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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get coil removed because it makes me feel moody?

29 replies

OliveCane · 29/05/2015 22:45

I had the copper coil fitted about three weeks ago and since then I have just been permanently grumpy and PMS like.

I can't take hormonal contraceptives so having it removed would be going back to just using condoms alone. I also cannot get pregnant! (don't want to go into reasons here)

AIBU to get it removed or should I give it more time?

OP posts:

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 30/05/2015 00:30

I've never had the coil so I can't really advise too much but I didn't want your thread to go unanswered,
The only thing I would say is go back to your Doctors and tell them what you've told us. They May say Oh it's normal to have pms type moods up to 6 weeks after on which case you know you should give it more time. They may say. Thank goodness you came to us. This is not the right contraceptive for you . Not every contraception suits everyone.

Plarail123 · 30/05/2015 04:42

I have a copper coil as I too can't have hormonal contraception. I say keep going with it, it takes 6 weeks to settle down. I have had mine in for 3.5 years and it is great for me.

laura2392 · 30/05/2015 11:29

Hi, I am experiencing the same situation, I've only had mine in for 3 weeks and I'm extremely low and anxious and I've been reading a lot about copper toxicity and its making me wonder if it's that!

NobodyLivesHere · 30/05/2015 11:30

Give it a bit longer.

Lavenderice · 30/05/2015 11:44

I'm not really sure how it can be affecting your moods as it has no hormones.

Original poster

OliveCane · 30/05/2015 14:18

Laura, its good to hear I am not the only one.

I am very aware of my moods (I keep a diary and its always around my period that I feel grumpy), so I know its related to the copper coil.

OP posts:

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 30/05/2015 14:22

I'd give it a few more weeks - maybe so it's been in for 6 like Plarail says - and see then.

If it is affecting your mood then of course have it taken out. You might need to think of a good argument though as it "shouldn't" affect mood and so they might say no. A lot of women have had to argue to get Mirena's out as though they have hormones they are supposed to be low and localised and therefore not affect mood (despite what loads of women report).

SorchaN · 30/05/2015 14:24

I used to have one, but I don't remember it having any effect on my moods.

You don't mention whether you've had children, but I know a few childless women who just didn't get on with the coil - apparently coils can be easier to tolerate in women who have previously had children.

Maybe talk to your GP?

shaska · 30/05/2015 14:25

Mine didn't make me moody but it did take a fair while to settle in physically. I'd give it a bit of time unless you have an alternate contraception option you'd like to try - for me it's coil or condoms and I really don't like condoms so I am/was willing to put up with a bit of annoyance from the coil.

SorchaN · 30/05/2015 14:26

People have to argue to get it taken out? Wow! Why would any doctor refuse?

I took mine out myself when I hadn't had sex for over a year... probably not to be recommended though...

Original poster

OliveCane · 30/05/2015 14:32

SorchaN, yes I have had kids before.

OP posts:

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 30/05/2015 14:48

Sorcha I think because they are expensive and they are supposed to not have side effects and so when women say they are having side effects and can you take it out please some doctors / HCPs are unwilling as they think the side-effects are imaginary / give it more time / etc as otherwise it's a waste of time and money IYSWIM.

scarlettsmummy2 · 30/05/2015 14:53

I had one put in in March, and it took a few weeks to settle down, more down to heavy periods, but fine now. I would give it another few weeks.

alovelycuppatea · 30/05/2015 15:39

I had copper coil for nearly 3 years and had it removed when ttc. Had no impact on mood thankfully (I was really badly impacted by any type of hormonal contraception), but I did spend half the month every month bleeding which was a bit of a nightmare. Ended up a bit anemic in the end! I tolerated it however as the 2 weeks in between were lovely! I'd stick it out a little longer....I remember being told it could take a few months to get established.

Angel1983 · 30/05/2015 17:37

I'm getting the copper coil fitted next week. I have been assured that there will be no side effects other than heavier periods. I really hope that this is the case, as I've been taking cerazette and that just made me a very angry person.

On a related note, how painful was the insertion? I'm a bit terrified!

Skiptonlass · 30/05/2015 17:54

I'd say give it a few months to settle in. It shouldn't have affected your hormones at all if its a copper one but I remember my mirena took a few months to bed down. After that though, it was amazing ! 6 weeks isn't long at all, I'd give it more time. I felt like my uterus was a bit "what the fuck is this thing? " for a little while, then it gave up and accepted it ;)

Angel, it's not painful per se. I had a mirena when I had not previously had kids. Get someone who does lots - the better practised they are the easier it is for you.
She injected the cervix with lidocaine or something to numb it. It's uncomfortable but really no worse than some smears I've had. An bit of rummaging around, couple if quick jabs with the lidocaine, one sharp but very short feeling when they measure the uterus size, then another when it's inserted. So two sharp pinches really. It was very quick.

