Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Coil fitting

32 replies

XkateX34 · 13/04/2022 21:07

Some advice would be great

I’m booked to have marina coil fitted next Thursday but I’m not sure if to that or go back on pill

I was on mini pill I stopped thinking that was causing my low mood but my mood is still up and down being off it

I’m scared about having it fitted will I bleed afterwards I’m scared about something going wrong and it getting stuck and I’m not sure if it will make my mood worse or not

OP posts:
NotTheOW · 13/04/2022 21:09

I would speak to them at the fitting before you go ahead.

SnowingInApril · 13/04/2022 21:20

I had mine fitted in 2019.
I did bleed constantly afterwards. No lie, for about 5 months. I was about to go back and demand they remove it when the bleeding stopped. It’s never re-started. That has been so wonderful.
In terms of my mood, it has been pretty low / up and down. I’m not sure if that is the coil or life in general but all things considered I would recommend.

LollyLol · 13/04/2022 21:26

I had a coil fitted and I've never been happier. Yes, it was uncomfortable to fit, and I had light bleeding for several months but since then it has been perfect - it completely sorted out my appallingly heavy painful periods.
YANBU to feel some uncertainty and anxiety but it can work out really well, it's worth a try.

KupoNutCoffee · 13/04/2022 21:43

I'm on my second. I was on the mini pill before hand so had no periods already.

I had a little spotting after, but literally only for a couple of days, same with the second fitting. Probably only down to the poking about, rather than any menstruation.

I changed from the mini pill mostly as I couldn't be arsed with taking one every day, while not seeing dh, my then bf, for half a term at a time while at uni. So didn't change for any health/mood reason.

In all honestly I can't tell if it's had any impact my mood, I don't remember how I felt before. My understanding was it's the same hormone but in a lower dose.

The fitting itself is uncomfortable. I've not had children, so can't compare. But it's over in a couple of minutes. When they removed my first and fitted the second, they said they were done and I had to check they'd actually fitted the new one it was over so quick...

There are obviously risks, but there's strings you can check to confirm it's in place, and they usually see you a month later to check on it. I've never managed to check my strings as my anatomy doesn't allow me to reach...apparently the strings were a good signpost to my cervix at my smear so have that going for it...Hmm

Pippa12 · 13/04/2022 21:54

I had mine fitted 6 years ago and literally never looked back. Fitted in less than 5 minutes, bled for about 2 weeks, no problems after that.

WhyArePiratesCalledPirates · 13/04/2022 21:58

Had mine in summer.
Was not fun.
My cervix didn't play well but...
It's in.
Had really light bleeds/ periods for a fre months but they have stopped entirely.
I don't think it's affected my mood at all. But couldn't swear to it. Been a tough old year!

spectre1356 · 13/04/2022 22:00

People are different. I know people who have been fine and others who haven't. Personally when I had mine it's was horrific, I was loosing clots, and in so much pain. It turned out my body was rejecting the coil so had to get it took out and the pain of getting it out was something I've never had before. Speak to someone before getting it or look at reviews online. I'm sure there will be threads on here somewhere.

notsohippychick · 13/04/2022 22:49

Mine was fine. It’s not a pleasant experience and it can be painful but not too bad

I’m still bleeding but it’s normal apparently.

Mood has improved a lot!

housemaus · 13/04/2022 22:56

Getting it in was horrible for me but over quickly!

And it's been great ever since - no periods, no remembering to take a pill. I'm on my second one.

Original poster
XkateX34 · 14/04/2022 00:12

Thankyou everyone

We go on holiday on 16th may will be first time taking baby swimming so don’t want to be bleeding so don’t know what to do

I don’t want to bleed from coil being fitted but if I go back on pill I used to bleed every 2 weeks

OP posts:
PlayingGrownUp · 14/04/2022 02:40

Copper coil here and - weirdly - it made my period lighter even though one of the main side effects is a heavier period.

Cramps were agonising for the first six months though but then gradually faded.

Who is putting it in makes a massive difference too I think. I’ve hard worse smear tests and -supposedly - it’s supposed to be worse if you’ve never been pregnant which I haven’t.

Whitewitchy · 14/04/2022 03:04

I've been having the coils now for 22yrs. As i can't take the pill and I'm limited to what i can use after a pn blood clot. Ive had good and bad ones. The last 3 have been great. No pmt, or bleeding at all. And i know when you start spotting then it's needing changing. But talk to them first. Your always be a bit nervous and anxious to start with. That's normal with anything you've not done before. But the easy part unlike most other options it's easy to stop at any time if or when you want. As you can get it removed. And it's instantly gone.. kinda like having a splinter in a finger. And now last ones I've had. Take paracetamol 20mins prior as advised. And they also now as with the last 3 use an anesthetic gel. Which helps. Generally get a bit of spotting i had some for 30 mins post fitting. And yes the cramps once its in place and they let go, yh it is a bit intense but it goes after couple mins. And eases. If you have any pain that's more than period kind then get it checked. As it can move, and my m8s ones she's had the uterus has expelled. And it's fallen out. But don't think there are many options which mean your protected as soon as they let it go. And if your wanting to have a family then you haven't gotta wait for anything to wear off. And sometimes if they've moved. As i found out. By my daughter, sometimes if not in the right place. Copper ones not the hormone one you can get pregnant. But you know if its moved due to quite an intense cramping type pain. It's easy to change your mind without needing to have anything cut or anything to much in waiting for it to fully come out. Like pills or injections. But I've been more than happy. Have it checked and fitting or removal can be around or even same time as any smear tests. I have mine every time i have a coil change. And even if or when the hormones wear out it's still classed as protection because of the shape and where it is. But talk to the practitioner. They won't mind if you do or decide against having it fitted.but having nerves about something unknown is totally normal. Good luck with we you decide.

