Benilexa coil vs Mirena coil

Amazing

I had my first Mirena fitted after the birth of my second child. It seemed to work well although my periods became even more irregular than then they were before and I had weeks of spotting at a time especially as I was approaching the 5 year mark. However overall I was satisfied and opted to have it replaced when it expired. This was quite traumatic and took a very long time as the strings had moved making it hard to access. However, the GP was able to remove it and I had a second one fitted which worked much like the first one. However, when it came time to have that one removed and a third one fitted my cervix went into spasm at the point of fitting the new one which was extremely painful and after what felt like forever the GP told me they were unable to fit a new coil that day and to come back. I went back and tried again a month later and the same thing happened. A month after that I was admitted to hospital with an abscess in my fallopian tube caused by repeated failed attempts to insert the coil. I was in hospital for 4 days and off work for over 3 weeks due to the pain/side effects of the antibiotics I had to take.

This was the first coil I had put in and the process itself was okay but felt very woozy and nearly fainted on the way home. Overall it was not a pleasant experience! I have since swapped to the copper coil and this process, whilst not fun, went a lot smoother! I had the hormonal coil removed primarily due to it's effect on my mood (feeling very low a lot of the time) and big drop in sex drive. It's worked very well for many of my friends but really just didn't suit me!

The insertion process took longer place at my GP without the local anaesthetic and it was much less scary than made out to be. It took 10 minutes, I experienced a few cramps the day of and for the following few days but was otherwise ok. Initially I had no bleeding but from around 5 days post insertion to 6 weeks post insertion, I had significant spotting which affected my mood and my sex drive. Eventually this stopped. I did have irregular periods, however when they did come, they were the same as usual, no lighter. I suffered with acne and intermenstrual cramps during this time. I put up with it for 12 months to ensure I had time for it to settle in but unfortunately this was not the right choice for me.

I’m 44 with recently diagnosed PCOS and endometriosis which is why my specialist told me to try the Mirena to lighten the lining of my uterus and help with my awful periods. I had to go off of the pill at 40 and suffered for 2 years while debating what to do. I got the mirena in at 42 and have had it 2.5 years now. I do get pelvic pain and cramping twice a month for a few days randomly and feel like I can tell which ovary is active but it is still better than dealing with the bleeding and irregular periods I had previously. My periods are non existant apart from spotting for a few days but not enough to even merit wearing a liner! Sex drive is definitely lower and dryness comes and goes as well but breasts have grown which I’m not upset about! I’m leaving it for another 2 years then will decide if I should opt for a hysterectomy.

Wish I'd got the Mirena coil sooner it's been great for me! I have no side effects, my periods have almost stopped except for a little spotting once a month. Insertion for me was a little painful and I had immediate cramps but by the end of the day they had passed (I had an anaesthetic injection which probably helped with the pain). My first period after insertion was heavier and more painful than usual and I had some spotting throughout the month for about 6 months, but now my periods have almost stopped.

I had an awful time getting it in and out. I have never given birth, which can make it worse. The cramping pain was so bad, I vomited when getting it in and they had to use arterial forceps to remove it as the strings got lost (ouch). My skin was better and my moods were more stable. My period also stopped which saved a lot of money. I gained a lot of weight, though and the amount and intensity of my migraines increased a lot. I also had terrible cramping pain despite no periods, which was linked to PCOS. I haven’t had any symptoms since getting it removed 2 years ago.

the coil was much better than the pill for me, especially in terms of my mental health.

Overall helped to regulate my periods, but also had significant side effects on my food intake/weight and on my energy levels.

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.

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.