Experiences of copper coil

[xxxParisexxx]

Hi all I have had my second baby recently and want a long term contraception as we are just using condoms atm.
I dont do well with hormones, used to be on the patch for a few years, bad mood swings.
Any experiences with the copper coil? My periods have always been light, regular and no pain

I've had mine in almost a year. My periods were like yours. Now they are a little heavier and a little longer but still nothing bad.

I love mine as don't like hormones at all.

I had the copper coil for 10 years before I was sterilised, it's the best contraception I ever had. Not entirely without difficulties towards the end but a million times better than hormonal contraceptives ever were for me. My periods were neither heavier or more painful that in a contraceptive free state. I'd certainly recommend it

I used the copper coil from age 20 when I found I couldn't tolerate the pill until 36 when I decided to have children. So for 16 years. It was perfectly fine, periods marginally heavier. Nothing to remember just check the threads every month.

After two DC I went for a Mirena coil because my periods were by then very heavy. In spite of not doing well with the hormones of the pill it was absolutely fine and I had several going right through to the menopause.

Mine took a couple of months to settle down period-wise. It was fine then...except during sex the strings (metal) got rubbed against my cervix and made it bleed. It might depend on how big your partner is we didn't go into that with the GP, she just removed it because it was causing pain and bleeding

That's brilliant, thanks all x

I have one and love it - there was heavy bleeding for the first little while and then heavy periods for a few months iirc but I will be having a new one fitted when the five years are up soon. I hated hormonal contraception but stayed on it for years - I wish I’d had a copper coil earlier.

How painful is it to be put in?

How painful is it to be put in?
Less painful than a bad period.

I have had the copper coil twice, once before my first pregnancy and the second after.

As previous posters have said, it takes a few months to settle down. Your periods will probably be heavier than before but in my opinion, it's worth the pay off of not having to take anything hormonal, which never agreed with me.

In my experience it was far more painful getting it inserted before having a baby. As you've had kids it should be just slightly uncomfortable.

Good luck :)

I had two insertions and two removals. Insertion was like a very slightly more uncomfortable than usual smear test (but better than the smear I had once where the nurse scraped rather hard). Removal was very easy indeed, I felt nothing either time. I always took a couple of ibroprofen half an hour before my appointment but TBH that was probably overkill.

That's good to know x

I found it a bit painful on insertion but it was quick, because the gynaecologist was very experienced and accompanied by a really good nurse who made skilful small talk with me at the right moments and then it was over.

Be gentle with what you expect of yourself afterwards though - some people feel wobbly. The doctor actually told me that when she first had one inserted herself, years back, she’d walked out of the surgery feeling ok and then passed out on the pavement! I think that’s unusual though.

I feel lukewarm about mine. I much prefer the pill, which I was on for 18 years. But nearly 40 now with no plans to have any more children so wanted something long term with no hormones. My periods are more painful and ovulation especially is painful, but the worst is that the bleeding has been horrific. I would liken it to postnatal bleeding. I have to wear the most absorbent tampon I can find plus a pad. I’ve had a few instances of bleeding all over the place, running down the hall dripping blood everywhere. It’s fairly barbaric. It’s been a year and it’s settled a bit but still 7-8 days long and very heavy. They were light and 3-4 days before this, so quite a shock.

It’s worth a try. If you don’t get on with it, you can always get it taken out. I have an appointment to discuss switching mine for mirena, though not sure what I’ll decide in the end. It’s not painful to have put in though. Quick pinch and it’s done, no big deal.

I had it after my 2nd baby until DH finally had the snip.

My periods are naturally heavy any way and on this they were even heavier and I eventually became quite anaemic. If yours are light now you should be OK from what I've heard.

I did suffer with recurring thrush and UTIs while I had it though. There's no official evidence but from threads like this it's not uncommon, so just something to watch out for. I've had thrush once in the 3 years since I had it removed, and no UTIs.

I suffer with thrush frequently already so something to consider x

I’ve had copper coils since DD1 was born (18 years ago) with just a short break for DD2. Each new coil led to about a year of heavier periods. They were inconveniently heavy but each time, just as I thought I might give up and have it removed, they settled down. I found insertion a bit painful and never wanted to do much for the rest of that day but perfectly manageable.

On my 2nd, insertion was fine, removal easy but I did go to a clinic so they were experienced. I had quite heavy periods anyway but I now get 1 extremely heavy day each cycle and they last 8 days, still preferable to hormonal contraceptives for me though. I've recently been diagnosed anaemic and on 3x iron tablets a day so I've got an appointment to discuss sterilisation as I'm done baby making!

As contraception it was fine. Bit more painful than I’d expected to get it in (take painkillers beforehand) but OK. Unfortunately, it made my periods much heavier and longer. I developed anemia as a result and eventually had to get it removed because of this.

My periods were heavier for a bit then settled down. Taking painkillers before hand helped.

I'm now counting the days until we can check whether or not DH's vasectomy has worked

I’ve had mine in for over 8 years. But crampy when it went in but not too bad. Hasn’t affected periods at all.

I didn't get on with mine. Periods were stupidly heavy which I could just about cope with. I also had recurrent bouts of BV which I had never had before. I lasted about a year and had it removed. I'm glad I tried it though. In between the periods and BV it was a relief not to have to worry about contraception.

I had a copper coil for 8 years and then it caused an infection that led to a hysterectomy. Was awful

I had one for a few years back in my 20s. I had a terrible experience with insertion and removal, it hurt me and caused an infection and scarring. I believe it has affected my ability to carry a baby to term.

Oh, and periods were absolutely horrendous.

I've had mine in for 4 years with nothing negative to report. Periods are slightly heavier than previously but fine.