To be terrified of getting the coil fitted?

[rhaenyra01]

I have just had my first DD and have started taking the pill again, but have been thinking about changing my contraception. I have always had really heavy periods, even when on the pill, and had lots of unpleasant side effects including hormonal acne, and bad mood swings, as well as heavy breakthrough bleeding when taking my active pill. I spoke to my GP about it at my six week check up post-baby, and she suggested that non-hormonal contraception would be best for me, i.e the coil.

My issue is that i'm terrified of getting the coil fitted. My first ever smear test was extremely painful and quite traumatic and I feel like it's left me with a phobia of being touched down there (by anyone apart from DP of course, hence the baby!). The nurse couldn't reach my cervix despite trying two different speculums, she was quite rough, I was in a lot of pain, crying and being held down by the other nurse, when I finally stood up after it I passed out and threw up. I remember crying for hours when I got home after it and feeling really violated. I haven't been able to use tampons since. When I was pregnant the thought of having a vaginal birth or vaginal examinations made me sick and panicky at the thought so I ended up having an elective C-section.

I feel like the coil is the best contraceptive option for me in terms of being non-hormonal and long lasting, but I am just so terrified of having it fitted. This might sound stupid but I feel like I would have to be knocked out to have it fitted. Even when I had my C-section and they had to fit the catheter I was crying, shaking and hyperventilating. I don't want to stay on the pill and my GP said that the coil would be best for stopping my heavy periods.

Does anyone have any advice? I know it seems extreme but could I have the coil fitted under a general anaesthetic?

I’m really sorry OP, I can’t even imagine how awful it’s for you.

I wished people were more sensitive. If you can go through something today it doesn’t mean anything. You might be very surprised later by your reaction on a “minor” things so don’t hurry to judge. In my 20s and early 30s I went through a lot of different tests and procedures due to infertility, so smear tests were like a walk in park for me. However when I recently went to hospital to remove a polyp (it couldn’t be removed by GP) , I couldn’t go through it. It was absolutely impossible, like my body was shut completely and refused to cooperate.
So they send me to do it under GA and offered to put a coil at the same time. I refused because what if something happened with a coil and it needed to be removed. I can’t request GA every time. It’s not possible. So it’s the same for you,OP. You’ll put it in but what if it needs to be removed for some reason or at least checked? You can’t go for GA every time.

I know people who have had and loved the coil. Honestly though, for me I had two very bad experiences with the coil. First time ended up with a paramedic removing it, after my body rejected it. Second time (can't believe I actually tried again) I had 7 months of labour like contraction pains with every period. It just wasn't for me. The actual fitting / removal was not a problem or painful though!

It's absolutely possible to have a coil fitted under general anasthetic

I had mine done without but I was offered it as an option as my uterus is not the correct shape so it was quite painful to have it fitted

I chose not to got the GA route because I'm overweight and didn't want any issues from the GA but it's totally possible

I won’t lie, my first one (pre baby) was awful and very painful and I went into cervical shock, which is a bit dangerous. Has anyone ever mentioned that to you with your first experience of a smear? (Not to dismiss the horrific behaviour of the nurses, but it sounds like you may have possibly had a reaction to having your cervix fiddled with. I dont know if a smear can cause it though).
Anyway I went for another one after DC despite it all because I didn’t want hormones. Staff have always been very careful with both removal and reinsertion because of my past experience (extra staff on hand etc) but it’s always been completely fine and they put local anaesthetic in for the reinsertion and it was absolutely painless. Don’t regret it at all.
I will say it made my normally light periods very heavy so if you suffer with heavy ones normally might be something to consider.
Good luck

Don't copper IUDs tend to make periods heavier?

I have the Mirena (hormonal) coil. There are fewer side effects than the mini pill (I can't have combined as I get migraines with aura), but it stops the flooding I was experiencing.

Insertion was on the painful side of uncomfortable, but the GP who inserted it does a lot of them and is very good. Cramping for two-three days afterwards, then settled down to the occasional twinge. I know other people who had worse experiences, so it's going to vary.

The bigger issue here is your very understandable trauma over the smear test. Please look into getting help with that

A copper coil will more than likely make your periods heavier, so it's not necessarily a good option.
A mirena coil would most likely reduce or even stop your periods, but it's hormonal.
Can I recommend a visit to a family planning clinic to go through your options?

You sound twattishly unsympathetic and not very nice.

They will do it under GA. Or you can pay and have it done privately.

I was advised to get one but like you I am.phobic about internals/ smears and so I refused. So I actually don't think it's your best type of contraception as it will give you trauma every 5 years. The doctor really pushed it at me though.

Valium is great for smears and your doctor should prescribe it if you ask.

And you sound like an absolute cunt.

