Copper Coil - Pro's&Con's / Thoughts / Experiences

[JustBeenNosey]

So I went to the GP for more anti depressants and we got chatting about contraception.
I'm on Cerelle at the moment and although I'm 'doing all the right things' in terms of helping my depression/anxiety such as going to the gym, back on meds (after self harming quite bad) and whatever else but I still feel terrible, down and shitty.
The only other thing we haven't looked at is my contraception.
My GP recommended the copper coil but a few of my friends have had some really bad experiences such as one piercing her womb, the other ended up with lots of complications whether to do with the coil or whether it all happened at the same time.

I just feel really uncomfortable at the thought of it being there and I'm not a squeamish person but it does make me cringe a little bit.

Please help me and tell me loads of stories about it being like in a land of unicorns and clouds when having it fitted and all that shite jazz.

I really want to know if people have noticed there are positive outcomes in terms of depression/anxiety and any help would be much appreciated.

@RoxanneMonke oh that's good then, that's why I like to hear 😂

@Babymammy hahah I'd be like that, just forget about it, ignore it and hope for the best 😂👍🏼

@Doghorsechicken yeah I wouldn't tell my partner because he's probably be all weird about it 😂😂🙈🙈

@MrsLettuce yeah I might have a look into what the criteria is. I'm only 25 but I know I don't want kids, never have and more than likely never will 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Isitmybathtimeyet I haven't had a period for about 2/3 years with being on the pill and injection. Just home from Doctors, been for my smear and the nurse was asking me when my last period was and I was like.. urrrrrm 🤷🏼‍♀️😂
That's the one thing I'm abit worried about is the periods again.. but oh well I supppse you can't have everything can you haha

I have always been very anti hormonal contraceptives. So when I was done having children I had a coil fitted. Fitting was painless. No side effects. Periods are the same as always (a lot of women report heavier/longer periods but the nurse I spoke to said this mostly cake from women who had hormonal contraceptives before switching). I can’t feel my stings and don’t really bother checking-it would be pretty obvious if it came out.

I have a copper coil, I've had one for about 15 years . I took it out and had ds and put it back again. I like that I have no hormonal treatments in my body and always found the pills tricky . I've had no side effects .

You’ve just reminded me mine might need changing....I’ve had it 9 years I think!

I have never had one issue with it......not one. I totally forget about it.

I can’t think of a better contraceptive tbh - no synthetic hormones, no maintenance, no pregnancy!

I've been so pleased with mine - have had them since my dd was born, now on my last one & it'll do me into menopause (am 49). So, so much better than hormonal contraception if you get along with it. Yes it's a bit unpleasant on fitting, but I wouldn't say much worse than a smear test (I take ibuprofen beforehand as recommended).

Mmm I think at 25 and childless you'd have a hard time getting sterilised even privately TBH. Women are generally felt not to know their own minds when it comes to not wanting children. You'd be more likely to be taken seriously in another 10 or 15 years.

Might you be able to manage with condoms and avoiding sex around ovulation for a few months? That'd give you a clearer picture of the hormonal side effects and a chance to get used to periods again. Then you'd be in a better position to assess any side effects you might have from the copper coil compared to your natural cycle.

It was very easy for me to get approval for my sterilisation but I'm not in the UK, unable to use any other reliable form of contraception and have two pre-teens. So an entirely different set of circumstances.

I'm not saying you don't know your own mind on not wanting kids! I'm sure you do. I've not known anyone ever change their mind on it actually. Doctors tend not to accept it is what I meant.

@Racecardriver oh I'd probably have quite bad periods then as I've always been on the pill/injection for about 10 years.

@hendricksy oh that's good to hear 😀 is liking all the 'normal, straightforward, pain free' stories

@mooncuplanding do you get a letter from the doctors to go get it changed or is it down to you to remember?

@Sadik yeah I found the smear test uncomfortable, not painful but I think I kept my legs too tense, she kept telling me to relax but it's pretty hard when you have a woman between your legs with a big thing shoved up you 🙈

@MrsLettuce no i understand! A lot of people would probably be shocked if I told them I'd been sterilised so young.. but if it's an option then I definitely would take it however I know how the conversation would probably go.. so no point.

My partner doesn't like using condoms he refers to them as Tesco carrier bags 😂🙈
So I guess I'll have to make the switch and go to the coil and see how that goes.

I'm very grateful for all your honest comments.. it really has helped me make my decision.
You mumsnetters really are good people ☺️☺️

Just to add my penny worth..
I have had a copper coil now for almost two years, it suits me very well. Period lasts a day or two longer than it used to but not heavy.

