Mirena Coil - Virginia Primary Care/Virginia Medical Practice

MIRN,NA COIL
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of yourwomb(cervix)intothe top of yourvagina.lt worksfor up to five
Years'
How effectiveis the Mirena?
The MirenaCoilis over99%
methodof contraception.
reversible
The MirenaCoilis a long-acting
year,
thenonlyone of themwouldget
effective.Thismeansthat if 100womenuseMirenafor a
pregnant.All long-acting
methodsareveryeffectivebecausewhiletheyare beingusedyou do not
there
However,as withall methodsof contraception
haveto rememberto takeor usecontraception.
is a The Mirenais alsoeffectivein managingheavy,painfulperiods.
Whenwill the Mirenastart to work?
protected
cycleyouwill be immediately
The Mirenais fittedin the firstfivedaysof yourmenstrual
method
lf it is fittedat any othertime,youwill needto usean extracontraceptive
againstpregnancy.
for the first sevendays.
How does the Mirenawork?
.
.
.
lt makesthe liningof yourwombthinnerso it is lesslikelyto accepta fertilisedegg.
lt alsothickensthe mucusfromyourcervix.Thismakesit difficultfor spermto movethroughit
and reachan egg.
but mostwomenwho havea
an egg (ovulation),
ln somewomenit stopsthe ovariesreleasing
Mirenafittedovulate.
What are the advantagesof the Mirena?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
lt worksfor five years.
Yourperiodsusuallybecomemuchlighterandshorter,and
afterthe first
sometimeslesspainful.Theymaystopcompletely
yearof use.
The Mirenacan be usefulif you haveheavy,painfulperiods.
Can be usedif you are breastfeeding.
returnsquicklywhenthe Mirenais
Yournormalfertility
removed.
likethose
lt is usefulif you cannotuseestrogens(hormones),
pill.
foundin the combined
The Mirenais not affectedby othermedicines.
What are the disadvantagesof an IUS?
.
.
.
to you
Yourperiodsmaychangein a waythat is notacceptable
Some
may includeacneand headaches.
Otherside-effects
womenreporthavingbreasttenderness.
The Mirenadoesnot protectyou againstsexuallytransmitted
so you mayneedto usecondomsas well.lf you get
infections,
an infectionwhenthe Mirenais in placethiscouldleadto pelvic
infectionif this is nottreated.
The Mirena Coil
To have the Mirena
fitted pleasebook a
double appointment
with Dr. Foyle and a
PracticeNurse.
You needto provide
the Mirena Coil.
The Fee for fitting the
Mirena is €120
This serviceis covered
on the Medical Card.
How is the MirenaFitted?
to findthe
The Mirenais fittedinsidethe wombby a trainedDoctor.Theywill examineyou internally
any
for
will
check
they
positionand sizeof yourwombbeforetheyput in the Mirena.Sometimes
maybe givento you at the sametimeas fittingthe
antibiotics
Sometimes
possibleexistinginfection.
Mirena.
cycle. lt usuallytakesabout15-2Aminutes'lt
It is usuallyfittedbetweenday 3 -T of yourmenstrual
or painfulfor somewomen,andyou mightwantto havea painkiller.Your
can be untomfortable
You mayget a periodtypepainafterthe
doctoror nurseshouldtaif to you aboutthisbeforehand.
can helpwiththis.
Mirenais fitted.Painkillers
What if I feel unwellafterthe Mirenais fitted?
or a smelly
lf you feel unwelland haveany painin yourlowerabdomen,witha hightemperature
diichargefromyourvaginain tfie firstthreeweeksafterthe IUSis fitted,see a doctoror go backto
You mayhavean infection.
the clinicwhereit wasfittedas soonas possible.
Howwill I knowthat the Mirenais still in place?
The Mirenahastwo threadsattachedto the endthat hanga littleway downfromyourwombintothe
top of yourvagina.The doctoror nursewillteachyouto feelfor the threadsto makesurethe Mirena
is stillin place.you shoulddo thisa few timesin the firstmonthandthenaftereachperiodor at
regularintervals.lt is veryunlikelythatthe Mirenawillcomeout,but if you cannotfeelthe threadsor
Usean extra
againstpregnancy.
if you thinkyou canfeelthe Mirenaitself,you maynot be protected
you
hadsex
lf
away.
straight
your
nurse
doctoror
method,suchas condomsandsee
contraceptive
contraception'
recentlyyou mightneedto useemergency
How often do I needto see a doctor or nurse?
you needto haveyourMirenaCoilcheckedby a doctoror nursesixweeksafterit is put in.The
questionsor wantthe Mirenaremoved
Mirenacan stayin for fiveyears.lf you haveany problems,
you can go and seeyourdoctoror nurseat anytime.
Whencan the Mirenabe removed?
The Mirenacan be removedby yourDoctoror Nurseat anytime,by pullinggentlyon the threads'lf
you are not goingto haveanotherMirenaput in, andyou don'twantto becomepregnant,usean
method,suchas condoms,for sevendaysbeforethe Mirenais takenout' Thisis
er,tracontra-epti-ve
to stopspermgettingintoyourbody.Spermcan livefor up to sevendaysinsideyourbody,and
Yournormalfertilityreturnsquicklyafterthe
couldfertilisean egg oncetheMirenais removed.
Mirenais takenout.Youwill usuallyhavea periodwithina monthor so. lf youwantto try for a baby
caresuchas takingfolicacidand stoppingsmoking.You can ask yourdoctoror
startpre-pregnancy
nursefor advice.
Will the MirenaaffectmYPeriods?
yes. ln the firstsix monthsit is commonto haveirregularbleedingor spotting.Periodsmaybecome
lighterthanusualor maycontinueto be irregularand manywomenfindthattheirperiodsstop
lf this happensto you,do notworryas it is perfectlyhealthy.
altogether.
I'vejust had a baby.CanI usethe Mirena?
and can be usedsafelywhilebreastfeedingThe Mirenacan be fitteda few weeksafterchildbirth
PleasediscussthisfurtherwithyourDoctor.
PleaseNote:You needto purchasethe Mirenafrom the Ghemistprior
to your appointment.