To ask you to reassure me?

[iwasagirlinavillage]

Posting here for traffic as I posted in Women's Health and didn't get any responses.

I had the copper coil put in 8 months ago. For the first month I had some spotting but no spotting since. My periods have been longer and heavier but more or less the same each month. Until this month, when I had one day of spotting, then nothing for 2 days, then 3 days of spotting, a period for 10 days - 3 of which were very heavy - and since then (over a week ago) I've had spotting and cramping on and off. Since yesterday the cramping has been constant but the spotting hasn't. I checked the strings of the coil last night and felt a bump on my cervix. I've also felt very fatigued for the past 3 weeks - more than the usual tiredness from having 2 children.

I'm going to try to get an appointment with the GP this morning and I know that's the only way I can get actual answers, but I'm really worried about what's going on and would like to hear if anyone has had something similar and it's all been fine.

I think you are right to have a check up. I had loads of problems with the 3 coils I tried and the last attempt it was taken out as I had passed out due to the pain. The damn thing had 'migrated'! Sometimes you need to trial things but ultimately if your body doesn't get on with them you need to listen to it and find an alternative method. On a bright note the relief when they were removed was instantaneous with no residual damage.

Do you think these symptoms are most likely due to the coil? It seems strange that these problems would have started 8 months in. Which concerns me that it could be something else.

I had this. It is called a Bartholian cyst I think! Nothing to worry about.

Did you have spotting and cramps with it @wombatsears?

The copper coil gave me really bad cramps and I never had them before. As soon as it was removed they went! Not really much spotting but much more heavy periods

Bartholins cyst on on the labia not the cervix

OP your cervix has a hole in it and when you feel with a finger you feel the edges iyswim so don’t panic but do get the doctor to check

Could be an infection
Could be tired as bleeding a bit more overall and a bit low in iron or anaemic
Could be hormonal/peri menopause

Don’t panic but get a check up

Must tell GP if the bleeding is after sex at all as would need colposcopy referral in that case

Thank you for the responses.

I thought the same about the tiredness - that my iron could be low due to how heavy my periods now are.

The bleeding is mostly after sex. And yesterday it was during - TMI but I felt blood trickle out of me when we changed positions. That's what has concerned me the most.

I'm quite familiar with the feel of my cervix as I regularly feel for the position of the strings and the bump is definitely new.

I have an appointment for this morning. Will they definitely do an internal?

Yes
If they don’t they are not treating you properly altho there may be some benefit in deferring if you are bleeding heavily

You need colposcopy
Not a smear (that is screening only not when you have symptoms)
Don’t leave without a colp referral!

I’m gynae consultant btw

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond @Whereareyouspot.

I'm not bleeding heavily now. It's only been spotting between my periods and after sex. But persistent. I hope they're thorough and don't just dismiss it as being a side effect of the coil. I know it could be, but this has started so out of the blue that I want them to check for and rule out other causes as well.

He did an internal and couldn't see a lump but said I have an ectropion so that could be what I felt. He did say that can bleed more easily, especially during sex, but that it wasn't bleeding now and didn't look inflamed. He did say there was a lot of discharge but I've noticed that since I had the coil and another doctor assured me that the coil can increase discharge (it smells metallic and she said it's most likely the smell of the copper). He's taken some swabs and said that if they come back clear then to wait another full cycle and see if it's the same. That I could have not ovulated properly and it's just a one off. If it is the same next month and the swabs are all clear, then he'd refer for an ultrasound to check above the cervix. If that's all fine then he said they could burn away the cells at the cervix to deal with the ectropion.

I feel reassured as he said the cervix looks normal and there's nothing concerning there by sight.

Bartholins cyst on on the labia not the cervix

Sorry, I meant nabothian cyst - similar type of thing

That sounds thorough (good GP) but sorry I don’t think it’s quite enough.
You are bleeding after sex. That is a red flag.
Reasonable to wait for the swabs in case an obvious infection can be treated but if they are negative then waiting another cycle doesn’t seem right. And an ultrasound doesn’t assess the cervix.
You also need colposcopy. Not all problems are visible.

Wait for the swab results then if clear go and ask for a colp referral. You can do the other stuff whilst that referral is going on.

Out of interest have you always attended your smears and have they been negative each time?

Yes, I've always had my smears and they've always been normal. I'm due to have one this year.

What do you think the possible causes are? How long would I most likely have to wait for a colposcopy?

I'm in two minds as, on the one hand, the ectropion seems like a likely cause. But on the other hand, he said it wasn't bleeding and didn't look inflamed. And considering it was only yesterday that I bled from sex I'd have thought it would look inflamed if it had come from there. I'm also uncertain about the increase in discharge now as, although that's been present for a while, when he said there was a lot of discharge and I relayed what the previous doctor had said, he said "well, there is a lot". I should have asked what he thought that indicated, but I was mostly relieved that the cervix looked ok.

Most likely is the ectropion

Discharge does increase with a copper coil and also varies throughout the cycle

Infection can cause bleeding and discharge

But you need cancer ruling out. It’s low likelihood with a history of normal smears for sure

But it’s the one to know it isn’t iyswim then you can relax and work out what to do

Checking for infection first is definitely a good plan. But if it’s normal I’d say colp then can assume if normal it’s just the erosion.

You could probably be a 2week wait cancer referral so not long to wait

And don’t panic. Cancer is the least likely.

Plus do a prep test just in case

Preg not prep!

The fatigue could be low iron if you've been bleeding so much.

The GP did a pregnancy test which was negative.

Obviously cancer was my biggest concern. But as the GP seemed reassured that the cervix looked healthy I assumed that wasn't something to be concerned about. I'm guessing it's not something that can be ruled out by just looking from what you've said, though?

He took two swabs - I know one of them was for chlamydia, I'm not sure what the other one was for. HPV maybe?

My abdomen is still hurting. The cramps are intermittent, but some of them have been awful. But I have a constant heaviness in my lower abdomen/pelvis - that sort of feeling you get on the first day of your period where it all feels very tender. My next period is due next week so I guess I'll see what happens between now and then, and if it comes as expected.

No don’t swab for HPV
It’s a general one but mainly might spot BV.

Don’t worry
You have a plan and GP sounds v good

Did you have swabs before coil went in?

Yes I did, and they all came back fine (although I can't remember what they were for!) I also had swabs for BV a month or so after having it fitted when I went back about the increased discharge. That was clear as well.

I'm trying not to worry as I know worrying won't change anything. But it's difficult to ignore it when I have pain.

Those swabs were same as these swabs.

Coil can really affect discharge

Pain may suggest bleeding is more uterine in origin
Or an infection that has ascended

Bleeding after sex is important to assume cervical and appropriate checks

BUT it can simply be uterine bleeding and just becomes more obvious during and after sex iyswim

You might have had an odd cycle hormone wise and this is now a period coming

Wait for swabs and see what happens.
Trust your GP they seem v on the ball!

Thank you so much for your responses today. Knowledge is power in my book and understanding a bit more about what could be going on has really helped.

My GP is really great. I moved out of the area but requested to stay with him as he is so kind, thorough, knows my history and always takes the time if it's needed (he also admits if he's unsure about something which I appreciate).

I'm always very aware and concerned about anything to do with my reproductive system as both of my children were born premature and through monitoring in my second pregnancy I was found to have cervical insufficiency and an irritable uterus. But no one has been able to give me any kind of answers as to why. I assume because so much is unknown. But with things like this I wonder if there's any correlation. My cervix obviously doesn't want to work as it's supposed to in pregnancy, so is there something wrong with it? I suppose I may never know, but it doesn't stop me from wondering.