You can be crampy after so get someone to drive you home. Take a couple of painkillers beforehand and you should be fine. I think if you have had kids, it's much less uncomfortable too. I will certainly be having another one when the baby is born! I too reacted quite badly to the pill but mirena is very localised with a much lower hormone dose. I had hellish cramps for a few months, then ta da! No periods and not much cramping. It was fab :)

Skiptonlass · 30/05/2015 17:56

Laura, do not worry about "copper toxicity" - internet woo pseudoscience of the highest order! :)

helenahandbag · 30/05/2015 18:58

I wanted the copper coil because the depo hormones were sending me batty but I posted a thread a couple of months ago about the hideous insertion - spasms, vomiting, fainting and unrelenting agony that lead him to remove it after just an hour. He actually worried about a perforations because I was in so much pain I've been on the mini pill since but I'm like a crazy person and I'm so angry, argumentative and unreasonable all the time that I'm coming off it. Back to condoms but hopefully less psycho!

Original poster

OliveCane · 30/05/2015 21:53

Angel, please make sure you are going to a specialist place where they specialise in fitting coils. They MUST have the anaesthetic gel that is inserted into the vagina to numb the area.

I had it done at a family planning clinic at a hospital and had a lovely doctor who was so professional and gentle and honestly I was terrified as I had a smear test last year and that had been very painful! This wasn't painful at all - there was a little discomfort but not much at all. Make sure you take paracetamol also before the appointment. If you are in London PM me and I can send you the name of the clinic.

OP posts:

Original poster

OliveCane · 30/05/2015 21:54

Skipton, that's what I am hoping too, that it's nonsense but I can't explain why I am feeling this way ...

OP posts:

shaska · 30/05/2015 22:05

I didn't want to say this before but it is sort of impossible that the coil itself is causing you to be moody I think.

What I would theorise, as a complete layman, is that perhaps your uterus is going 'oi!' about this mysterious metal thing and as a result somehow your brain is going 'uterus going 'oi!' = PMS therefore moody'.

Angel I was unconscious while I had the IUD inserted (swapped it for a pregnancy, to be crude) but I'm not going to lie - the first couple of periods were quite an experience. Everyone's different, I do still get heavier cramping and bleeding than I used to but for me it's still the best option. All you can do is see how you go really, but a lot of people find it totally fine. Just depends I think!

scarlettsmummy2 · 30/05/2015 23:01

Getting it initially in was just slightly more uncomfortable than a smear (get your smear done at the same time if you are due one!), but I had a big cramp immediately after insertion which was like a contraction. After that it was totally fine, except for longer periods.

Gennz · 30/05/2015 23:19

I had a copper coil for nearly 5 years before I had DS and am waiting for periods to come back so I can get another one. The best form of contraception I've used and I really don't react well to hormonal contraception (have tried several pills, mini pill, depo provera for several years in my 20s.)

However, although the copper coil doesn't have hormones in it, it does have a hormonal effect on your body - part of how it works is to thin the lining of the uterus so any sperm that get through can't implant. This has a knock on hormonal effect. I realised this when I got it out, we were TTC and I was convinced I was pregnant the first month. Period was 10 days late, boobs massive, felt nauseous, weird non-PMS type cramps.

I consulted Dr Google and it's the hormonal effect of the uterine lining building up again. So perhaps there is a corresponding hormonal effect when the coil is first implanted and the uterine lining thins?

Potterwolfie · 30/05/2015 23:36

Copper coil didn't work for me, made periods extremely heavy at times (unable to leave the house heavy) and lasting 20 days at a time. After DS 2 arrived 9 years ago I've had the Mirena coil (replaced when necessary) and it's transformed my life. Virtually no periods and no side effects (that I know about), though I do still get PMS symptoms, but not bad. I've always had my coils inserted during a smear appointment...gets it all done at once!

Newquay · 31/05/2015 10:40

Well I've had copper coil on for 6 months and I've been in pain pretty much constantly and therefore very ratty and moody. Having it taken out this week and hopefully the pain will go (although I've also got chronic constipation which also hurts). Anyway I'm going to go for the Essure contraception - apparently it's a new form of non hormonal permanent contraception. They stick a camera up you and put in 2 stainless steel 'staples' as I understand it. Like sterilisation but without needing an op. You need to be referred to a specialist in hospital to have it fitted. Apparently not mNy gps know about it. I've not dr googled it yet though. I just can't wait to get coil out - just hope it's the source of my pain.

Re removal - I've battled with my gp ('let's look at Physio first, let's treat constipation first, let's try a gynae.....and then if it really doesn't work then we can remove it. It would be a shame to remove it so early. Etc' - I can see their poiny but still). Anyway I'm going to the family planning clinic to get it removed - saying that I'm going to ask for a referral for Essure and want coil out in advance .

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