To ask for some positive feedback experiences for mirena/copper coil?

[Afritutu]

I am sick of taking the pill, been on it for decades and seriously panic about missing one and then accidentally falling pregnant (got 2 DCs, don't want any more). Hate condoms, and would feel edgy about using them as birth control. GPs are pushing mirena but I have heard so many scare stories about weight gain, pain, lack of sex drive. I have always had very light flow, so am not a candidate based on the argument that it will reduce flow dramatically. Surely there must be loads of people who haven't gained weight or had problems!!?? Please reveal yourselves to give me some reassurance.

I had my coil fitting about 5hrs ago if anyone wants to quiz me! No DC

my copper coil failed to prevent DC4. Have a Mirena now which is great though I still live in fear of DC5.

Mirena didn't give me DC but it did give me a non-stop flow of gunk that drip drip dripped the entire 6 months I had it for.

That would have been bad enough, but for me the real killer was the smell. Vaginal fluid that kept coming also smelled awful.

It all went away the second Mirena flew to the bin. Thankfully.

I have a copper coil and it's awesome. Tickled a bit having it installed and my periods are a touch heavier but it's hassle-free, doesn't make me fat or mental or leave much room for error in forgetting to use/take it. 100% recommend

I'm on my second and I love them!

I have no side effects and no periods.

They were fine going in - maybe as uncomfortable as a smear at the worst. I think it helped that I had them put in at family planning clinics rather than GPs, they are doing them all day, every day.

Re fitting - as I've never had a baby both fitting and removal where quite sore. A couple of painkillers a hour before hand took the edge off second time around. I would recommend anyone to do same just incase. Still worth it though.

I had heavy, painful periods for years, back-to-backed paracetamol and ibruprofen for several days every month and always worried about flooding. I had the mirena coil inserted about two years ago and once they settled down after a couple of months it's been brilliant - I basically don't have periods at all now. Haven't particularly noticed any side effects either. I'm very happy with how it's worked for me.

Afritutu I was on the pill for 10 years, then had a 5 year copper coil fitted. Periods became shorter in duration but heavyish for just a day or so each month. Other than that, absolutely no side effects. It was lovely to really feel like me after the years of slightly feeling my personality was being modulated by the synthetic hormones in the pill. Considering the copper coil is a more effective contraceptive than the pill, (though have noted the MNers here who have kids who were conceived with IUD in place! ) and doesn't have any of the hormone side effects many women complain of, not to mention the known & as-yet-unknown long term health risks, it baffles me that more women don't get one fitted. I liked that there was nothing to remember to do / take and I couldn't feel it.

I had it removed at the end of the 5 years, and another one fitted. That one was removed after a couple of years as my husband and I wanted to try for a baby. I got pregnant very easily, and didn't notice any difference in how I felt with it not there anymore compared to when it was in place.

Both my coils, as I mentioned, were fitted before I had kids, and apparently this means it's generally more painful than if you've had kids. Some women also experience a vasovagal reaction due to the nerve being tweaked with the activity in that area - means you feel faint and queasy and need to stay lying down for a bit. This happened to me both times - though it would never put me off having a coil again in the future. If you do decide to go for it, I would recommend you take strong painkillers at least 40 minutes beforehand, ask for local anaesthetic first as they don't routinely administer it, and make sure you have someone to drive you home.

I would never again use hormonal-based contraception - the copper coil has been brilliant for me and I would recommend unhesitatingly. Hope this helps, and all the best with whatever you decide.

I had a copper coil for 4 years pre-kids, then after kids again. I think it's been in for 6 years now? First few months are heavy, but after that, just normal periods. No weird head like the pill. I wouldn't do the Mirena for that reason, and also because my sister had fertility problems once she'd been on the Mirena. Fitting before kids was like a painful smear, after kids, I barely noticed, was just glad for the lie-down, I think!

Thanks for posting this OP. I'm currently BFing DC2 (3 months old) and trying to decide between the mirena and the copper coils. I think I'll go for the copper, having taken all the above posts into account.

Copper coil for 10 years.... No problems and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone.