Mirena coil implant advice

[Simba12345]

Hi guys! I would really appreciate some advice. I gave birth in January 2024. I know he’s my last baby so I wanted to get on a form of contraception that is long lasting that I do not have to think about. I was going back and forth between the hormonal coil and the copper coil. I had read that the copper coil can cause more cramping and heavier periods which was putting me off as I’ve always had painful periods so didn’t want to make that worse. After speaking to the dr who inserted the coil and her speaking to me about her own personal experience with the mirena coil; I decided to go with that. I have never used any type of hormonal birth control in my life before this.

So I had the mirena hormonal coil inserted in July 2024. Before this, I hadn’t had a period since giving birth in January- I was exclusively breastfeeding. After insertion I got mild cramping for a few days and a slight amount of spotting and that stopped.

2 weeks after getting the coil, I had sex for the first time since getting it inserted. The day after having sex, I started to bleed but it was just a very slight amount of blood and the dr had told me whilst my body is adjusting to the coil, it’s normal to bleed anything up to the amount of a normal period but anything heavier than that would be a concern.

I have basically been bleeding almost every day ever since then. The bleeding has never been heavier than a normal period and I kept googling whether this is normal and a lot of things I read said it can take the body up to 6 months to adjust. Sometimes the spotting/bleeding would stop and make me think it’s over and I could have a day or two with no blood at all, and then it will appear again.

The reason I haven’t gone to the dr about this yet is because the bleeding is very light and I have no pain at all. I haven’t managed to have sex often since July because I’m just constantly bleeding but on the handful of occasions I’ve had sex, it hasn’t been painful.

I’m just worried about whether this is normal. I have been bleeding/spotting none stop since July and it’s now November. And I hadn’t had any sort of bleeding at all since after giving birth up until July.

If anyone could tell me about their own experiences with the mirena coil that would be so helpful.

[RI90]

hey I could have written this myself 🙈 had my last baby in December and got the hormonal coil fitted in August (breastfeeding too) and I have been spotting nearly every day and like you maybe a day or two with none. My periods came back 4m postpartum which was frustrating so I have had a couple of periods now with it fitted and they have been lighter and not as painful which is obviously a plus but I’m going to wait until 6 months have passed and if still spotting I will probably look at possibly getting it removed. From what I’ve read it’s normal for some people to have daily spotting for first 6 months

[Simba12345 in reply to RI90]

Thank you for getting back to me, it’s a relief to know I’m not alone. Yes, like you I think I’m also going to wait until it’s been in for 6 months and if it’s still not settling I think I will have to get it removed. Like I said, I’m not experiencing any pain or any heavy bleeding but it’s just such an inconvenience to have been spotting for such a long time. Hopefully the spotting stops for us both.

[Whimbrel]

Hi, as you've had this coil for about 10 months and you're still bleeding it's worth contacting your GP and asking for a review.

Maybe they can check for the threads and ensure that the coil is sited properly and also see if there is an ectropion that could cause bleeding.

Did you have a vaginal birth? If so, it's also worth ruling out if there were any products of conception ( bit of placenta left in the uterus) but it's unlikely that something like that may have stayed for this long.

It's very likely a prolonged hormonal bleeding that you're having. But it can be very inconvenient and an annoyance. So it's worth having a review. x

[Simba12345 in reply to Whimbrel]

Hi, thank you for your response. Yes as you said in your second message it’s been in since July so coming up to 4 months now. I have heard that it can take up to 6 months to completely settle but I was really hoping I would have seen a difference by now.

I did have a vaginal birth and also I had a retained placenta that needed to be manually removed so it might just be wise to contact the GP just incase any placenta could possibly have been left in. But saying that, I had absolutely no bleeding after all the initial post partum bleeding until the coil got fitted.

I think I will have a chat with the GP and then if things still haven’t changed by 6 months post coil insertion, I’m going to look into getting it removed.

[Whimbrel in reply to Simba12345]

If you can please request an ultrasound scan. Depending on local GP/NHS guidelines you maybe eligible for one.

[Whimbrel]

Sorry I just noticed that you've had the coil since July. It can take about 6 months sometimes for the coil to settle. But if you are concerned it's worth talking to your GP. x