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Original poster

That no one believes me About my coil strings?!

64 replies

MummyCool19 · 15/04/2019 20:55

Had the copper coil fitted in October, all been fine. Apparently the strings were tucked up around my cervix.

Past 2/3 months Iv felt them really low. Especially since the last period. Like literally hanging out low! Dp says he’s felt them a few times but thinks Iv been dramatic. Iv been to the family clinic at the doctors twice and both times have said they are tucked up, they wouldn’t untuck and it’s unlikely Iv felt them. When I walk I can feel them sharp digging in!

Tonight have had enough and had a look. (I don’t look down there after a traumatic birth then repair surgery. It’s not a pretty sight!). It’s hanging out! Green fishing wire!!

I’m going to ring again tomorrow. Iv taken a pic 🤢🤢🤢 but I’m refusing to leave until it’s sorted. I’m so worried, what if it’s been moved or something?! 😩😩😩

OP posts:
iolaus · 15/04/2019 21:26

Cervixes (Cervii?) do also change position at different points in the cycle

Mine has started lowering as I've got older (and it's several years since I last gave birth - I suspect it's to do with approaching menopause)

When I had a coil fitted the doctor cut the strings really short - apparently she always does, leaves just enough to hoick it out, as she has a coil herself and the strings annoyed her (to the point that when I had a smear they asked me if this particular doctor fitted the coil)

Awesomeo90 · 15/04/2019 21:26

This happened to me! Went to the doctor 3 times saying I could feel the strings and my DP had cuts on his penis after sex ... was genuinely told it was impossible and he must have a STI. They did an internal examination each time and said all was good. Eventually went to Sexual health clinic at hospital and nurse took one look and said "Oh wow, no wonder it hurts" Bloody thing was hanging right out.

Pardonwhat · 15/04/2019 21:28

Not related but also enough related for me to share. A few months ago, I’d woken up after too many wines and had a panic that I’d not removed my tampax before inserting another. So I took out the tampax hanging down, heaved my leg up onto the sink and went for a dig. I found string and I yanked. My coil was dangling from my fingers and I had an arm and hand, plus towel and floor full of blood Blush that was so much fun to explain to the doctor

Original poster
MummyCool19 · 15/04/2019 21:29

Awesomeo90

The coil or strings were hanging out?!

OP posts:
Original poster
MummyCool19 · 15/04/2019 21:30

Oh my god. My fanny is well hurting at these stories 😩😩😩

OP posts:
GregoryPeckingDuck · 15/04/2019 21:30

Your cervix does sit lower during certain periods in your menstrual cycle. For some people this can result in the strings coming too low. At any rate you clearly need yours trimmed. It’s terrible that they haven’t believed you. At any rate at least this time you will get the satisfaction of presenting them with a picture of the strings literally hanging out of your vagina if they try to fob you off again. That’ll teach ‘em!

madeofstarlight · 15/04/2019 21:35

Definitely insist they take a look! I had one a couple of years ago and had a lot of bother, I knew it wasn't in right. They checked and said all fine but I was still so uncomfortable and had a constant urge to urinate so insisted they take it out. I had a different person to take it out and as soon as he did it he said "ah, I think that was sitting too low". So I don't know what the original woman who checked was thinking saying it was fine.

Original poster
MummyCool19 · 15/04/2019 21:38

Oh god yeah when in bed I constantly need a wee!! I thought I had abit of a urine infection 😩

OP posts:
purplepingu · 15/04/2019 21:39

My Mirena came out in the bath. I thought the strings were a bit low, ran my fingers down the length of them to figure out how much lower and out it popped. Didn't hurt!

madeofstarlight · 15/04/2019 21:42

That's so strange!! When I mentioned it to them they said there was no way it could be causing it even though the feeling started the day after it was put in! The doctor gave me two lots of antibiotics for a UTI even though my sample came back clear Hmm

I also kept having a weird sensation that would go down to my bum like I wanted to bear down and push, never felt it before and never felt it since it was removed, I think my body was trying to get rid of it haha!

Awesomeo90 · 15/04/2019 22:01

Strings were sticking out about a cm- coil was half in my cervix and half out, at a wierd angle.Everytime I moved I felt a sharp poke. I was thinking about pulling it out myself when the doctors ignored me but if I had I would have done some damage.

Original poster
MummyCool19 · 15/04/2019 22:08

I can’t feel the actual coil so fingers crossed it’s in properly

OP posts:
Orlandointhewilderness · 15/04/2019 22:13

Mine came out by itself when I was 21. Just came out one day! I was bloody pissed off after the incredible pain of putting the damn thing in 2 months previously!