Like you I had very heavy periods as a teen but they have definitely mellowed with age and even by my mid twenties were fine, so yours could be too.

Copper coil isn't so good if you do have very heavy periods as the even slight increase in bleeding can lead to anemia.

I know you said that your partner " doesn't like" condoms, but what would be best for your body and mental health and to enable you to make a fully informed decision about what contraceptive is most suitable would be to go with condoms for a few months as pp suggested. To find out what your natural cycle is like and to see how you feel without hormones...

After all you have put yourself through over the years and are planning to do ( coil can hurt going in and as you know isn't risk free) I would expect a kind and supportive partner to be prepared to rubber up for a few months... And if he won't
There are some very good, very thin condoms available, he is giving you a teenager style excuse.

Yes, I couldn't agree more bumper! It's very selfish and daft of him, I don't think anyone, man or woman, actually likes using condoms but it would be most unreasonable of him to prevent you making a fully informed decision because of it. I mean you don't actually like having to take the pill do you OP? What's a couple of months compared to the commitment to responsibly for contraception you've taken so far in your relationship and are looking to take in the near future?

@bumpertobumper @MrsLettuce hopefully my periods won't be too heavy 🤞🏼

To be honest we hardly have sex anyway at the moment. I've had a tough year with my anxiety/depression and it's just been one of them things that's the last thing on my mind so I probably could do with not being on the pill anyway 😂

He'll be fine. I just won't tell him I'm getting the coil fitted 😂😂 and if he's weirded out by it then tough luck lad!
As a PP said, ignorance is bliss hahaha

Sorry guys for another post..

I was told a horror story the other night 😱
My friends friend is a community nurse and she's been at a ladies house.

This lady had had the coil fitted for 10 years and was having it taken out.. when they were taking it it had cut her inside/ruptured something..
She went to hospital and went into a coma..
She then got sepsis because of an infection due to internal bleeding..
Because of the sepsis, she had to have her feet amputated.

She lost her two feet because of having it taken out and were all worrying about having it put in 😂🙈

I was mortified when she told me!

Oh my god! I'm going to loose my feet

Well that was irresponsible of your friend.

Millions of women have various IUDs and they work, are safe and have no adverse issues/side effects etc.

Of course there's the odd horror story. But there is about everything!

For instance: I hope you're not going to drive to the appointment, because I've got a friend who was in a terrible accident last year and ended up with a traumatic brain injury.

If you're going to be put off getting a good form of contraception by your friend's one second-hand (and probably wildly inaccurate) anecdote, you should also be put off driving forever too. (And the stats for driving are far, far worse).

If you're not going to give up driving, then go get your coil.

FWIW I also happily had a copper coil for 5 years between DCs. Made my periods super heavy, so after DC2 I've gone for the Mirena. No issues with either (I still have both feet) and would (and do) recommend them to everyone.

I've had mine over a year now and I love it. Periods are fine, no horrid hormones and the fitting was a breeze. I went to the local sexual health clinic so presumably they're very used to doing them!

I have a 5 year coil rather than a 10 year one, as it's a bit smaller and I had a lot of pain when using a mirena coil. I haven't had a ny pain with this one and it's honestly the best contraception I've used.

You can get sepsis from any sort of wound, so unless you plan to spend life in a bubble it is a risk! There was a man on the radio the other day who got a graze and within 48 hours was in ICU with sepsis and lost all four limbs and most of his face.

@beargryllshasabigrope oh I didn't know they did a 5 year one, I just presumed from these comments they were 10 years ones!

@Isitmybathtimeyet oh god, that's unfortunate

I suffered mild copper intoxication, my body didn't expell the absorbed copper the way it should resulting in some side effects of irritability, hair loss, constant thrush, tiredness, variance in mood minute to minute- I was a mess. These things gradually got worse, got it removed after having it in for about 18 months. I will say I know other who have it with no problems, I'm the only person I actually know in person who had issues. Was completely painless for me getting it put in and taken out

I had problems, periods lasted twice as long and were very heavy, cramps were awful and would take my breath away and have me double over, they came like stabbing pains, I became very anxious, my hair fell out and years later hasn't recovered. There's always a lot of people on here with positive experiences but it was awful for me.

The reason why I got it originally was to avoid the hormones. I started using the diaphragm afterwards, bit of a hassle but I liked knowing there was nothing permanently in my body.

@ifoundthebread oh no! How are you since you've had it taken out?

@Emma765 oh god, sounds the same as ifoundthebread.
How are you now though?

I didn't even know these sort of things were side effects, they don't really tell you stuff like this at the doctors which is why I like coming on here for advice as there are usually a lot of people been in the same situation