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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want the copper coil out after less than 3 months?

39 replies

Needadviceandfast · 04/11/2013 16:15

I previously had the mirena (for years) with awful side effects so decided to change to the copper coil. Yes I knew my periods were likely to get heavier, longer and more painful, but I'm on the second day of period 3 now and feel utterly horrendous. The pain is indescribable, it's so heavy I feel like I'm literally bleeding to death and it's bound to last for at least another 8-9 days...

Is it likely to get better over time? I'd forgotten how debilitating heavy periods are and really don't know if I can carry on like this. I have 3 kids and work 32 hours a week - no chance of having time off from either. I've no idea what to do about contraception now though, seem to have exhausted every option

OP posts:

honeybunny14 · 04/11/2013 16:19

Ive had my copper coil for a year now and i felt the exact same as you after a month of having it in but as i cant handle hormones i knew i had to give it longer and im so glad i did things calmed right down after about 6 months and now i dont even feel like ive got it the periods are still abit heavier than before and still get cramps but its your choice but id give it a little longer x

orangepudding · 04/11/2013 16:21

I took mine out after a few months. The relief was immense!

We now use condoms which is not ideal but I don't have the heavy periods or sore breasts I had with the copper coil.

OTheHugeManatee · 04/11/2013 16:39

It eases off after a couple of months. I still get quite heavy periods but IMO that's a small price to pay for having to worry about contraception about, er, once a year or less at a GP checkup

WhoNickedMyName · 04/11/2013 17:23

It does ease off after a couple of months.

Having said that my periods were only 2 or 3 days before the coil and went up to 4 or 5 days afterwards.

I don't think I'd put up with 8-9 day periods for more than a few months.

HowlingTrap · 04/11/2013 17:30

OP god no Op this is my nightmare, I jhope you do feel better soon.

SugarHut · 04/11/2013 17:39

Oh no...I'm just about to have one put in!!!! What is this sore breast thing? Only during periods?

MisguidedHamwidge · 04/11/2013 18:19

I had one in for less than 6 months as I couldn't handle nt periods. I also had period-type pain throughout the month. It was horrible and I felt annoyed that my GP told me that there were no side effects.

iggymama · 04/11/2013 18:43

Are you done having babies?

If so, you could ask about endometrial ablation, which removes the womb lining. Very light or no periods but you cannot get pregnant. This may not be offered unless your normal periods are heavy though.

Laurel1979 · 04/11/2013 18:46

It may settle after 6 months. I fit coils as a GP and when counselling patients beforehand I always warn them the first few periods will almost certainly be the worst they have ever experienced. If you are undecided about getting it removed, why not have a chat with your GP about medication that may help your current symptoms in the meantime. If there are no contraindications you could try something like Mefenamic acid.

orangepudding · 04/11/2013 18:47

Sugarhut, to start with I had sore breasts a day or two.before my period. Within four months they were very tender everyday! Calmed down within a couple of days of the coil being removed.

Justforlaughs · 04/11/2013 18:57

If I had known that I had had a copper coil fitted, rather than the mirena I asked for I would have had it removed immediately! It would have saved me 2 operations - and would have possibly cost me my DD2. I know that lots of people have no problems with them, but I had terrible periods for 6 months before succombing to "appendicitis" which transpired to be an infection of my ovary - resulting in surgery and then 12 months later on finding that I was pregnant and that the coil had "vanished" without trace, resulting in another operation to find it after giving birth.

areyoubeingserviced · 04/11/2013 19:00

I had a horrendous time with the coil. In fact i was in so much pain one day that i actually fainted. Dh was terrified and took me to A and E. I then had my coil removed.
Never again

SugarHut · 04/11/2013 19:31

Fucks. Sake.

I have a mental (literally) time on hormonal contraception, and have come to my wits end with condoms. I booked a consultation with the GP last week and just need to book my appt to have it fitted now. Was thinking this little copper device may well be the answer to my prayers! Well....until I read these little gems :(

I had heard of the heavy period side effects...and spotting a lot for the first couple of weeks (months?) but not these kind of side effects and problems.

Dammit.

Boboli · 04/11/2013 19:37

I had mine taken out as well because of this + I never really felt right with it in, I can't put my finger on it. Anyway, once it was out, everything went back to normal (.....except that I'm now pregnant )

Hope that things get better for you soon OP

WhoNickedMyName · 04/11/2013 19:38

Sugar don't let this thread put you off. Give it a try.

