AIBU to be terrified I've fucked up my health?

[alwaysaskingquestionz]

I've had a coil in for SEVEN YEARS.

Is this normal? I'm starting to really worry that it's not. What if I've permanently damaged my reproductive health??!! I know I'm stupid and I should go to the doctor but I'm just too frightened.

[esiotrot2015]

How old are you ?
Do you have any dcs ?

[Buttwing]

I've just had one fitted and I'm sure the gp said it can stay in for ten years.

[FurbysMakeSexNoises]

You'll be fine. Use condoms till you've got an alternative. I'm a GP and have removed a coil 7 years overdue before and they were fine!

[Pishedorf]

If it is the copper coil it can stay in for 10 years. If it's the Mirena coil it's meant to be in for 5 years. It won't have damaged you but you will have been incredibly lucky not to have fallen pregnant.

Just get it out. You will be fine. Contraception doesn't cause permanent fertility problems, it just masks them.

[FurbysMakeSexNoises]

Depends on type of coil- mirena and some copper ones are five years, some copper ones are ten years, varies.

[TheWintersmith]

Doctor told me, it's not that it does any harm being left in, just that it stops working

(Might also have forgotten about mine)

[Buttwing]

Sorry yes should have said mines the copper coil.

[Skiptonlass]

No, it's fine.

The 5 years is how long they are tested to release the correct amount of hormone.

I'd use another form of contraception till you get it out but there's no harm at all done by having it physically in there for a couple of years extra.

[a2011x]

It will stop working at some point but won't cause any bad effects. I work in a sexual health clinic and we saw a woman a few weeks ago who had had her five year coil in for nine years. Coils also work longer than they say they do because they air on the side of caution but I expect yours is expired now. Just get it changed/ exchanged, no problem

[NittyDora]

Like a2011x says, it'll be fine. Just have a wee chat with someone who can see your notes from when you had it put in and they will let you know when it should be removed/changed. I work in sexual health too and I have come across spectacularly out of date coils and its usually entirely fine.

[alwaysaskingquestionz]

Oh thankyou all so much!
I was so scared I had to make myself come back to this thread. Feeling so much better now. I will ring my doctor for a chat about it.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I had mine in for 5 years (it was a 5 year one), I don't think they damage you in any way if left in longer, just cease being effective though probably not immediately.

[drudgetrudy]

I left a copper coil in for 15 years and it did me no harm. However I wasn't planning more children so I don't know if it had any effect on fertility.

[Happfeet2911]

Relax honey, unless you're an angel there are far worse thing you will probably have done! If it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger !!!