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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask your experiences with the copper coil?

39 replies

Falafellygood · 13/05/2020 13:12

Sorry, shamelessly posting here for traffic!

I have two young kids and we are definitely not having any more. DP has a genuine phobia of anything medical so won't have a vasectomy. He is happy to continue using condoms, but I'm considering the copper coil. My two friends rave about them. My main concern though is that I've heard it can make periods worse (heavier and more painful). Has this happened to anyone?

What is your experience on the copper coil and would you recommend having it?

OP posts:

Merlotmum85 · 13/05/2020 13:38

I'm very happy with mine. It has made periods a bit heavier and longer but they were fairly light anyway. Love not having to worry about contraception for 10 years and no hormones

Milnes94 · 13/05/2020 13:42

Mine was awful from the day it went in, heavy bleeding and cramps until I ended up at a&e where they removed it. They did say it’s very common. Although my sister had one and loved it, I’m not a moaner at all. I couldn’t even stand up straight when it was at its worst

HappySonHappyMum · 13/05/2020 13:45

Had a copper coil for 10 years and was fine with it - worked perfectly, did its job. I am 46 and my periods have got heavier and heavier recently whilst it was in which has no medical cause apart from the fact that I'm peri menopausal. So I've now swapped and got the Mirena coil, which is the one with hormones, which has reduced my periods to little or nothing and hasn't affected me at all as well. It's a bit uncomfortable having it put in - took paracetamol before I went to the appointment but I'd go for it!

borntohula · 13/05/2020 13:48

Hated it, while I had it in I had thrush every month around the time of my period. According to GP, the two weren't related but I never had that problem before or after the coil.

Iloveplacentas · 13/05/2020 13:52

Made my periods so heavy- worked brilliantly as contraception as I was haemorrhaging blood 3 weeks in 4. After a couple of months it dislodged itself and had to be removed. I have the mirena now and it’s amazing. My skin is a bit more spotty and I had weird discharge for a few months but it settled down. Small price to pay for reliable contraception. I don’t get periods any more

Hatethewordhun · 13/05/2020 13:54

First one was ok for a couple of years. Then I started getting UTI's and all sorts of thrush problems. I didn't equate it with having the copper coil until I had another last year, and it was the most agonising pain ever having it inserted, I nearly passed out with the pain. Then during the 4 months I had it in, I had 3 uti's I could feel it in the whole time and my periods were ridiculous. But the GP did insist in putting a 10 year one in, which I think was too big for me.

Rebelwithallthecause · 13/05/2020 13:57

I had mine in for 2 years

It was great in that I finally had no hormonal symptoms and felt like I had a natural libido again

Only problem was sex couldn’t be as ‘deep’ as before as it would feel uncomfortable slightly

As soon as I had it out again to TTC orgasms were a lot stronger but I hadn’t noticed that they were any weaker when I had it in

I will get it again because I don’t want hormonal birth control and the alternative is vasectomy but DH is younger than me and don’t feel it’s fair if we split up and he wanted another child

Allthegoodnamesweretakenalread · 13/05/2020 14:05

I had my first one inserted about a year ago. It was a little uncomfortable to get it fitted, for me it was about the same level of discomfort as a smear test.

It's helped to regulate my periods (the pill was causing me to have 2 periods a month) and they have got lighter.

I was worried about getting one as I had heard a lot of stories about them causing a lot of pain for some women. I'm very happy with it as a method of contraception as I dont have to worry about anything for another 9 years now.

Unfortunately I think contraception is a bit of a lottery sometimes as you cant know if it works for you unless you try it.

MariahLairy · 13/05/2020 20:02

It was perfect for me.

5 years of not having to think about contraception.

I'm someone who didn't want to take hormones which is why I went for the copper coil.

It made my periods heavier, and (slightly?) more painful, but it didn't bother me at all as my periods were originally fairly light, so it just made my periods 'normal'.

I would have a good think though if your periods are already very very heavy.

But yeah I had no problems and loved it personally.

Some people don't get on with it though.

peperethecat · 13/05/2020 20:11

Mine did make my periods heavier and longer but they were light to begin with. I also found that my premenstrual cramping was a little more painful, I suppose because my uterus was cramping around the coil. But it went in and came out easily and it did the job for a few years. It was nice not being on anything hormonal. The main reason why I wanted to avoid hormonal contraceptives was so I would be ovulating normally when I wanted to try for a baby. If that wasn't a concern and I didn't want any more kids then I'd also consider getting another implant.

user1471462656 · 13/05/2020 20:18

I didn’t get on with mine, very bad cramping, much heavier periods and twice as long as usual. Also probably not linked but I felt like I was under a huge black cloud, moody all the time and unhappy. After a year I got it removed and am much happier now.

