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As you know, one of the reasons for the development and aggravation of endometriosis is abortion. Therefore, for women suffering from this disease, it is important not only high-quality treatment, but also reliable contraception.
The Mirena spiral successfully solves these two problems: it protects against unwanted pregnancy and has a therapeutic effect. The high efficiency of the spiral in endometriosis is beyond doubt, therefore, gynecologists use it quite often in their practice.
The mechanism of action of the spiral
Mirena is a hormonal contraceptive that works locally. The coil contains small doses of levonorgestrel. This substance belongs to the group of gestagens.
Levonorgestrel enters the body of a woman in a dosed manner and has the following types of therapeutic and contraceptive effects on it:
Suppression of estrogenic activity against the background of endometriosis, due to which a pronounced antiproliferative effect is achieved.
Suspension of the ovulation process while maintaining the function of the ovaries and the normal level of estradiol in the blood.
Inhibition of the function of the corpus luteum.
Decreased blood flow in the endometrium.
Thickening of mucus in the cervical canal.
A change in the structure of the internal uterine wall, which leads to the appearance of mild menstruation or their absolute absence.
Mirena not only treats endometriosis, but also prevents a woman from getting pregnant. Therefore, the spiral is an excellent solution for those patients with endometriosis who wish to protect themselves from conception.
The spiral is installed for 5 years, which allows for a sufficiently long period to get rid of the need to take oral contraceptives and use barrier methods of protection. This is very convenient for women who are not planning a pregnancy. However, it should be understood that Mirena is not just a spiral, but also a drug, moreover, a hormonal group. Therefore, you should not make a decision on its installation yourself. It is necessary to consult a doctor and find out if there is a need to introduce such a drug into the body. It is important to evaluate all possible risks and complications from the use of Mirena.
What is a Mirena coil?
Outwardly, the spiral resembles the letter “T”. It is placed in the conductor tube. The core containing the hormone is white. The opaque membrane controls the flow of levonorgestrel. On one side of the spiral there is a loop that is necessary to extract it. On the other hand, the design is equipped with hangers, with the help of which the spiral is fixed in the uterus.
To whom is the installation of Mirena spirals indicated?
The Mirena coil is well suited for women who are diagnosed with endometriosis at an early stage. Pathological foci of inflammation under the influence of a hormonal drug will gradually fade away and take on a reverse development.
It is not recommended to put the Mirena coil on those women who plan to conceive a child in the near future.
The spiral can be installed both in patients of reproductive age and in postmenopausal women suffering from endometriosis. Wearing Mirena is possible against the background of a woman undergoing hormonal treatment, but on condition that the scheme does not contain progestogens. The spiral is set for up to five years.
Experts recommend this spiral to women after undergoing surgery to remove foci of endometriosis (provided that there are no contraindications to its introduction).
Research and analysis before installing the spiral:
General examination by a therapist.
Examination on a gynecological chair.
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
Ultrasound of the mammary glands.
Examination of a smear from the cervix.
LHC smear analysis.
Exclusion of the presence of genital infections in women.
Spiral installation. Mirena should be inserted by a physician experienced in the placement of intrauterine devices. The doctor is obliged to open the package only before the direct introduction of the device into the woman’s body. The entire procedure must be carried out under sterile conditions. The coil is inserted into the uterine cavity. The whole procedure is almost lightning fast and does not take more than 30 seconds.
It is allowed to install a spiral immediately after an abortion, or 6 weeks after the birth of a child.
Removing the spiral. The doctor should remove Mirena from the body. To do this, the doctor gently pulls it out by the threads, using special forceps for this purpose. When the threads are not visible due to their presence in the uterine cavity, a special traction hook is used to remove the spiral. If necessary, the cervical canal is expanded.
Contraindications to the use of the Mirena coil
Before deciding to install a spiral, a woman must undergo a comprehensive examination. This will minimize the risks of developing side effects from the use of a contraceptive.
Contraindications to the use of Mirena are:
Pregnancy.
Inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.
Infectious diseases of the genitourinary system.
Endometritis that develops after childbirth.
Postponed septic abortion and cervicitis (not earlier than 3 months).
Dysplasia of the cervix.
Malignant tumors of the uterus and cervix.
Breast cancer, the presence of hormonally dependent tumors in the body.
Vaginal bleeding that has an unexplained cause.
Fibroids.
Liver disease in the acute stage.
It is quite logical that Mirena is not installed in women with individual intolerance to levonorgestrel.
Benefits of using Mirena
Elimination of painful and heavy bleeding during menstruation. During the period of using the spiral, women note that menstruation becomes scarce, or stops altogether. This happens under the influence of a medicinal substance that Mirena releases. This effect should be considered as positive, because due to the suppression of ovulation, it will be possible to get rid of the growth of new foci of endometriosis and provoke atrophy of existing proliferations. By the end of the third month of using the spiral, the volume of menstrual bleeding is reduced by 88%.
Due to a pronounced decrease in blood loss, women manage to get rid of iron deficiency anemia.
The severity of dysmenorrhea when wearing Mirena is reduced.
During the use of the spiral, a woman will be able to forget what menstrual pains are. They will be less and less intense every month. After a while, the pain will stop bothering you altogether. In parallel, the pains provoked by the overgrown foci of endometriosis will go away.
The benefits of using the Mirena coil for the treatment of endometriosis are clear. After all, a woman does not have to take pills every day, trying not to miss the next dose of the drug.
The spiral has only a local effect on the body. The drug hits “right on target”, so it requires a very small amount. In this regard, you can not be afraid of a high risk of developing side effects such as weight gain or problems with the veins. Achieving high concentrations of levonorgestrel in the uterine cavity makes it possible to make its endometrium immune to estradiol.
A woman does not have to spend money on buying expensive contraceptives.
Installing the coil is very simple and takes a few minutes.
An overdose of the drug is excluded, since levonorgestrel is released from the capsule continuously in small portions.
Side effects from using Mirena
The most common side effect from the use of an intrauterine device for women is the appearance of spotting spotting in the middle of the cycle. They are observed in 10% of all patients, but disappear 3 months after the installation of the device. It is also possible the formation of benign ovarian cysts, which over time tend to resolve on their own.
Some women note a decrease in libido, a deterioration in mood, increased nervousness, headaches, nausea, and back pain. Acne, breast tenderness, and weight gain may occur. However, after stabilization of the hormonal background, these side effects disappear.
Is it possible to get pregnant after removing the coil?
It has been proven that the use of Mirena does not affect the childbearing function after its removal. Studies have shown that after the removal of the spiral, 80% of women were able to become pregnant within a year. Therefore, you should not worry about the fact that Mirena affects the further reproductive abilities of a woman. While while wearing a spiral, the risk of conception is extremely low. The overall pregnancy rate per year does not exceed 0,16 per 100 women.
Important recommendations
Although the use of the spiral is quite well tolerated by women, nevertheless, one should not forget about its presence in the body.
If the following conditions occur, you should consult a doctor:
Migraine-type headaches that did not bother the woman before.
Deterioration of vision.
Yellowing of the skin.
Significant increase in blood pressure.
Violations of the function of hematopoiesis. The use of the spiral must be abandoned in case of a stroke or heart attack.
If a woman becomes pregnant while using the coil, the device must be removed as soon as possible. Otherwise, it may lead to miscarriage. If it is impossible to carefully remove the spiral, there is reason to consider the issue of artificial abortion.
1-3 months after the introduction of the spiral, a woman must definitely visit a doctor and undergo an examination. In the future, an annual observation by a gynecologist is shown.
If, after removing the spiral, a woman wants to continue using it, then the introduction of a new device is possible immediately.
It should be remembered that the use of the Mirena coil does not reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.
The spiral is not suitable for the treatment of advanced endometriosis, since its use will not bring the desired effect.