Side effects
Mirena coil common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
61% of Mirena coil reviewers reported period like cramps
43% of Mirena coil reviewers reported tender breasts
42% of Mirena coil reviewers reported vaginal discharge
30% of Mirena coil reviewers reported lower back pain
25% of Mirena coil reviewers reported breast enlargement
Mirena coil rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
4% of Mirena coil reviewers reported high blood pressure
2% of Mirena coil reviewers reported hair loss
2% of Mirena coil reviewers reported a latex allergy
Possible Mirena coil side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Period like cramps (61%)
- Tender breasts (43%)
- Vaginal discharge (42%)
- Lower back pain (30%)
- Breast enlargement (25%)
- Vaginal dryness (22%)
- Thrush (18%)
- Body hair increase (16%)
- Sweating more than usual (15%)
- Nausea or vomiting (13%)
- Cystitis (13%)
- Body hair getting darker (12%)
- Headaches (8%)
- Pelvic infection (6%)
- Migraines (5%)
- Dizziness (4%)
- Migraine with aura (4%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (4%)
- High blood pressure (4%)
- Hair loss (2%)
- A latex allergy (2%)
Reviews
3.5
510 reviews
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Community reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Mar 24
Overall helped to regulate my periods, but also had significant side effects on my food intake/weight and on my energy levels.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 22nd Mar 24
I’ve had the mirena coil for about 7 years now and had 2 fitted. The first one worked like a dream, hardly noticed it. Since having a new one fitted over a year ago the side effects have been increasingly annoying. Acne for about 2 weeks per month, and I was never spotty before, not even as a teenager. Also period cramps, but it has completely stopped my period. Also migraines with aura, although I did suffer from these in the past, I’m not sure if they have just gotten worse or if it is the new coil. I’m very disappointed as, like I said, the first one gave me no issues at all.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Mar 24
Do not recommend! The procedure was traumatic to say the least, the aftermath even worse, plus the serious weight gain was unimaginable. Only benefit was no periods and forgot it was even there after a while. I wasn't fully aware of what the procedure entailed - I wished I did my research/ the doctors should be more informative. My recommendation is it should not be your first choice of contraception. The procedure itself was very painful, quick, but very painful - I passed out. The procedural pain is a forgettable pain tbh but the aftermath pain I will never forget. I was told I will get "period like cramps" afterwards. The cramps started immediately after the procedure and it was the worst "period cramps" I had ever experienced. I felt like my uterus was being ripped apart, the nausea, the dizziness, I was shaking from shock. I had to crawl out the surgery back to my car - thankfully wasn't driving as the pain just progressively got worse. The "period cramps" were more like labour pains and went on for 2 hours afterwards. The next day I was fine - small cramping continued for weeks after but then eventually went away. All the pain would of been worth it if I didn't gain the amount of weight I did. Within 6 months I went from a UK size 8 to a UK size 14. The weight was rapid - I have the stretch marks all over my lower half to prove it. I go to intense exercise classes twice a week and have a personal trainer and the weight will not shift! I did research (little late) and apparently the Mirena coil typically doesn't affect your weight but yet when I speak to other women most claimed they gained a serious amount of weight because of it. Overall I'm getting it taken out in a week and I'll be glad to see it gone. Hopefully the weight can be lost. And for those thinking about it - DO YOUR RESEARCH and don't be scared to ask your doctor a million questions - I wish I did.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 24
I now have my second mirena coil. I have no periods, but I can still track my monthly cycle through variations in my mood, hunger and energy levels. I have had no periods or bleeding since the first insertion, have now no pain and don't have to think about contraception at all, which for me is ideal. For me the insertions weren't easy - both inserted without any anaesthetic or pain relief (the places I went didn't offer it even when asked) other than paracetemol and ibuprofen. Insertion for me was painful, leaving me light headed and feeling quite sick following which I had stabbing pains and cramps for about a week each time. However, other than the week after insertion both times, I have no pain, bleeding or unpredictable hormonal fluctuations.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Feb 24
I moved to the mirena coil after my doctor would no longer prescribe me the pill i was on and it was the worst decision I ever made. My sex drive was non existent & sex was v painful (my partner could also feel it.), my skin went crazy and I had acne all over my chin and back, I gained weight suddenly and my mood was v unpredictable.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Feb 24
I suffer from low moods very often and definitely have not felt like myself for a long while and it has correlated with since I had this coil put in.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Feb 24
For the most part, I love the mirena and of contraceptives I have tried, it’s my favourite by far. I like that you don’t have to think about it too much aside from checking the strings. It doesn’t have an impact on my mood like others did. The only drawback is random cramping I get with it that feels quite unexplained and not tied to my cycle. It can be quite sore and after reading other women’s reviews online, it seems quite common but like a lot of contraception symptoms, unexplained.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 3 - 6 mo
68 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Feb 24
I had the coil inserted when I was 40 years of age and this was due to having extremely heavy periods after having my 4th child. The periods were extremely painful after I stopped breastfeeding and I was unable to work , or carry out most of my daily living activities. I always felt very tired and weak and lack of energy. I was already diagnosed a few years prior to becoming pregnant again with fibroids. And I was experiencing heavy periods prior which then I was given the nirestorone pill to stop my periods. When I starting taking this pill it stopped my periods but I was advice to use this pill as a normally contraceptive to have a break period. When I stopped it after 3 weeks, my period came back with vengeance and I just continued to bleed everyday and it just wouldn’t stop. I was then advice to continue taking the norestorine pill without any breaks. As my periods was affecting my iron levels , which was dangerously low at times and resulted in hospital admissions and black outs, I was advice to either have a hysterectomy or use the merina coil. I opted for the merina coil and had it in for 1- 3 months, I went to have my follow up for internal scans and ultrasounds and the coil couldn’t be found. They couldn’t see anything via the X-rays. This was extremely frightening but the doctors think this induced early menopause as I didn’t have a period after.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th Feb 24
I got the Mirena coil fitted back in august before this I was natural and not on any form of contraception for a long time. Since I’ve had the coil fitted I’ve had constant BV (bacterial vaginosis) even the antibiotics isn’t working now, I know it’s from the coil as I didn’t have any issues until this has been fitted. I am sick of it and I’m in quite a lot of discomfort because of the infection that I’ve had for weeks, I have booked in to get this removed. After doing some further research I found that you’re at risk of getting bv when you have the hormonal coil so I guess I’m just one of the unlucky ones.
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Used for 1 - 3 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Feb 24
Horrific. Gynacologist suggested Mirena coil for heavy periods and bad PMS as couldn't take Pill due to hormone sensitivity. Coil fine at fitting, very strong stomach pain which was to be expected. However it felt like my kidneys had been punched due to pain. The back pain was so severe it went all the way down my legs and I couldn't sit/ stnd or lie down without wincing. After 7 days I had coil removed, I was told it had dropped down. Three months later I am still recieving physio to alleviate back pain cause muscule trauma from the coil.
Top side effects not reported
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