The copper coil has been my best contraception ever.

I can happily live with the heavier periods in exchange for being hormone free (and therefore not the psychotic/fat/spotty mess I was when on hormonal contraception). I have absolutely no other side effects.

I had the 10 year coil fitted and fully intend leaving it in for the 8 years it's got left.

Alisvolatpropiis · 04/11/2013 19:38

It does get much better op

Mine settled after 4/5 months and has been gloriously problem free for nearly 5 years now.

SugarHut · 04/11/2013 19:49

Apologies now for utterly derailing....

I'm about to have it put in on the basis that after a final split from on/off/on/off DP of 4 yrs, I have started seeing another chap. Now...we've already had a bit of a wobble, and while we have a great time together, I am very cautious that he may get another "cold feet" moment and bolt. With this in mind...do I want a contraceptive that will potentially play me up for the first 5 months of this relationship....or...if I'm not even sure he'll be on the cards in 3 months, is it worth the aggro?

Shall I endure bastard condoms for another 6mths, given that nearly all the bigger problems with the coil occur in the first few months and that's only how old this relationship is, so not exactly helping matters on the fun, spontaneous sex side. What would you do?

thecakeisalie · 04/11/2013 20:38

YANBU it doesn't suit everyone. I'm the same in that I can't have hormonal contraception. The copper coil increased my light 4 day period to a heavy painful 7 day period. Not completely unbearable and others have said it does settle down. I had mine for 2 years and only had it removed so we could ttc.

I felt a sense of relief when it was gone I hadn't realised how odd it had made me feel, I felt like a tense feeling in my abdomen had lifted.

I don't know what to suggest in its place I'm at my wits end with contraception too, were now considering dh having a vasectomy after dc3 is born as were done gaving babies and no options left!

Alisvolatpropiis · 04/11/2013 21:06

I would have it done sugar. I was 20 and single when I got mine.

My periods were a bit for painful for a short time but not agonising.

RaRa1988 · 04/11/2013 21:30

YANBU. I had one a few years ago, with all the problems you describe. Started badly: the 'hour or two' of cramping I'd been told to expect after it was put in turned into 31 hours of agony where I couldn't even sit up right - and they didn't even get it in; I had to go to hospital and have it done under GA. Should've known at that point! My GP refused to take it out until I'd tried it for 6-9 months. It never got better. I had it removed as soon as I could and would never go near it again.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 04/11/2013 21:52

If you already have 3 kids why not let your OH get the snip? Worked wonders for me!

FryOneFatManic · 04/11/2013 21:55

I have a copper coil. My periods are no heavier than they were before I began using hormone contraceptives. 7 days in total, but only the first 2-3 anything like heavy, and certainly the last 3-4 being v.v.light "sludge" (for want of a better word).

No stomach cramps on periods, in fact no real problems at all, and certainly none of the moods swings I have had with hormonal contraceptives.

I chose this as I wanted to quit using hormonal contraceptives (including Mirena, injection, pill, all things I've tried) as I had a number of side effects from them.

But certainly, a copper coil won't suit everyone.

Original poster

Needadviceandfast · 05/11/2013 08:48

Thanks so much for all the varied replies. Had a rough night - constant pain, felt faint and sick whenever I got up and was actually sick at one point (probably due to co-codamol....). I've had to take the day off today and am waiting to get an emergency doctor's appointment. Not sure where to go from here - it may well settle down in time but not sure I can cope with it like this until it does. DP doesn't like the idea of the snip.... and because my periods are naturally on the heavy and painful side thinks it won't solve the problem anyway.

OP posts:

CinammonGirl · 05/11/2013 09:30

I had severe pain after having mine fitted, so bad I could hardly sit up and was off work for a week. It did settle down and I didn't have any more problems for about 6 months when I began to feel unwell - and discovered I was pregnant!

beingacow · 05/11/2013 10:49

Copper coil is one of the best things I've ever had done. Ok, I get very very light periods without the coil, and when I had it they got a bit worse (probably more like normal periods), but I have no pain, breasts are not sore, no hormones to mess with my skin/libido/weight gain/water retention etc etc etc. If your body can tolerate them, copper coils are amazing. The only down side was the rigamarole of getting it done, GP surgeries in this area don't do them, only the family planning clinic which is miles away from me in a hard to get to place. But never mind, it was well worth it. Love my coil.

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