To ask if a coil fitting is as bad as I think it’s going to be?

[TeddyIsaHe]

I think I’m more nervous about this than I was giving birth

Going on Friday and working myself into a tizzy about it! Having the Mirena I think, rather than copper.

I don't want to put you off, but I had my 1st fitted in January and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I have 6DC, all labours just gas and air and I found the coil fitting worse. It took around 30 minutes and lots of dilators to get it in. The doctor was lovely and told me to go home and drink at least half a bottle of wine!

I've also been bleeding or spotting everyday since, and have just had the most painful period for over a week which is one of the reasons for having it fitted. The only positives are less heavy bleeding and I don't feel like killing anyone for 3 weeks every month

My gynaecologist tried to put the mirena in and said that it would be too painful - something about the angle of my cervix, my age (41) and the fact that I had never given birth naturally (4 c sections).

I was then booked in for a minor op and had it put in under general anaesthetic a few weeks later...

I’m abroad - not in the UK.

She did say that some people don’t have any issues with it at all and it takes 5 mins and little or zero pain.

Good luck!

I was chatting to the GP as she fiddled about down there - 'right, that's it in' she said and I literally hadn't felt a thing I thought she had just prepared the area!

Forgot to add that I love the mirena. No bleeding at all for almost 3 years!

I was really really scared and nearly hyperventilated having mine in, but actually it was fine. Felt like a pinch and then done.

Make sure you take a sanitary towel with you in cast you bleed!

It's different for everyone. Clamping the cervix (after a long time looking for it) was the worst part for me, but it didn't last long. My blood pressure plummeted adyerwards and I nearly blacked out because I'm a massive wuss when it comes to these things. The Dr called it cervical shock and said it was the female equivalent of being kicked in the balls!

Having it removed a few months later was a breeze, no pain or discomfort at all.

I had a coil fitted last month. It's fine, honestly. It took about the same amount of time as a smear, comfortable enough that I chatted throughout. There was a single split second of pain, but it was over before I had time to really register it.
Little bit of bleeding after, but again, very like a smear. A little cramping after which I've never had after a smear, but nothing serious, certainly not enough to even bother taking paracetamol for. The more you can relax, the easier it generally is

It took a while to get me dilated properly and that mixed with the cervix clamps hurt more than the actual insertion, but I’m assuming that’s because I hadn’t given birth before and was very young to get it. They usually have local anaesthetic on hand so if it’s painful do ask for it, I did and the experience was much better after.

I had very mild bleeding and cramps after but it’s well worth it and not that bad in the long term. Good luck OP

I had a hysteroscopy, polyp removal, biopsy and coil fitted a while back. I had a bit of local anaesthetic and it was fine. I had a bit of bleeding afterwards but I think that was more to do with the polyps having been removed than the coil.

I find the speculum the most uncomfortable part as opposed to the actual fitting and dilatation, so now I always ask for them to start with a small speculum. I've got a "reluctant" and well hidden cervix apparently but I've honestly never found it painful. I'm on about my 5th!

Our practice nurse always uses local anaesthetic too , which helps.

Think I am on number 2 op, I was a bit nervous but it is no worse than a smear imo. Any pain is short lived as in maybe a second or two and gone and more a sucking air through gritted teeth type pain like when you stub your toe but not near enough as painful. There will be or should be a nurse there just to keep you company. They basically will just hold your hand and chat to you, which I think is lovely for taking your mind of what is going on in the nether regions.

Taking it out was pain free and didn't feel it at all.

It was a bit uncomfortable but not much moreso than a smear. I ended up with three nurses in the room (apparently you need two for the fitting but there was confusion over who was to be the second and ended up with three). They all distracted me with loads of chat and asked me to cough at the exact time of fitting which apparently helps. I was offered various forms of pain relief or numbing gel which I refused and got by on the two nurofen I'd taken beforehand which was fine. Unpleasant but not painful and over in seconds. I felt a bit rubbish and crampy afterwards but 24 hours on back to normal!

It hurt for 5 seconds. That was it. No more periods, no pmt, no nothing. It's total freedom for me.

It was nothing like a smear for me! I find those painless. I found the coil insertion unbearable but for literally 2 seconds and I was really glad I’d been warned by a friend it would be that bad because I think I’d have cried with the shock. Genuinely 2 seconds though- I think it’s completely worth it.

Had the mirena coil fitted, felt like someone was stabbing me in the womb.
When my partner took it out also had the same pain.

It last about 30seconds but it's awful I will never get it again

My first one hurt a bit, my second was fine. Both were copper, the Mirena hadn't been invented then (early 80s).

I'd recommend not cycling to the docs though. I went on my bike the first time, and there was no way I was getting on that saddle to go home. My friend's husband came and picked up me and said bike and took us both home.

I'd say it's exactly as bad as you'd think, but for about 4 seconds (the cervix grabby bit - ugh). I've never had a baby so no idea for comparison, but it didn't feel anything like a period/cramp pain to me - it was more sharp and shocking very briefly, then the rest of the experience is fine if not enjoyble!

Afterwards I had cramps and felt a bit dizzy but was fine by the day after.

It has been worth every second of that pain for me!

If you've had trouble with a smear, then I'd say you are right to be concerned. That said, you are prepared for some discomfort to won't be surprised.

I was not prepared. I was totally taken aback and felt quite traumatised afterward- it felt like an assault.

It wasn't so much the pain, I don't think. It was the unexpectedness of the pain. So you should be ok!

It’s awful, sorry. I had to go back for a 2nd appointment to get mine in because I couldn’t cope with the pain the first time

From what I remember take two ibuprofen not paracetamol

So I had a Mirena recently and I am a total wuss. I called ahead to the GP and asked for a dose of diazepam to take prior to the fitting and some 5% lidocaine ointment.

They used the ointment before putting the speculum in and then gave me a socking great dose of Instillagel before putting the clamp on. Coil going in was like a period pain but if you've had a vaginal birth (I haven't) it should be easier as your Os will be bigger.

I normally cry my eyes out during my smear test. It was fine.

Best of luck!

I can’t remember what number I’m on...

But it’s like a smear, but usually a bit longer by a few minutes... then I get some spotting and cramps, but just like bad period cramps type - OTC painkillers and chocolate strong, lol

Hmm... my experience was pretty bad. After about 30mins of uncomfortable messing about and tutting my gp said it couldn’t be fitted because I was the wrong shape 😟 Not actually very painful but quite an unpleasant and upsetting experience, she then rushed me out as I’d made her late for her next appointment 😕

I urge you to keep an open mind. I put off having one for years because I struggle with smears and thought it would be awful but the reality was completely different! I took diazepam which I think helped, so maybe do that, but I honestly didn’t feel any pain. In fact I didn’t believe the GP when she said it was done! I know it’s not that easy for everyone but I wish I’d not let fear stop me for as long as it did. There’s no way of knowing what it will be like for you, it may be easy, so try not to get too worked up about it.

I can honestly say I've never felt a thing and I've had both Mirena and copper coils. I'd say the cramping afterwards is unpleasant but nothing some painkillers can't deal with. It has never been a negative experience for me thankfully.