AIBU to ask you about having a coil?

[DirtyDeeds]

TLDR: I’m debating getting a coil but with a history of endometriosis and heavy periods plus reacting badly to hormone treatments not sure which could be best
Plus I’m worried about the strings?!

Longer version:
I can’t take the pill and I have a history of endometriosis. Hormone based contraception seems to make me bleed and affects my mental health. I need to review contraception and the coil seems the most sensible option.
However I have concerns
Mirena - I know the hormone dose is low but will it send me loopy given how I react with hormones?
Copper coil - apparently can make periods worse? Mine are already 8 days and heavy!
Both - can you feel the strings?? Can your partner?! I’m worried about this affecting sex

AIBU to ask you for your advice - rather than the sales pitch I get from my GP?

TIA

Copper coil here and I bleed an awful lot!

Considering giving it a few more months- only in about 6/7 months. The insertion was fine (some find this very painful) and I had awful cramps for a few months around menstruation time. No cramps now just like a dull ache from time to time.

Neither can feel the strings. I cant see mine when I look for them either. So all good here in that way.

I'm the same with hormones so will follow with interest for alternatives!

I have the Mirena. As you state it is hormonal but doesn’t seem to effect me too bad. It had completely stopped my periods - have not had one in two years . Despite that I have no bleeding I do still get pms symptoms every months but nothing extreme. It did make me extremely spotty for the first. Deep painful spots that take forever to clean up - something I never had before the cook but it did calm down after 6 months.

You are meant to check the strings but the lady who checked mine 6 weeks after it was inserted said mine were pretty high and short so I probably couldn’t feel them myself. I was told my partner might be able to feel them during intercourse but he cannot despite being ‘generously sized’ sorry tmi..

I have no experience of the copper coil, sorry.

I have the copper, like you, history of heavy periods and cant take hormonal.
Periods are heavier, but I wouldn't say a great deal more. I had one before DD and got another after, I'd say it's better this time round.
Insertion and cramping afterwards first time round was pretty bad, second time I barely noticed it however I'm putting this down to the wrong size being inserted (they measure you as theres a small and a bigger size to get the right fit for you. They measured me in between and said they would try the larger first, but it was too big. But the pain was so bad we left it in and I couldn't face getting the smaller one in! No idea what size I have this time around but it feels much better)
First time they left the strings long and DP could feel them so I went and got them trimmed and he couldn't feel it after that and hasn't felt it this time.
Its definitely something that gets better with time, I found it took a few months to settle, but I'm happy with it now.

I have the copper coil fitted and really happy with it. It was a bit uncomfortable having it fitted but not unbearable. Went back to bed with a hot water bottle after and much better the next day. Periods slightly longer and a bit heavier - I was light before though so its not really an issue. Love that it's hormone free and can now forget about contraception for 10 years.

I had the copper coil and I flooded every month when I had my periods. Got it taken out after about 6 months as I couldn't cope with it anymore and it caused me a lot of pain.

I’ve had my copper coil in for nearly 10 years. No history of heavy periods but no heavier than normal since having coil. I don’t hunt for my strings and dh says he can’t feel them. I’ve had absolutely no problems with mine and will be having it replaced this year.

I have the hormonal coil, fitted around 6 months ago.

I still have periods, which are more painful than when I was on the pill and they are slightly unpredictable. I haven’t had any issues with my skin like the PP.

I can feel the strings but DH says he’s never felt them.

Oh and I found it painful to have put in which I wasn’t expecting, so take a couple painkillers before you go. It is great not having to worry about taking anything though.

Mirena was great at stopping my periods. Not so good for me though when it reduced my libido and also when I ended up with melasma on my cheeks and forehead. I can't definitely link either of these side effects to the coil but since its been removed everything is back to normal! The strings weren't an issue. Neither was the insertion.

I have the mire a and I absolutely LOVE it. I first got it after my youngest child 9 years ago so am on my second one.
I havent had any issues with it at all and haven't had a single period.
The strings have never been an issue, I can't feel them so don't worry about them.

In fact I forgot I had it till I saw an Mri image of myself and there it was

If you already have heavy periods, you would be advised against getting the copper coil. They can be horrendously heavy. I used to have light 4 day periods. They are heavy and 7 days with copper coil - I have to wear a super plus tampon with a pad. If there are other choices, I would opt for those instead. The only reason I haven’t gone back on the pill is because it seems a bit silly to be on the pill for another 15 years or whatever (I’m done having dc).

I had a copper coil. My periods were very heavy and lasted 2 weeks! They were also very painful. Since having it removed I barely cramp and bleed for 2-5 days!

From online research and this thread, I'd say anything can happen.
Try it if you've done other options.

I got one recently because of heavy periods and anaemia. It's still the first months and I've got almost constant bleeding but nothing like my previous periods. It's supposed to stop soon. We'll see.
It hasn't harmed my libido at all and I haven't noticed any other side effects.

Don’t get a copper if your periods are already heavy.

The Mirena will most likely massively reduce your periods after a few months. I have a Mirena and they pretty much stopped.

No one knows what it will do to your mood though. The hormone in Mirena is Levonorgestrel (daily dose is 20mcg). You could ask your GP to try you on a Levonorgestrel pill, the dose for a pill is much higher. But that way you can see if that particular hormone alters your mood.

