Found out coils are sometimes replaced after 4 yrs instead of 5, when used for managing endo symptoms!

[SofaGoblin]

It's amazing that at 37 I'm still finding out about these different options and ways of being treated. Thought I'd share this here for anyone this might help! I've had my coil for 4 years and am starting to get this sense of a cycle reappearing. Getting fatigue and PMS like you wouldn't believe on a monthly basis.

I spoke to the Mirena coil specialist GP at my practice and she mentioned that they're sometimes changed after 4 years instead of 5 when being used for endo symptom management instead of just contraception. I've had a full blood panel and will be getting a transvaginal scan first to check for any other changes or issues, then back to my consultant to speak about coil replacement.

Other things I've learned:

1. You can have them under general anaesthetic if you don't want to deal with it whilst awake or can't. Honestly, why be awake?

2. Read in my notes that I have cervical stenosis which means my cervix is narrow and stiff and so won't dilate... no wonder a coil could never be fitted while I was awake. (pain and panic attacks!). If you've struggled, this could be the case for you too.

3. I also have a retroverted uterus which makes coil placement difficult without ultrasound guidance and again harder when awake because of the added rummaging!

4. If you've had surgery, ask for complete copies of all your notes because I found out the above that way. I was never told.

5. Speak to your GPs and consultants about what ALL the options are for mirena fittings and replacements. GPs can do mild sedation. Hospitals can do ANYTHING - sedation, morphine, general anaesthetic, local anaesthetic. I bet they'd do gas and air, etc. None of this needs to be traumatically horrible. Do not put up with stress, pain, trauma. It can just do a number on your mental health.

Has anyone else found out any bits and bobs like this along the way that we could all benefit from?

[voodoochild10056]

Thank you for passing on all that helpful information. Sorry you've had to go through so much pain and feeling rubbish to learn all that. Your (coil specialist) GP sounds like a good one. Hope so anyway. I tried having a coil fitted three years ago. It was incredibly painful and they couldn't insert it as my cervix was 'small'. They never told me any of those things. I've found out them since on forums and online support groups like this. I am 38 and have suffered since I was 10 when I started my periods. It was only when I went private that someone really listened. I hope your scan comes back ok and you feel better soon. Can't think of any tips or advice apart from the ones you mentioned, but if I remember any, I'll post them here. Take care and thanks.

[SofaGoblin in reply to voodoochild10056]

Ah that all sounds very familiar! And yes the way coils are handled is barbaric. There's no checking of people's anatomy to see if a fitting is going to go well for them. Just have a go and find out! And it can be incredibly traumatic and put so many women off a treatment that may in fact be very effective for them. Putting an object inside someone's internal organ while they're awake with no anaesthetic... sounds like something you'd hear about from awful history lessons!

[voodoochild10056 in reply to SofaGoblin]

It is barbaric. Such a good description- it does sound like something horrendous children will learn about in history one day! Hopefully everyone will be offered anaesthetic for coil fittings by then.