To want a copper coil rather than a mirena?

[coffeeforone]

I have an appointment next week to get a coil fitted, my first ever form of contraception (aside from condoms/withdrawal), at the age of 33.

I spoke to GP about wanting the copper coil at my 6 week postnatal check and she convinced me that the mirena was much better, no side effects as only local hormone release and no periods. Sent me away to think about it.

Now I'm not saying she was lying, but reading online, the mirena apparently can come with side effects because of the hormones. The copper one will probably make periods heavier but other than that I can't see any downsides.

I'm in 2 minds to try the mirena, albeit with the risk of side effects, but the one thing that puts me off is the possibility of increased appetite and weight gain. I'm currently working hard to shed the 3 stone I have gained over my past 2 pregnancies and am very motivated at the moment. I don't want this to derail me or reduce my limited willpower. Am I overthinking this and are the chances of side effects very low, or should I stick to my original choice of the copper?

“Hormones stay in the uterus” yeah right. Is there nothing a GP won’t say to push the mirena?

I have a copper and it's great but I had to fight like hell for it. My gp was fine with it but couldn't fit it. The FPC however... they really wanted me to have a Mirena. I had to really firmly and repeatedly say I wanted copper and even then, when I was lying legs apart, ready to roll, I asked them to check the model they had ready to insert as I just felt suspicious and it was a Mirena. They acted like it was an accident and got me a copper but I'm unconvinced. I think they were hoping once it was in I'd be happy regardless... despite me saying I don't want hormonal birth control as it doesn't suit me. Their objections were that I'd probably complain about heavy periods, it would hurt (it didn't and I have a low pson threshold), I hadn't had a baby, and my age - 23. All of which would surely be Mirena issues too.

Heavier periods but they settle and no other issues. I'm planning on replacing it but not immediately as I'd like to be bc free for the first time since 16 for a few months. Plus budget slashes have really reduced services near me so it'll probably take that long to get sorted. Coil should have come out in Dec but due to a hellish schedule and barely any provision any more near me (one clinic left which does them, miles from me which was closed due to tech problems when I was able to go) it'll probably be out in March.

I had a rubbish time with copper coils. I went into cervical shock at fitting and managed to expell both my first and it's replacement while still in situ they each caused me continual cramps and spotting. I must have been unlucky, as a lot of women have no problems.

I only wanted it to control heavy periods (no need for contraception) so avoided the copper coil like the plague as it would only make a bad situation worse.

I love my mirena. No negative side effects at all, and I was able to lose 2 and a half stone relatively easily last year (and have kept it off). Obviously there is a risk of side effects with ANY medication, but going on statistics (which is all doctors can go on) they are relatively rare with the mirena, which is why so many recommend it. For me it took a little while for my periods to stop, had spotting at first but it got lighter and lighter until about 6 months post insertion and I’ve not had a bleed since (three years). Of course it’s not right for everyone but it is a good option for many women.

However, it is up to you what you choose, as long as there are no medical reasons why it can’t be prescribed.

I’m v sensitive to hormonal bc, so I said copper coil, please. That was 15 years, one LLETZ treatment, four pregnancies and four coils ago. I don’t regret it in the slightest, and since that first time, doctors have been happy to replace it rather than try to push the mirena on me.
It’s a very individual thing - I’m sure the mirena is great for many women, and some women get heavier periods with the copper coil, but it’s your body.
Afaik there is no significant contraceptive advantage to mirena over copper - it’s like 99.5% vs 99.8%.

Had a copper coil fitted a month ago, have had one period which was heavier and lasted longer but was expecting that.

Had to be quite blunt with the nurse and doctor, who were both pushing the mirena, but I'm happier not having hormones in me, after gaining a lot of weight on the pill

I also had cervical shock, when having my last coil fitted, nearly passed out completely.

I have a mirena, mainly because I was having really heavy periods. My periods have stopped altogether since having the Mirena.

Not noticed any side effects, this is my second one, about to have it replaced. Not that I am looking forward to it. I have had two children, but I find having the coil inserted really painful.

