Thanks for replying
I have had the Mirena for 7 years. More accurately, I had one fitted in March 2016 and it came to light that it should have been replaced after 5 years when I changed GP practice in January this year. So basically it should have been replaced in 2021, but was in fact replaced in February (2023). I have had this one in since then. Having an extensive history of low mood, it was decided that the Mirena would be the best option - also I had a disastrous episode on a progesterone tablet in my late 30s, which was when my perimenopause symptoms started (I am 56 now and still in perimenopause). I think those tablets were called Duphaston (?). Anyway, I decided at the time that I would rather suffer the night sweats and hostile mood than feel suicidal.
I was on the patches at first (can’t remember the name), but couldn’t keep them adhered to my skin which is why I changed to the tablets. I didn’t have any problem with them and things were ok. My periods stopped around 2019, and I assumed that after 2 years period free I must be post menopausal. However, my periods started again last summer and, after various tests (ultrasound, hysteroscopy, blood tests) it was concluded that I was still perimenopausal. This was when the Mirena was removed and replaced.
A brief, but significant, period of not taking the Premarin (10 days) effectively put me back to square one. I have now been re-taking them for 4 weeks. My mood crashed, and I have been regularly seeing the GP to monitor progress. I think that the major factor in the mood crash was the fact that I had only been getting the progesterone, and the in weeks since I have been building the oestrogen back up. The reason for the switch to gel is the fact that it can be titrated better - I am on the highest Premarin dose, 2 X .625mcg.
I’m sorry for the long response, I hope it makes sense.