Opinions on the coil please

[Itstheprinciple]

I am nearly 40 and my nurse is telling me I need to consider other methods of contraception. I've been on the pill since I was 18, except for having a baby 14 years ago. I have always been happy with the pill primarily to have control over my periods. However, I am finding it increasingly difficult to lose weight and my libido is through the floor so I'm starting to think I should consider other options.

So my priorities are: light or absent periods, no weight gain, better sex drive. Oh and I'm a bit squeamish so will I be able to feel it? Any coil experiences welcome, good or bad.

Coil number 1 - copper fitted at a specialist clinic and was great. I loved it. it was a 5 year coil (remained in situ for 6.5 years )
Coil number 2 - copper, fitted at my GP's by the GP that nobody rates. Moved within 6 months, spent the next 12 months burying itself into the side of my womb. Periods all over the place and hard work.
Coil number 3 - Mirena, fitted in hospital last week straight after removal of rogue copper coil. Fitting - nearly fainted, was far worse than copper coil. So far nothing to report, bleeding but I was due my period anyway. I'm hopeful that this one has been fitted correctly (retroverted uterus - I think the reason coil number 2 moved is GP did not take the retroversion into consideration). But as to its suitability I am reserving judgement.

I hated my copper coil (not mirena as I don't do well with hormones). I am totally fine with smears & intrusive examinations, but it took my GP 45 mins to put it in, my 9 months old was screaming in the buggy - that part of the experience was a nightmare.

What came next was worse. I bled constantly for 6 months, with the odd day off here & there. But heavy, heavy bleeding. Going through 14-15 super plus tampons every day & having to wear pads as well. My GP couldn't have cared less. I felt tired & weak... down to blood loss I expect but anyway, and who wants an actual 6 month period???

I was desperate to have it removed, but the only female GP was in long term sick leave & the nurse couldn't fit me in for weeks. Funnily enough, I ended up pulling my own cool out accidentally after a very drunken wedding, thinking it was a tampon string Didn't hurt one iota, & I stopped bleeding the very next day.

Had my fourth mirena fitted 3 weeks ago. Spent last week in & out of hospital with a severe infection that's likely to have left permanent damage. Be aware of the risks, when it works it's fantastic but can be dangerous. Mine was removed due to the infection & no chance in hell I'd have another one.

I had a Mirena coil. It was pretty painful having it put in (had one dc prior to having it). It didn't work and ds is now 8 years old . I'm trying to get dh to have the snip, came off contraception a couple of years ago and have really light five day periods so no reason for me to want any contraception, which I'm pleased about.

@JustGiveMeGin I’m absolutely convinced they’re on commission for the damn things! Or at least push them so much because they’re relatively cheap and once “installed” hope they don’t need to see you for 5 years. Mine made my bleeding so bad that it bled itself and a year later when I was still having issues despite having had my fibroids treated a GP still suggested a mirena to me!! I’m surprised my response didn’t get me banned from the surgery!!

@Itstheprinciple

Or third option: DH gets snipped!

Snippy snip!!

Very happy with my coil
No negative effects, slightly sore going in and a few days after. Periods got lighter and lighter and have now pretty much stopped, 3 years in.

I've had two, no problems having them put in but you could probably get a train through my cervix. Great for no periods etc but I do believe it made me gain weight and totally crushed my libido. However as all this coincided with the onset of menopause it's hard to say if it really was the coil or other things.

Another vote for Mirena. First six weeks were dodgy, but the subsequent 27 years have been fantastic. Mirena #6 is in now doing sterling work as part of my HRT. I am going to have her gilded and framed when she is finally removed.

Vote against here, turned me into an angry chubbier version of myself, GP reluctant to remove, kept fobbing me off.

Ended up watching a YouTube tutorial (don't even ask) and removing myself.

Do not recommend.

I put on 3 stone in the years since I had the mirena Coil fitted. As I'm barely over 5 foot it's not a good look. It was a pretty reliable and simple form of contraception. Just a pity about the weight gain!!

My mum had the coil and didn't check it was in place...my little sister is 20 now!

The merina coil made me gain weight, forget what sex was, gave me really bad cramps and was a horrible experience.

I went for the copper coil a few years later and it has been great. No side effects at all. I was scared I would get heavy periods but they are 3 days long and light.

@emmathedilemma yep, they probably work out cheaper than the pill
I'm sure they must be great for some people but when they go wrong they are bloody terrible

I'm on the copper coil as I'm breastfeeding and didn't want any hormonal contraception. I hate it. That and Pfizer have given me the periods from hell. I bleed constantly and when my actual period comes along I get horrendous flooding. I feel it literally drains me! But I slightly prefer that than having another DC (I mean mine are lovely but I'm done!) So I'm carrying on until bf stops and then may switch to mirena.

Age 40, first mirena fitted to help with debilitating period pain due to endometriosis. Have had it in 3 months and so far no pain during period, which is so light it's barely noticeable. Fitting was uncomfortable but after a couple of days it all settled down. I was anxious about it, but do not regret it. No weight gain/feel better than when I was on the pill.

I put on a stone in 2 months and my face is still hairy(PCOS). I've come off it and lost 7 lbs in 2 weeks and I still have a hairy face 😂.

I love my Mirena. It was unpleasant to have fitted and the first two weeks were painful but nothing compared to the monthly pain of my periods. After 6 months no more periods. I had it replaced a few years ago and that was unpleasant but the fact I have zero periods is a huge plus.

The mirena was great for me. If you're having it sone I'd recommend getting it done at your local sexual health clinic (as suggested by my Practice Nurse) they do it far more often. It does hurt like a painful pinch going in but it passes.

OP I am your age and have a mirena and have no problem with it. However I struggle with weight gain and libido, particularly in the last few years and suspect peri-menopause.

It might not be the contraception that's causing you problems.

Don’t get the copper coil if you want light periods. I had crazy heavy periods for the 3 years I had it in… would leak through nighttime pads and get through 2 packs of those at least during a period. I believe it also made me anemic. I had it out early this year and my periods are now about 2-3 days and light.

I’m on my second Minerva and a big fan. But I’ve had two vaginal births so that helps. And I had a depressive reaction to the mini pill after DS2 was born (not after DS1 strangely) so that was out…so it was the obvious next thing to try.

Mirena even (blooming autocorrect)

Mine was great, in the past.

The mirena didn’t suit me at all. It took an hour to fit during which I passed out 3 times due to the pain (I’m no wimp and that hasn’t happened before or since). The first one got bent as she tried to fit it (!) so she had to use a fresh one.

I put up with it for 9 months. I bled every single day apart from 3. I had mild stomach cramps every day. My skin was shocking and I felt tired and down.

When it was removed I lost COLOSSAL clots for 3 days and 10lbs of water retention within a week.

It’s not for me!