I had Mirena coil and it was awful, it made me moody and horrible. I tried other pills and realised I don't really cope well with extra hormones, I've had copper coil for 2 years now and I've had no problems at all.

There is a mini-pill (norgeston) which uses the same sort of progestogen (levenorgestrel) if you can still get it. It is the old sort, so a lower dose than Cerezette which seems to be the pill du jour.

It might be worth trying this to see how you get on with it if you are not sure about the hormone. I think it has a similar amount of levenorgestrel in the blood as Mirena but you would need to check that (it is a bit complicated as you need to know what is in the blood rather than the dose that is taken/released). Mirena has some figures somewhere)

I wanted copper, no hormones. But somehow ended up with merina. Had it in 5 weeks and have had no problems. A little uncomfortable for a few days then a little bleed but nothing since.
I'm trying to lose weight and it hasn't had a negative effect on that. Appetite is the same if anything I'm eating less and lost more weight really

I had a fight with a gynecologist about this. He was trying to persuade me of the benefits of the mirena when i was insistent on copper. He said "Only about 10% of people have a problem with it." I said I thought that was unacceptably high, and then asked what percentage of people had a problem with it who also had a history of anxiety/depression. He said he didn't know.

I know it's brilliant for a lot of people. I wouldn't go near it with a ten-foot barge pole.

The copper is fine. Periods a bit heavier, but other than that, works really well.

I had copper ones on and off for 10 years + while conceiving my eldest 3. No probs what so ever.

I had one copper coil out purely because it had been in for 7 years (!) and the doc said we should check all was ok. He was worried it might have imbedded ( ) and warned that after 7 years the extraction might not be pleasant. Well, it popped out with ease He pursueded me to get a mirena put in as a replacement and i just bled and bled with the damn thing for 3 weeks. Had cramps as well. Went back and said take it out please and give me a copper one. Copper one went in 2 days later and all was perfectly well again.

I have a Mirena and I love it. The insertion was extremely unpleasant (but I suppose that would be the same for the copper one too) but I think it’s well worth it.

I don’t have any side effects but I generally do well with hormonal contraception anyway.

My DP had mirena fitted, it gave her atrocious migraines, like 4 a week. It took months for her to convince the GP to take it back out, migraines stopped within a fortnight. She's had no problems since on the copper coil. Obviously this is all anecdotal evidence, but please don't let your GP convince you that the Mirena never has any side effects at all

Mirena is 100% the worst thing I've had in my body (and going by some of my exes, that is some accomplishment). I had all of the bad side affects and more; I had it for years so it was no 'settling' period. I was borderline psychotic 3 out of 4 weeks of the months (very suicidal), I could go months without periods or have non stop bleeding for weeks, almost constant PMS with no 'relief' like you do when you finally get your period, hair loss, acne, weight gain... I eventually took it out myself after a particularly stressful day. Of course, it works wonderfully for some people, several family members and friends love it.

I've had the copper a while now and it's the best thing I've done contraception wise. There has been no hormonal interference and it's not made a difference to my period which was average anyway, although the cramps have been worse, but not unbearable. I did get mine done at the GUM clinic though as I heard that they are better at insertions (more practice) and I was advised to have it done during my period when you're cervix is more accessible. It was uncomfortable, but no where near as bad as expected.

I’ve had the mirena for about 15 years. No problems whatsoever. I had horrendously heavy periods, and I actually had it to control them, rather than as a contraceptive. If your periods are light enough that making them heavier doesn’t fill you with horror (no exaggeration) you would be ok with copper I’m sure. The mirena changed my life though - and it wasn’t ‘pushed’ as aPP suggested happens, I had to push for it. My sister also has it. We could both be saleswomen. I know several other women with it - no side effects for them either.

I've just had the copper coil inserted. The Dr tried to persuade me to have the Mirena at first but then understood about not wanting hormones.

MrMeeseekscando you are so right about still getting 'ovulation horniness' , I wouldn't change to Mirena just for this reason alone

Gp surgeries benefit from you getting the mirena rather than copper coil.

Personally I think such "incentives" should be stopped!

