Cramping and IUD is this Normal?

[GoGoJo]

I had a copper IUD inserted three weeks ago. Had some cramping and bleeding immediately afterwards which ramped up in intensity until my period which was due on the 29th but came a little early and was heavier than usual but finished on time last weekend.

Since then I have had some mild cramping during the day but over the last few days have been woken up with really bad cramps during the night. Today I took a couple of ibuprofen at about 11.30 when I went to sleep and have now been woken up at 3 with really bad cramps. Like the worst day of a normal period focused on lower left abdomen. I just wanted to see if this was normal and I should just woman up or if I ought to go and see someone?

All made somewhat trickier as I am currently overseas (hence the time difference) in a country where English language is an issue.

What do you think. Should I go back to the doctors? If so can it wait until I'm back in the UK next weekend?

Yes I would go back to your gp and request an ultrasound scan just to make sure the iud is still in the correct position. I had the mirena for approx 6 months and although a scan showed it hadn’t shifted, I was experiencing a lot of cramping so I had it removed. It’s foreign so perhaps your body is trying to expel it in a way.

I had a lot of pain with my copper coil. The same as you describe. I put up with it for eight months before I had it taken out as it was too much for me. Definitely get it checked out when you are back in the UK although it is early days and it’s probably still settling in to place. I found the pain came back after a period as it moved about again.

The copper coil made my cramps 10 times worse than a normal period but switching to a mirena made the cramping almost disappear.

I had a copper coil fitted a couple of months ago and read up on everything I could find about it beforehand to prepare me for the worst.

Iirc - cramping can last for a good 6 months and be worse than typical period cramps.

• It can perforate the lining of the womb and needs removed if it does, this only tends to happen very soon after being put in, so is a possibility with you, it is pretty rare though.
• It can move out of position without percolating the womb and need sorted.
• There is a bigger chance of infections for women with a copper coil than without.
• It can take a while to settle down/for you to get used to it and cramping can be a part of this.

There could be other reasons for your cramping too so if it doesn't settle or it gets worse I would recommend getting checked out in case the coil needs removed. Personally I would try to wait until I was back in the UK just because of the language difference, but if you need to then get checked out sooner, it is better to be seen than not if there is a problem/infection that can be sorted/treated sooner than returning to the UK.

(Thankfully my experience has been great but the very nice Dr who did mine did say if I had any problems to just turn up at the (once a week) clinic without an appointment and she would check me out when she got the chance. I think most health professionals who deal with coils would be happy to check them if you thought there might be a problem.)