Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Scampidoodle on July 20, 2021, 09:51:29 AM
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Hi I’ve had the Mirena coil since April 2018, so just over 3 years.
When I first had it put in I was having cyclical mood symptoms but after I had it these totally went away.
I’m now 3 years in and for the last year and more I’ve felt worse and like I did pre Mirena.
Do the hormone levels released by Mirena reduce over time?
Is there a chance it stops ovulation at first and did for me? Then it’s kicked back in.
I’m 42, no hrt (tried oestrogel a year ago which caused excess histamine) I’ve got low E readings on bloods (79pmol, 103pmol, 433pmol) but v low FSH.
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Just bumping up before it drops off the end in case anyone can help. I did a search on Mirena but couldn’t find about the hormone levels and if they change throughout the 5 years or whether Mirena prevents ovulation at first x
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Hi,
I am not a medical professional, but this could be peri menopause kicking in. If you have histamine issues you may need a menopause specialist. Look on loiuse Newson's website and read up on histamine and menopause. When in peri your hormones go up and down in the background.
PMx
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Thanks pepperminty. I do see a meno specialist for histamine issues.
It’s like the histamine causes lots of cyclical symptoms. This is exactly what I was experiencing 3 years ago which led me to Mirena which really helped.
Particularly days around ovulation and then pre period are really bad psychologically, v depressed with anxiety. Between times I’m a lot better.
I believe the Mirena either stopped ovulation or the progesterone helped as it reduced the histamine.
But I’m not sure if Mirena does stop ovulation. Or whether the levels would have been higher initially which helped me then have tailed off. X
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I think the levels must fall over time as it's good for hrt for 5 years but only 4 for contraception. I think you need a specialist to advise but I wondered if a combined contraceptive pill might help. The mirena only provides progesterone but perhaps you need to add oestrogen now as well.
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Hi sheila thanks for your reply. I wasn’t aware it was 4 for contraception. That may be why things are changing. I saw a gynae this morning about an unrelated matter and asked and he said they last for five years but for some the levels are noticeably different sooner than that.
I tried the mini pill recently which caused terrible depression. As did the combined pill just before I had the Mirena a few years back.
Had my bloods done yesterday so will see what they reveal.
Ideally I need my fluctuations to go away!
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Hi, I had the mirena for years and had it changed every 3 years. My doc at the well woman clinic told me that your body can use up the hormones quicker if in need and so she replaced it quicker due to symptoms
Take care
Les xox
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That is sooo interesting Les, thankyou.
Do you mind me asking what symptoms you got which meant you decided it was worth changing after 3 years? And were you ok up to that point?
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I got mine removed early, as I had peri menopausal symptoms (although at the time they said that wasn’t it, I was too young). Fast forward a few years and I have another.
For my first one, when all was well, I had no bleeds. While I HD no bleeds, I had cyclical symptoms of ovulation pain and then mood problems (flat, withdrawn, irrational) for a few days 2 weeks after the ovulation pains. Then at the 3 year mark (I think?) I had a surprise bleed (no noticeable period symptoms for that). That fall, I had extreme vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, then huge painful boobs, and eventually a period. Things definitely fluctuating beyond normal range for me. The OB-GYN offered to replace with another Mirena but I wanted off the roller coaster and went on the pill. That ended up being a mistake, but hindsight is 20/20!
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Do you think the Mirena hormones had dropped at that point or had peri taken over?
Hope you eventually found something that worked! X
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Hi
Yes I'd been fine until the 3 year mark
My hot flushes returned, unpredictable bleeding although I'd had none before, sleepless night, all the symptoms really lol
Not all doctors say this can happen at year 3 however my doc was brilliant and knew her stuff so suggested a new coil to balance things back out, which it did xox
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Thankyou for the info. Did it effect your mood at all after the three years?
Also how was it getting them swapped over symptom wise, no big crash then feel ok? Was it smooth sailing?
Many thanks! X
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Yes it affected my mood too as that was part of my symptoms
If I had it changed at the 3 year mark, it was a smooth transition any longer than that and my symptoms returned fully
Xox
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It sounds like you had a good doctor as most wouldn’t believe it would they!
Glad to hear the swap was plain sailing.
Did you have all this pre perimenopause or was all this during peri? X
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I'd say pre peri, I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid when I was 29/30 and had lots of problems around that, then when I was 31/32 was started on hrt
Hope that makes sense
Les xoz
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Thanks Les thats really helpful. Did you have Mirena on its own at any time or always with oestrogen hrt too? X
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Always with oestrogen too xox
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I guess you needed/need a certain amount of progesterone to counteract the oestrogen.
I found this today on a reputable site;
Mirena contains 52 mg of levonorgestrel (LNG). Initially, LNG is released at a dose rate of approximately 20 mcg/day. This rate decreases progressively to half that value after 5 years. Mirena must be removed by the end of the fifth year and can be replaced at the time of removal with a new Mirena if continued contraceptive protection is desired.
So if after 5 years you’re getting 10mcg then after 3 it must have reduced.
I’m in a similar position where I need a bit of progesterone to counteract my oestrogen which although isn’t high is enough to cause me issues. And I’m guessing after 3.5 years the Mirena isn’t giving me enough. X
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Yes that exactly what the hospital doctor said, I may copy that as no other doctor has ever believed it 😂😂
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No they all blindly say 5 years of constant then like it knows what the date is and switches off!
I’ve always been sensitive to hormone shifts no matter how small. So I guess I did have just enough progesterone to counteract my oestrogen (which causes me all sorts of jitters and bladder issues and muscle pain, food sensitivity when high) and now I don’t. As I don’t get these symptoms at times in my cycle when oestrogen is low or I have enough of my natural prog to balance it. When it’s unopposed I feel horrid and that when you’re supposed to feel good!