Mirena coil vs. Progesterone Only Pill? - Endometriosis UK

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Mirena coil vs. Progesterone Only Pill?

Cbeebie78 profile image
6 Replies

Hello All

I am after some advice. I have not long been diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis, adenomyosis, two endometriomas on left ovary (left ovary tethered to the bowel) and 4cm, 4 cm x 3cm complex cyst on right ovary, polyp in uterus and a retroverted uterus. I am due to have laposcropy surgery in 2 weeks to help some of the endometriosis, cystectomies to remove cysts and possible right ovary if found to be abnormal. The surgeon has suggested fitting a mirena coil at the time of my surgery to help with the adenomyosis. I have been looking up the side effects from the Mirena and they have scared me. I was just wondering if anyone on here has any feedback on their symptoms. I have read that some people have put on a significant amount of weight from it, have depression, very sore breasts etc? I am a bit scared to have something fitted that cant be took out as easy as taking the progesterone only pill. That leads me to my next question, is the mirena coil better than progesterone only pill in dealing with my conditions? And are the side effects as bad as I have read. My surgeon has told me the Mirena is effective but said I could do the progesterone only pill if I wanted. He said that I will need the hormones of some sort. Thank you so much for any help and advice you will give.

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Cbeebie78
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isendo_88 profile image
isendo_88Moderator

Hello @Cbeebie78! I’m sorry to hear this, it is probably not easy for you! As an endometriosis sufferer, I do believe the hormonal treatment is individual and it would be best to openly discuss your symptoms with your surgeon or GP, to find the right one for you. In the meantime, the Endometriosis UK society has a lot of information on the website about the different treatments, including the hormonal treatments and their side effects. You can find more information on the link below, which has been approved by medical professionals:

endometriosis-uk.org/endome...

I hope this will give you more information on the variety of treatments and you can be more prepared to discuss them with your doctor. Best of luck with everything!

Locket61 profile image
Locket61

I’ve had the coil (they type they are suggesting for you) for 3 years and I love it. It’s made my periods much less heavy and I haven’t experienced any side effect. After I got it the first two days were extremely painful the most pain I’ve ever been in but then smooth sailing. I was of the pill before that and it didn’t do anything for the pain, I still was bleeding heavily but for less days. I had severe side effects and it was the most terrible medication I tried however medication is different for each of us. I know slot of people with coils and they all are very happy that they got it, the only on I now a lot of people hate is the copper one.

Cbeebie78 profile image
Cbeebie78 in reply to Locket61

Thank you for getting back to me. It's good to hear a positive with the coil.. I've been reading so many horror stories on the internet in how is made people put on so much weight, severe depression and anxiety, and bad and..I really don't know what to do. I don't really have heavy periods. He suggested the coil because of the adenomyosis and think cos it affects my bowels when on period. Ideally I would choose nothing but I don't know if my condition may get worse if I don't do anything.

Locket61 profile image
Locket61

You can always see if it gets worse or try the pill first then try the coil although getting it done when your awake isn’t the most pleasant experience. I’ve not seen any gain weight from it, I’ve always been very small and didn’t notice any change. I love that I got the coil although it hasn’t solved my pain it has helped a lot of other symptoms and gave me more control over mood swings, depression and my body. I was only able to gain muscle in my core after I got the coil because it lessened the pain for the first two years so the muscles repaired themselves.

Always do what you feel is best for you, your the only person who understands your body! Good luck and I hope all goes well.

Cbeebie78 profile image
Cbeebie78

Thank you . I'll keep thinking

Triangle123 profile image
Triangle123

Hello,

It is a really tricky decision. I've had the mirena and I'm now on progesterone-only pill.

I had the mirena coil a few years ago which was absolutely amazing! I went from excruciating pain to zero pain and I didn't have any side effects. In the last 2 years of the 5 year coil life, however, I started to get more and more pain because it was coming to the end of its life.

I'm now on the progesterone pill which is also amazing. I've had no side effects whatsoever and, as it's a daily tablet, it keeps the hormones at a steady level. Therefore, I don't get any pain.

I've had success with both so it is a very personal decision! Good luck! 🙂

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