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[peri]

Hi everyone, I've now had my mirena in 3 months so thought I'd do an update.

Pros
I've not had any bleeding or spotting since the first few weeks, so thankfully haven't had any pmt or the ups and downs which periods/utrogestan (progesterone) withdrawal were giving me, so that's a big plus.
I've not had any spots.

Cons
My mood is sometimes flat (not depressed), more an inability to feel any highs. Also, I still sometimes feel a bit not with it, but that doesn't last long. It's bearable but I'm hoping it evens out after the 6 months settling in period.
My libido (drive, not response) is definitely subdued.  I was hoping i would get away with this.  I'm ok once I can be bothered, but of course that doesn't help much.
I'm swollen.  My watch, socks and jeans are all tighter despite the fact I'm not eating any more (less in fact, because I'm aware of it), I think it's a result of the continuous progesterone.  If anything makes me give up it'll be this as it's really getting to me.

Anyway, I've committed to giving it 6 months as I was advised that's how long it takes for side effects to settle and if I give up now it'll all have been for nothing.  I'll post again when I get to 6 months, but in the meantime would be interested in hearing from anyone else as to when their side effects settled. x

[Hurdity]

Hi peri - your post got missed! Tanks for the update and glad all is not lost re the Mirena.

There have been several threads on this so I suggest you go to the home page of the forum and do a search - and specifically pick out threads with Mirena in the title. I do know women have discussed side effects and settling in and how long this takes so hopefully you will be able to find something.

Yes do keep us updated - it is always helpful to other women to read of personal experiences - even if their experience may be or may have been different.

Hurdity x

[anais]

Hi Peri

I updated my own thread and responded to your questions there.

My mood is no different. I'm more affected by life circumstances and meno-related issues in my relationship than anything to do with the HRT per se, but we're all different. Overall my HRT regime hasn't altered my mood, but that's not to say that life has been humming along but it certainly hasn't!

The libido issue as you describe is so common in menopause. It was through reading this forum that I learned I what I was experiencing was fairly typical. You read all these articles in magazines in waiting rooms or online or wherever, all these sexy septuagenarians and I remember in my mid 40s wondering whether it was all over. Nobody ever talks about it! (Except on here of course.)

Seriously, we are supposedly living in a post-liberation society and that is just utter BS. Sex over the age of 40/50/60 is taboo! A menopausal woman isn't 'supposed' to be sexual! We don't talk about the sexual problems of 'older' women. Or older men. It's like we're supposed to keep it quiet. And as for a man wanting to have sex with an 'older' woman ie 50s or 60s, that's not even supposed to be 'normal'. "He must be desperate" or whatever. Never mind that older men aren't exactly as "virile" as they once were, they've got their little blue pills. When I had my Mirena fitted it was at a local sexual health clinic, which is like a one-stop shop for contraception and STI testing etc, and I was asked if I still had sex. OK, they were offering STI testing since I was there and I had the swabs - all clear BTW - but it's like your assumed 'retired' from sex after the age of 45 or 50 if you're a woman. Whereas I actually WANT help to keep it going, so bad  was my VA and vaginal tightening.

But rant over! It's such a complicated business, sex and the menopause. You either get the happy clappy septuagenarians at it like rabbits on their SAGA cruise or assumed to be forever the dried up old prune, nothing practical and pragmatic about how to keep it going.

[Glitterface]

Hi peri, I read your post with interest. I had my coil fitted a couple of weeks ago together with the removal of a polyps. I have just got over an infection and have told I need to give it time to settle down. I'm just about to start on the Estelle solo patches, I really hope they don't cause me to put on any weight. I'm not enjoying the coil as I am often aware of it and feel my body 'wants it out' but I just hope it will get better with time and I'll feel normal again. As for sex.....I'm a bit worried it will be painful......and I'm getting married in a couple of months so I really want to be 'match fit' 

[peri]

Hi all thanks for your support and feedback.

Hurdity - I will persevere with my mirena.  I was hoping to hear (from others) that side effects eventually go and I am still hopeful they do as that would make it the perfect solution.  To pick up on one of your earlier posts I feel this also because I'm fed up of being locked into having a cycle and all that that entails - surely there must be other options for post menopausal women  and if not there should be!

Anais - I agree with you that libido is a major issue a this time of life.  Mind dropped off a cliff when I hit menopause and it was a big disappointment for me.  Unfortunately the mirena has further compromised this (drive not response).  I was one of the lucky ones who got testosterone on the nhs, unfortunately for me I seem to have a reaction to testogel.  I'm seriously considering going private to pursue other options and I'm not giving up.


Glitterface - Don't worry about it hurting during sex I haven't found that at all, once the tenderness heals you won't know it's there - and good luck in your impending nuptials - how exciting x

[Jobo]

Hi peri

I too read your thread with great interest, I had a mirena coming up to a year in a couple of days.  There was no way I was ever going to have one but after 4 years of trying to get the right hrt regime it was my last option after several scans and very painful hyteroscopies.  I was glad I did, it will take at least 6 months to settle down and I don't even think about mine now.  You have mentioned your mood is flat and you are swollen, I have this too but put the weight gain down to oestrogen, sorry to say even though I am eating less and a well balanced healthy diet I can't seem to loose any of it! Exercise might have to be the next thing for me. As for Libido I have forgotten what that is!  That went out the window about 8 years ago! I am only 46 and post meno by the way. Luckily I have a very understanding husband 

 Keep posting on how you are getting on.

[peri]

Hi Jobo thanks for your reply.  To summarize are you saying the flat mood has settled?  If I thought there would be any improvement this would give me hope.  I'm going to the gym and watching what I eat in an effort to keep my weight stable but the bloating started after I had mirena fitted - my sister in law suggested trying water retention tablets but I don't want to get addicted/reliant.  Libido was affected by menopause but has been further impaired by mirena, I feel for you as I too really miss this.  Have you considered testosterone therapy? X

[Stephjkm]

I'm now four months post having a mirena fitted. I still spot/bleed very lightly every month but I'm really hoping that will settle down, although if it doesn't I am still massively better off than I was before - at least I can leave the house now!

My libido is a little subdued and I do still get symptoms of pmt. Hopefully that will all settle soon.

All good so far, a far as I'm concerned ☺

[SueLW]

I had a Mirena coil for years (don't have it now) but I really remember the first 3 months were hard going.  I felt grey and sad and fat and tired and miserable.  I remember going back for my 3 month check-up and telling the doctor all that.  She said to give it 6 months to settle.  By the time 6 months came I had obviously got over all that because I didn't even remember it was 6 months. 

I suspect it leads to a tendency for bloating.  And it can easily kill sex drive, it did mine - stone dead.  But knowing what I know now, I suspect those things could have been addressed with correct oestrogen and testosterone replacement.  However, my GP didn't do any of that.  I was given the coil because of worsening heavy and very painful periods.  I know now that I would have needed progesterone to counter those, hence the Mirena, but it probably also meant I was loosing oestrogen at the same time and that was ignored.

Keep going would be my advice.  You will soon be there.

[peri]

Hi Sue LW

Thanks for your reply.  Your comment is very timely I'm just going into month 5 and I do feel it's beginning to get better (hope I haven't spoken too soon).  I haven't had any flat mood for a few days now and I'm attempting to address the libido situation (which I'll post separately on).

I haven't managed to solve the bloating however, and just to give an idea how bad it is my fingers are so swollen I currently cannot get my wedding rings on! I am tackling it with diet and exercise but it's not making any difference.  Did you find the bloating settled with time or did it remain an issue?