afizzysweet · 14/04/2022 06:05

I had the mirena coil to help with endo symptoms (and as contraception). I literally didn't feel the fitting. I had bad cramping for several weeks after. Following this my periods were very very light and lasted only a couple of days. I did have pain after sex which I did not have before.

Other friends who have had the coil fitted have also all got on fine with it and had no issues with pain after sex.

afizzysweet · 14/04/2022 06:06

We go on holiday on 16th may will be first time taking baby swimming so don’t want to be bleeding so don’t know what to do

Can you use a tampon for swimming?

ThinWomansBrain · 14/04/2022 06:21

there are no guarantees - as reported above, some women bleed after it being fitted, others don't - I didn't at all, after a couple of years v heavy periods.

Original poster
XkateX34 · 14/04/2022 09:21

I don’t mean to sound stupid but I never get on with tampons I don’t what size to but and find them uncomfortable

OP posts:
RubyRedBerry · 14/04/2022 09:42

I didn't get on with it, had it for 2 years. Moods were low (i would get pmt but it was 10 times worse and drag on for a week, where as on the pill it would last a day) I still bled every month, then I got a bout of bv which I'd never had before, so I got it removed. I know loads of people who have not had issues with it though, pot luck I suppose!

Madickenxx · 14/04/2022 09:44

I had mine fitted 3 months ago for contraception and to improve my really heavy periods (couldn't leave the house during the heaviest 1-2 days). I spotted for around 6 weeks, then had a few weeks with no bleeding and then 6 days of light bleeding which sort of coincided with my period (tracking wise).

Before fitting it I was very up and down and would suffer serious PMT. I'm definitely more stable now although slightly more emotional, as in I cry more easily. Nothing major though and definitely better than the ups and downs of before.

The fitting was almost pain free for me and I had some cramping for a couple of days after. Certainly nothing to worry about but everyone is different and I suspect it also depends on how experienced the fitter is.

Talipesmum · 14/04/2022 09:49

Fitting for me was uncomfortable but brief, and was no problem for me (and nowhere near approaching anything like childbirth). Obv everyone has different experiences.

Bleeding - I think it’s likely you’ll be bleeding a lot when you’ve first had it fitted. I bled fairly much nearly continuously, some light some normal period like, for 4-5 months. It wasn’t a problem, but I was bleeding. Then it just dried up and hardly bled at all since. Extremely light periods - eg I can just use one pantyliner per day for maybe 3 days.

No idea about mood changes - not that I’ve noticed.

If you really don’t want to be bleeding in may, perhaps get it fitted after that?

MatildaTheCat · 14/04/2022 09:51

I’ve had five Mirenas over a very long time. Some cramping during the fitting but honestly it’s done very quickly if you have an expert. For me no bleeding afterwards and a small amount of cramping for a couple of hours.

Then five years of period free contraception. Now it’s for HRT purposes.

Cotswoldmama · 14/04/2022 10:03

I had coil fitted a few years ago. I didn't bleed much after but did have about a day of cramping. The actual fitting of it isn't the nicest but it lasts 10 years so it's worth it ( I've got the copper coil not sure if mirena lasts as long?). The fitting is like a smear test they use a speculum then insert the coil. Then they open it like an umbrella and that's the part that really stings, it's not for long and in my opinion it's worth it.

Chely · 14/04/2022 10:12

I had a copper one so no idea about the hormone side of things with the mirena.

Fitting was fine, no bleeding for me, all checked weeks later and looked fine. I found it uncomfortable during sex, after several months that passed but not long after I found out I was pregnant. I had an internal check at GP's and no sign of strings so they sent me for scans. Scans showed no sign of the coil but 2 little hearts beating away instead, it was a huge shock but we adore our twins.

RedWreck · 14/04/2022 10:13

I found it short term pain for long term gain. It isn't nice having it fitted but I've had one fitted for 10 years now. Some cramping the first week & a bit of spotting but then absolutely no periods & I don't notice any PMT either.
I originally went on it because I had migraines on the combined pill but it's been the best choice for me.
Everyone is different though.

Xyzzzzz · 14/04/2022 10:17

Copper coil - heavy periods since and random bleeding and cramps but I’ll take it. Getting fitted felt like having a sweep (gave me flashbacks to when I was pregnant)

Mangogogogo · 14/04/2022 10:50

I had to take my own out after everyone else refused to do it following being admitted to hospital haemorrhaging from a womb infection from the bloody thing.

I know I was unlucky getting an infection but the fact that no medical professionals would help me ‘because you chose to have it put in’ so now I just like to make sure everyone is aware of the poor aftercare (which as women I’m sure we’ve all experienced anyway!)

My friend has one though and absolutely loves it!