Flockingflamingo · 15/04/2019 22:17

Did you get them cut after it was put in? Mine hang out, I was meant to get them trimmed after it was fitted but didn't want anyone else looking at my vag Blush

Justaboy · 15/04/2019 22:19

Umm, based to previous experene of a couple of partners who had these it does seem you are far better off going the clinic where they fit these all the time they have a lot of experence whereas doctors surgerys arent sometimes quite so skilled.

SansasSnatch · 15/04/2019 22:20

I found mine in the toulet

DointItForTheKids · 15/04/2019 22:26

You really must remember OP, you're ONLY a woman - how could you possibly know that strings are dangling down the bottom of your own vagina - get back in yer box with your opinions!!

ConfusedHmm

Sadly, it's this dismissive attitude that often permeates women's care especially gynae-related that causes women to have to do things like remove their own coils (when GPs refuse to do it for them) - can you imagine if men had contraceptive metal inserted into their penises and the strings were hanging out the end of their penises, how quick they'd treat them!

tinkywinky777 · 15/04/2019 22:27

@Mummycool19

Get to your doctors or the hospital and get the damn thing out. I had a terrible experience with a copper coil (heavy bleeding, pain as my cervix kept contracting to get it out, an actual 'sore' on the tip of my cervix because of it) AND I had to keep going to the GP as it kept moving.

After 2 years I phoned my GP and asked to have it out. GP said I could make an appointment for several weeks time as only 'certain GPs could remove it'. I then saw a GP who had the audacity to ask if I knew how much they cost to put in.
I finally went to my sexual health clinic who took it out within seconds and that was that.
I would say, insist on having it out. If it is moving about, you can feel the strings etc, it might not be working, plus is obviously causing you a lot of hassle. The copper coil is completely unnatural and I would not have another one if someone paid me a million pounds.

OwlBeThere · 15/04/2019 22:32

You’re meant to be able to feel the strings to check it’s still there?

MrsRyanGosling15 · 15/04/2019 22:38

Sorry to but in OP. I'm getting my 1st coil this week, under GA with a few other things done too. Can I please ask a quick question to all you coil experts that I'm too embarrassed to ask in real life? When DH is down there? Either with hand or mouth, will he feel anything? Cant believe I just wrote that but I really want to know. Blush

Justaboy · 15/04/2019 23:35

MrsRyanGosling15 Three partners over many years and a long time scale and only the once where a GP had fitted it and cocked it up.

FP clinic put that right and all good:)

UterusUterusGhali · 15/04/2019 23:42

I can feel mine easily when I'm menstruating. Not at all other times. Ideally the nurse would have a fumble when you're on to see what's going on.

Sheldonoscopy · 15/04/2019 23:56

My drs kept telling me to keep mine in, ‘most effective form of contraception’ this mirena that was causing months and months of bleeding. ‘Some people are just unlucky, it’ll work itself out’ meanwhile, here’s a prescription because your iron levels are far too low. No shit Sherlock.
Discussed it with dp and told him if they say no again I’m gonna pull the bloody thing out myself. That night in the bath I checked the strings, gave a tiny tug and it came out.

Within a week my bleeding stopped. I didn’t have the ‘spikey pain’ which was likely the strings digging at an awkward angle. My hormones settled.
Told a different dr straight that I’d removed it myself and declined having another fitted. They sterilised me in the end

Original poster
MummyCool19 · 16/04/2019 06:58

Another thing Iv noticed since having the coil is that I have really really bad ovulation pains! Like bad cramping low down that makes me feel sick 😩

I really want it out but I’m scared about other contraceptions

OP posts:
Rachie1973 · 16/04/2019 07:13

When they’re done we’ll theyre brilliant. When they’re not it’s a nightmare.

I had an old copper coil that flushed itself out. Then switched to Mirena which I’ve found brilliant. However, they have a certain ‘feeling’ when inserted that wasn’t there when my third went in. I mentioned it, but was just dismissed as ‘lucky’. 3 weeks later I was having sex with my ex DH when he jumped up shouting that I was bleeding. I jumped up and it was flooding from me. I genuinely thought I was haemorrhaging. No pain or anything. Took a good few minutes to realise it wasn’t me. The blood was from my ex. The bit of skin that attaches the foreskin has split straight through and of course the strong blood flow was pumping it out! I went for a coil check a week later. Turned out they’d actually inserted it behind my cervix somehow!