Contraceptive Pill/Mirena/Implanon??? Which one??

[TaRhLi.]

So basically my cycle is all over the place and I have recently been extremely tires and having days of on and off spotting and when AF does arrive it is quite heavy for the first few days (last about 6/7 days).

I have been to my GP and have had a lot of blood work done, today I got the results that my iron levels are extremely low - 7 and should be a minimum of 15. So need to take iron supplements and go back in a month for a follow up BT to see if the levels have increased. The GP also is keen for me to have some kind of 'hormone' replacement to help create more standard cycles and to make them hopefully lighter as at the moment if/when AF arrives my body is getting depleted of more iron which she wants to avoid.

All other levels - progesterone, estrogen, FSH etc were all normal.

So my choices are Contraceptive Pill, Mirena or Implanon, these are purely for hormones NOT contraceptive as DH has had a vasectomy and we have never had a natural pregnancy (only IVF).

I am hesitant about the Pill as I have used it before and generally after the 21 day hormone pills and then the 7 day sugar pills just don't work as when I am taking the sugar pills my body just doesn't recognise that the hormones have gone and AF should arrive but doesn't.

So I am hoping that anyone who has/had the Mirena or Implanon can let me know if/what side effects you have suffered from and if you have found it beneficial or not. I don't want to use something that is going to have huge side effects of weight gain and mood swings etc especially mood swings as I have a very stressful life as it is (2 2 1/2 yr olds on the autistic spectrum) so don't want to add mood swings to the mix.

[Astrid]

You sound a lot like me, heavy, long periods. The mirena has been recommended, but for every person that loves theirs, there is someone else that had theirs removed. I have the same concerns about weight gain and mood. I am completely undecided.

[TaRhLi.]

I've been googling side effects of both and depression seems to be high on the list 9f side effects. This is a path I wish to avoid as I have so much to deal without taking something that can push me over the edge and some days I'm perched balancing trying not to fall so really don't need something to make me fall.

I'm also not happy that it appears constant bleeding can occur for months on end with both as well. I couldn't handle that plus that would have an even worse affect on my iron levels than my current random 35 - 100 day cycles.

My only other option is to go see my gynae and get his opinion now that my baby days are over.

[leckert]

I recently had implanon out as I was getting random break thru bleeding of varying strengths each time fairly often. I've just switched to mini pill since Christmas Eve and I'm about to go looking for something else as I've little patience for my boys (and they're fairly average at 4.5yrs & 20mths so not on the spectrum) and mood swings are all over the place usually towards the negative. I've also got family history of not dealing with progesterone only contraception (mum was pyscho apparently while on it for bleeding issues a couple of years ago & youngest sister didn't cope with it either). I'm still breastfeeding though so that limits me.

[Astrid]

I have opted for the Mirena. Had a different gynecologist at the hospital and we discussed it more in depth. Basically she said not great in younger women as still essentially developing, very good for women in their 40's.
My main thing was that I could get it removed ASAP if I wanted it out. Whilst there seems to be a limit in my area of who can put one in, there are more that can take it out. So if need be I can go to my GP clinic to get it out, whereas I have to wait till April to get it put in.

Many years ago I was on Depo, brilliant for my moods, had no period, my sweating had even reduced, but my weight gain was huge. When I was on it though, was when I met DH and he is terrible for my weight, we did a lot of indulging in that time, so I can't blame depo alone if at all.

[Amity]

I didn't have a period for six years when on Implanon and didn't have any other side effects. Other than an inability to lose weight, but I should blame the chocolate for that one

Am currently on the Pill and don't have any side effects either.

Everyone is different though

[Pholi]

I loved Depo for the lack of periods for many years, but then switched to a mirena. No bleeding the first time (perhaps because the Depo was wearing off) but when the Mirena went in the next time, 5 1/2 weeks after having my son, I was still bleeding post-natally at that point, and it kept going for another 2 1/2 months after that! I then didn't get a period until after the mirena came out 3 months ago because were ttc again, but I don't know if that was the mirena or BF or some other post-natal effect.

I haven't had any issues with mood or with weight gain, on any occasion, though I also had a body that did not bleed when it was meant to on the pill, and apart from the long bleed after it went in this time, I'd be quite happy to have it again.

[TaRhLi.]

Thanks for the replies.

I see my GP tomorrow, where she will ask my decision and at this time I'm just not willing to choose any option as I'm still anaemic and my younger twin is on the waitlist to have surgery to have his tonsils out. Plus I'm seeing a Plastic Surgeon early next month about having reconstructive surgery on my stomach to repair the damage the twins did, so the last thing I want to deal with are the possible side effects of the Mirena or Implanon if I choose either of these options.

As for the pill, well I'm currently over 100 days for this cycle - with only 2 separate days in this time with mild spotting for 1/2 day each- so to take something that will more than likely stop a non existent cycle anyway which would cost me money seems silly.

So will wait it out a bit longer and try and get all these other things sorted first and also have our 4 weeks family holiday in March and then might revisit it later in the year if needed.