MerryDeath · 13/05/2020 20:23

i was very happy with mine. i won't take any hormones now. yes my periods were heavier but that can happen anyway after birth, i think they were starting to settle down again when i had it removed. and i also had much worse PMT so clearly hormones haven't returned to normal. then i had it out and DC2 was conceived on my very first cycle! i would have had one put back in by now but all services are suspended

Whoopsies · 13/05/2020 20:28

Mine made my periods really really heavy, so heavy that my coil must have slipped out without me noticing and resulting in my now 9 month old ds!!!

ButDoUAvocado · 13/05/2020 20:36

I’ve had two, one pre-children which made my periods heavier. I nearly passed out with the pain after it was inserted. Didn’t actually hurt to put in but afterwards I had to lie down in my car before I went back to work.
The one I have now has been in for 9 years but my periods are lighter than they were. It was a bastard to get in and I had recurrent thrush for a while afterwards but no problems since. I’d heard such bad stories about the Mirena that I didn’t want anything with hormones in. When it’s time for this one to come out I’ll ask for a new one to be put in.

Thelnebriati · 13/05/2020 20:39

I loved it, partner hated it because the string poked him. I switched to the cap.

catthatgotthecream · 13/05/2020 20:46

Mine made my period alot heavier and longer. Cramps were worse but did settle after a year or so. My only fault with it is my skin is alot worse with it.

Amatteroftime · 13/05/2020 21:07

Have you considered the mirena coil? It does the opposite for periods. I was recommended one due to endometriosis. My periods were very heavy for about 10 days. Now I don't get them most months, when I do get them, they last maybe 4 days.

Nottherealslimshady · 13/05/2020 21:11

Made my periods miles worse and became misplaced that had me in sickening pain for months while I waited for a scan and removal.
The mini pill was really good for me, I actually lost weight and y mental health improved.

Nottherealslimshady · 13/05/2020 21:13

Oh, it moved after about a year and a half. Not like straight after which is when it most likely to do so.

CareBear50 · 13/05/2020 21:29

I've had copper coil. Had to get removed due to v v heavy periods.

Tried the Morena but had to get it removed as had a 'smudge of a discharge/period 3 weeks out of 4. Never felt clean. Smelt a bit eugh. Yuk

Now on mini pill which seems to suit me. At last!!

ladyface69 · 13/05/2020 21:39

I've had one for about 7 years after coming off the pill and bizzarely not having a period for a year. Freaked me right out but it must have been a build up of hormones or something.
Anyways, the coil can be a bit painful on insertion but they can apply a numbing cream at the clinic, and you can further numb the pain with paracetamol and Ben and Jerry's afterwards. Periods got a bit heavier for about 6 months and have now settled down.
You'll have to try it for yourself as people have different experiences.

Tuemay · 13/05/2020 21:44

I didn't like it because my periods were so heavy. I literally kept bleeding.

Switched back to the Mirena which is much better for me.

ChildofCastor · 13/05/2020 21:47

I had one fitted a couple of years ago, switched from Mirena as I wanted to stop hormonal contraception. I'd had no periods for years, due to Mirena and pregnancy. I now have what I'd call 'normal' periods - for about a week (but very light for the last couple of days) every 24-28 days. Not heavy at all, although I'm 45, not sure whether that makes a difference? If you haven't had a coil before you need to be able to check the threads after each period. If you're squeamish about doing this it won't be the right contraception for you.

Noflora · 13/05/2020 21:48

I had one before and after my DC, so for many years. Definitely had heavier periods. One type fell out with my first period after insertion but next and previous sorts stayed in place fine. My only real problem was it didn't prevent my last pregnancy .

BooseysMom · 13/05/2020 21:48

I nearly passed out with the pain after it was inserted. Didn’t actually hurt to put in but afterwards I had to lie down in my car before I went back to work

Yep me too! It was 20 years ago and i vividly recall the agony of having the thing fitted. They said afterwards i shouldn't have had it as i'd never had a pregnancy! It didn't stay in long as i got an infection and had it removed. The pill was always giving me thrush which is why I tried the coil but never again.

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