynae wanted to do the hyscopopy as well.
I don't think I'll be able to get it through my health insurance when I need the coil replacing so I'm hoping I can be referred through the NHS or I'm going to have to pay privately for it!!

[PeriWhat?!]

I had a mirena coil fitted for peri 2 years ago and use Oestrogen patches /gel  and it works well for me.
I had a General Anaesthetic to have the coil  fitted but my Gynae did a hyscopopy as well. I felt a bit sore for 2-3 days after and some spotting but it settled down within a few weeks.
I'm in peri - still having periods but are very light - I can get away with a panty liner. I still have odd anxiety moments but I can work through them. I need to have it replaced in 3 years- I'm hoping my Gynae hasn't retired by then!
I don't know why I didn't have a coil fitted sooner.

Thanks for replying @scrubdub - is this in the UK/on the NHS? It makes me think it must be painful if you needed a general anaesthetic, however, I'm also wondering how I would get access to general anaesthetic and a gynaecologist considering I can't even get access to a GP to discuss this!

Yes it's in the UK. My Gp referred me to see the Gynae because of my heavy periods and I managed to get it all through my private health insurance. I was happy to have the coil fitted without the General Anaesthetic but my Gynae wanted to do the hyscopopy as well.
I don't think I'll be able to get it through my health insurance when I need the coil replacing so I'm hoping I can be referred through the NHS or I'm going to have to pay privately for it!!

Sorry @scrubdub, I missed that you said the GA was for that as well. Thanks so much for coming back on here!

[Tinkerbell]

I have a Mirena and use Oestrogel and have done for 5 years it is a very good combination for me as i couldn't get on with Utrogestan.

When i had the Mirena fitted i took a couple of Ibuprofen before and it was fine, no way as bad as i thought it would be. I am at present trying to get an appointment to get it replaced.

I have had no side effects from Mirena, but i did spot, very light for the first 4.5 months.

[PeriWhat?!]

I have a Mirena and use Oestrogel and have done for 5 years it is a very good combination for me as i couldn't get on with Utrogestan.

When i had the Mirena fitted i took a couple of Ibuprofen before and it was fine, no way as bad as i thought it would be. I am at present trying to get an appointment to get it replaced.

I have had no side effects from Mirena, but i did spot, very light for the first 4.5 months.

The ibuprofen sounds like a good idea, thanks Tinkerbell!

[sheila99]

It's the same Utrogestan capsules that you can use either orally or vaginally. It isn't licensed for vaginal use for hrt in the UK though it is in the rest of Europe, this way be why your gp hasn't suggested it - but she isn't watching... I hope  . There are fewer side effects when used vaginally so may be worth a try.

[PeriWhat?!]

It's the same Utrogestan capsules that you can use either orally or vaginally. It isn't licensed for vaginal use for hrt in the UK though it is in the rest of Europe, this way be why your gp hasn't suggested it - but she isn't watching... I hope  . There are fewer side effects when used vaginally so may be worth a try.

Is it really?! I had no idea! Thanks.