If you get any pain or problems, please go to doctor immediately.

I had a coil many years ago, and put up with pain for weeks before going back to clinic, where they discovered i had a pelvic infection which could have caused infertility.

Really important. These things can escalate fast.

I. Your situation I would use condoms

Just find one that works for you both, they aren’t all the same and don’t have to be the worst part about sex

I have the Mirena. It’s pretty much stopped my periods, just the occasional spotting. I haven’t noticed any changes to my mood. It contains fewer hormones than the pill and they’re released more slowly I think.

Word of warning though, the insertion can be extremely painful especially if you have never given birth. I screamed the GP surgery down when it went in and I consider myself pretty hardcore when it comes to pain. I drove myself home groaning, and then the real cramping started. I was writhing and screaming in agony for the rest of the day. I called the doctor and she said I was effectively having contractions because my womb was trying to expel it. I think mine is an unusual case but it might be worth booking a day or two off work just in case. I’m terrified of having it removed when the time comes.

I, like you didn’t get on with hormonal contraception. I had the mirena coil 8 years ago and it had exactly the same effect as the pill, plus it made me bleed and spot constantly for 9 months until i begged my dr to take it out.
I then had the copper coil last January and I ended up in hospital with haemorrhaging I was bleeding that heavily.
I eventually after by passing my GP (who out right refused me) was sterilised and also had an ablation at the same time in November last year and I now have no periods at all!
In between all the coils and pills we used condoms, in your situation I would probably use condoms and if you know you definitely don’t want anymore children I’d get the ball rolling on sterilisation.

I didn't get on with the progesterone mini-pill, but Mirena has not been a problem at all. I had been having mad periods, and they stopped almost completely. I still got pre-menstrual backache. I was already fat, so it's not to blame for that, and have been able to diet, and have yoyo'd in classic fashion. I already had problems with depression, and recovered while on Mirena, and also had relapses and recoveries, too. The strings have never been a problem for me or dh. Apart from when I actively look for them in the first few months after having it placed, neither of us have ever felt them. I really am unaware of the Mirena, and it has not had any negative impact on my life.

The only - minor! - issue with it was that the few periods I got became even more irregular than before, but OTOH they became so light that I rarely needed anything more than panty liners, and they no longer started with a gush. Eventually they petered out entirely, except for the odd pink streak.

I reacted so so badly to all hormonal contraceptives... but I'm absolutely fine on the Mirena! It's such a tiny dose that it hasn't caused any of the issues (weight gain, mood swings, spots, depression, rage) I had before.

I thought I'd hate it but I love it. And my periods went from being 13 days of torrential flooding, to 4-5 days of spotting.

I have the copper coil, it's been fine & I want another. Ex partners have felt it but no one has complained. I've occasionally felt my strings & the guy I was with when I got it used to check them for me. It's certainly never stopped sex or caused an issue.

My periods were initially heavier but eventually settled although they're still not light. Also I have a really low pain threshold & barely batted an eyelid at insertion. People I know who are much hardier than me took to their beds & wailed with it. I guess a lot depends on who puts it in. Had a few crampy bleedy days afterwards but nothing bad. I had it inserted at midday and went shopping.

The only issues I've had really were with HCP and NHS geography. My GP was incredibly supportive but he doesn't fit them. Persuading the local FPC to give me one instead of a mirena was very hard because I was 23 at the time despite a demonstrated bad history with hormonal birth control. They aggressively pushed for and almost "accidentally" gave me Mirena and didn't like that I hadn't had a baby, either. Be prepared to be firm! They also fudged telling me whether I have a 5 or 10 year model-handy. My local clinic has now been closed as has the other one I used so I'm not sure if I need it out and having found that the now nearest spot to get seen to is ages away, arranging to get there to get a new one is becoming akin to planning bloody operation over lord. It's putting me off but I don't want to rely solely condoms or the diaphragm.

i have copper as im intolerant to hormonal kinds, apart from quite intense cramp and heavy periods, i forget i have it, ive had it in 6 years, i can have it in 10 but im only gonna do 2 more, as i get older the heavy periods are getting draining.

I want the Ballerine but don't know if it's available on the NHS yet

I've had one of each, and am on my last copper coil until menopause. Love the copper, this is my second one, but I wouldn't say it's great if your periods are heavy. Had the Mirena, and it helped me a lot with severe PMS mood swings and my periods stopped after about a year. My only real complaint with Mirena was that it lowered my libido pretty significantly, and it seemed like my boobs were always a bit sore, especially toward the end of the 5 years.
I've never been able to feel the strings, neither has DH.
Good luck...it's so hard to know how you will react, but I hope you can get something sorted.

Ohh a real range of opinions here... I think given my periods (on day 6 today n still heavy) maybe the mirena would be a more sensible option. I couldn’t even tolerate the mini pill, hormone-wise
I guess sterilisation could be an option but my body has been through a lot and I’m loathe to put it through something else

I have the mirena. I suffer with migraines and heavy periods so didn't want to go on pills. Its been great. A pinch feeling when it was put in. A few days with a little cramping and nothing since. No periods. Can't feel the strings. It's been 4 years bliss