I am going through the menopause. At the moment I am taking clonodine hydrochloride for the sweats and I still have the merina coil in. I started to bleed 5 days ago, and I notice that I have blood every time that I go to the toilet. Is this normal? I have also been a lot more tired and depressed lately, and I find it difficult to motivate myself to do anything. I cry a lot and my sleeping pattern is all over the place.

The Mirena Coil is primarily used to stop ovulation and conception, but as you go through the menopause your hormonal balance changes and ovulation stops and continuing with the coil may, for some women, cause problems. It is important that you go and see your doctor about this.

It may well be that the coil is no longer appropriate for you now and your doctor may be able to offer other options.

Also, low iron and low thyroid can often appear at this stage and both can cause fatigue and low mood so it would be a good idea to ask your doctor to test for these as well.

Eileen Durward