Heavy Bleeding, the Mirena Coil and Speaking Up with Dr Áine Dempsey #176

How many women quietly put up with heavy bleeding, painful periods or a difficult coil fitting, telling themselves it is just part of being a woman?

In this episode, Laura sits down with obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Áine Dempsey, who works at BlackRock Women's Health and at the Rotunda, for an honest, practical conversation about the things women are so often told to live with - and what can actually be done about them.

Áine explains what a hysteroscopy really involves, why polyps and fibroids drive heavy bleeding, and when the Mirena coil is the right first step before ablation or surgery. She is candid about pain relief during coil fittings, the six-month settling period, and where the copper coil fits in.

The conversation moves into perimenopause and HRT, smear tests, HPV and colposcopy, and the realities of painful sex, vaginismus and caring for women who carry past sexual trauma. She closes on labour ward life, her own two pregnancies, the magic of epidurals, and why no woman should feel she has to suffer in silence.

At its core, this episode is about taking your own symptoms seriously and making your gynae health a priority.

🔑 Key Points

Heavy bleeding is not something to put up with

changing a pad every hour, bleeding for more than five days, or planning your life around your period all count, and there is plenty that can help.

Flooding is a symptom women rarely volunteer

Áine asks directly because most women never mention soaking through their clothes or sheets.

A hysteroscopy is not as frightening as it sounds

a thin camera and a well-briefed team can investigate bleeding, polyps and fibroids, usually without a general anaesthetic.

You deserve proper pain relief for a coil fitting

from paracetamol and ibuprofen beforehand to numbing gel and a local cervical block.

The Mirena coil takes about six months to settle

bloating, tenderness or mood changes often ease, and it can be used as part of HRT.

HRT is about long-term health, not just symptoms

beyond brain fog and night sweats, it supports heart and bone health.

Painful sex is not normal

whether it stems from low oestrogen, endometriosis or past trauma, there are options that help.

You do not have to suffer in silence

if something is affecting your quality of life, make your gynae health a priority.

📚 Resources

BlackRock Health Women's Health Centre

Hysteroscopy (HSE)

The Mirena and copper coils (HSE)

HRT and menopause treatment (HSE)

Cervical screening and HPV (CervicalCheck, HSE)

⏱️ Timestamps

02:04 - Inside a day at BlackRock Women's Health

03:23 - What a hysteroscopy actually involves

06:21 - Polyps, fibroids and heavy bleeding

09:02 - Heavy bleeding and flooding in perimenopause

10:11 - The Mirena coil as a first-line treatment

13:56 - Pain relief and what to expect from a coil fitting

18:02 - The Mirena as part of HRT, and sleep

20:04 - Mental health support through menopause

22:35 - Smear tests, HPV and colposcopy

24:35 - Painful sex and trauma-informed care

29:18 - Vaginismus, physio and the pelvic floor

33:34 - Her own pregnancies and epidurals

37:56 - Don't suffer in silence

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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