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/11678916/IUS-hormonal-coil-The-troubling-truth.html

Is just one article

Numerous threads on here and reports elsewhere of many women who've had problems with mirena (and I fully accept that for many others it's a godsend) who then experience real obstacles getting it removed (I believe because if it's removed within a certain timescale they lose the incentive)

Personally I don't think coils are a good method of contraception (and some would argue not actually contraception at all as one of the way it works is in removing already fertilised eggs which depending on your beliefs may be considered an abortion), many issues for many women over the years that I would not recommend to any woman who hasn't completed their family.

I find it deeply disturbing but sadly not surprising that gp's are outright LYING to women that the hormones "stay local" sexism in medicine is deep and widespread.

Aside from anything else IF that were true the hormonal effects wouldn't work! (It's not true it's bullshit)

Coldilox - there are many mirena users who had it removed who've found that gp's aren't accurately recording the issues. I believe it's entirely possible - again because the waters are muddied by the "incentive" - that gp's are not accurately reporting side effects to the appropriate authorities I believe there's a campaign by ex mirena users on this? Sure I've seen a link on a previous thread but can't find right now.

Stick to your guns op and have what YOU want it's your body

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm a bit irrationally scared to even try a hormonal contraceptive because of the anecdotal side effects, hence why I have never done so.

I am swaying towards just asking for the copper and hope they don't try to convince me otherwise.

I had the copper coil for a few years and it did make my periods much heavier. I have pretty light periods naturally which only last 2 or 3 days, but on the coil they lasted 7 or 8.

Apart from that I was quite happy with the coil, but then I started to get terrible back pain (like so bad I would cry) for a day or two between periods. No one seemed terribly concerned or convinced that there was a link with the coil, but I took matters into my own hands and had the coil removed and the pain completely stopped. It’s been a year since I had it removed now and I haven’t had that pain since.

It makes me so angry how readily women’s pain is dismissed!

I had the mirena, weight gain moods etc for the first couple of years, got used to it -possibly - I lost the weight and felt fine anyway, until the five years was up... had a new one fitted and started to have all the old problems. After a fair amount of fuss (with the doctor) I had it removed and the copper one inserted and am much happier for it.
I liked not having periods but often felt like I was having the pmt/pms symptoms just without the bleeding.
My periods are pretty light now, lighter than when using the pill and I’ve noticed absolutely no side effects.

I had the Mirena and now am on the copper coil. Fitting isn't great for either of them, but I'll admit the copper fitting is just that little bit worse.

Honestly, the first 6-8 months on the Mirena were great, no period, no real impact on my mood or weight. Then my period came back, but it was almost laughably light, there was so little of it. But over time I developed migraines and mood swings and felt genuinely like a crazy person. I'd had the Nuvaring before in the states, which apparently is similar in its delivery system, but never had any issues with it (possibly because of the weeks when I'd take it out?). But my anxiety and depression went bananas on the Mirena.

I asked to have it taken out, was told by my doctor to really think about it. I wussed out for a while and about a year later had it removed. I wish I'd had it taken out sooner, though, because it was like night and day. I went from having three or four meltdowns a week to being fine. I realised my worst day of PMS was a normal day with it.

(possible TMI warning) I got the copper coil about nine months ago.Without the coil I have an irregularly timed, but fairly average flow cycle. With it, it's still irregularly timed. I am not the average user, I now have a day like that scene from The Shining, followed by a week of spotting. My Shining day is no issue, because I'm a committed cup user, so there's no issue there.

I'll admit I have one day where I have to pause several times a day because my cramps have actively stopped me in my tracks. That usually passes reasonably quickly.

Honestly, though? It's the one for me. I'll keep it, warts and all, because I love knowing this sucker is as good as it gets.

GPs receive bonuses for pushing along acting contraception on women over the pill - wouldn’t be surprised if they get more for the mirena based on how it’s pushed.

You’d have to kill me before putting a mirena in me again. Made my life a literal hell for the 12 months until they managed to get the bastarding thing out surgically - I ended up losing my job, mainly housebound, on enough morphine to kill horse... never ever again.

It's truly fucking shocking how women are treated by the medical profession. This is just one example sadly.

I love Mirena. On my second one. Not everyone hates it! Brill for endometriosis....