I've had two copper coils fitted (I managed to pull one out when removing a tampon...) both of which were a bit painful on fitting, and both have given me heavier and crampier periods. It doesn't sound like a copper or mirena coil will be anywhere near the right option for you and only in part due to your (entirely understandable) phobia. I second going to a family planning clinic and talking through your options.

You can get valium I think.

I do sympathise though, I’m having one on the 25th and also in a mess, I’ve been told I need it as at high risk of womb cancer and this will help prevent that but I’m a bit panicked - I was sexually assaulted by a doctor several years ago and can’t hack being in that environment at all.

You definitely used to be able to get anaesthetic but have been told if I wanted a Ga I’d be waiting 2 years +, and that they prefer you try it without first, don’t like referring for a GA straight away.

I went to have the coil fitted and I had to stop the nurse as it was too painful - I have a high pain threshold and I just couldn't do it. Can you use condoms?

I would never get the coil, I’ve heard too many horror stories and women who, after having it fitted, then struggle to get it removed. Nope! Your GP isn’t the one getting it fitted, if you’re concerned then say no.

I had my Mirena fitted under GA, so you can ignore the people saying it absolutely won't be done. My cervix is tilted and hard to find during a smear etc so the IUD wouldn't go in properly. They used GTN spray to relax my cervix but it made me very faint and dizzy. The doctor didn't want to risk damage by continuing so sent me for GA. I had it removed three years later in the same doctor's office, having taken a couple of ibuprofen beforehand. Having it removed was easy and, after a quick pinch at the actual point of removal, not painful.

With regard to your previous appointment, you absolutely shouldn't have been held down by a nurse and I would consider complaining. I would have kicked and lashed out if I'd been forcibly held down by anyone. I find that appalling. You could also seek therapy to help you deal with future appointments. Do you know any relaxation techniques that work for you?

I had the copper coil fitted and it wasn't an awful experience but it certainly wasn't pleasant. I had some mild cramping but that's about it. That said, I've never had a bad smear test and I wear tampons regularly so if those things are no goes for you I do think you will struggle!

I would just like to add though I have always had heavy periods and very bad hormonal acne and the copper coil will absolutely not stop your periods, it's more likely to make them heavier and/or longer, and it has not helped my skin at all. All its done in that regard is not added more hormones in to the mix! (Only one of the types of pill helps my skin, the others make it worse)

GPs seem notoriously unreliable as far as contraception goes, when I got to the clinic to have my coil inserted I was told there that I could have stayed on my pill another 10 years even though my Dr said no! So I would really advise going and having a chat with your local sexual health clinic and talking through all your options properly.

I completely understand how you feel. I had a bad experience with a coil removal, which was handled so roughly and was so painful that it couldn't be replaced at the time. Like you with the painful smear, I felt violated and upset. I did have that coil replaced under GA at a later date.

Unfortunately, GA is less of an option these days, due to budget. Instead, it's worth approaching a sexual health clinic that is affiliated with a hospital, where they have far more experience and specialism than at a local surgery. It's also worth asking your GP if you can have some diazepam specifically for this purpose, which will relax you mentally and physically.

I had another replacement recently. GA wasn't available, but because of my previous experience they did use an ultra-sound so that they weren't fiddling around too much, and a lot of numbing gel. It was still a little bit painful and I had to work to relax, but they went at my pace and we got through it.

If you already experience heavy and painful periods I wouldn’t recommend the copper coil as it can cause periods to become heavier and more painful.

Have you ever had a transvaginal ultrasound to check for conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis? Endometriosis rarely shows up on ultrasound but sometimes adenomyosis can be seen.

I have endometriosis and both smears and coil fittings are extremely painful for me. I was in agony for days after each Mirena coil fitting but everyone is different of course and it might not be like that for you. However if you’re feeling terrified about it then I honestly would rethink this form of contraception. Have you considered the implant? It tends to stop periods. It releases a smaller dose of hormones over a longer period of time so less likely to cause acne etc.

PS can completely relate to the phobia of being touched down there. I’ve experienced so much pain from both sex and gynaecological procedures that I now can’t even fathom it (including sex).

GAs are done for coil fittings, I have mine under GA every time on NHS

I don't check the strings regularly as they're cut so short under GA

Have tried different brands of the pills or the mini pill? They all contain different levels of ingredients if you like so might have different effects.

Thank you very much everyone for your kind replies. It's good to know that others have had the coil fitted under GA but seeing that the copper coil doesn't stop periods (which the GP didn't tell me!) has put me off a bit.

I have tried about four or five different pills over the years I think, I'd been on the pill of one form or another for 11 years before DD was born but always had bad side effects so I would prefer not to go back on it.

I am leaning more towards the implant now although I've heard some people say it stopped their periods, and others say it made them constant!

To everyone who has mentioned counselling re my phobia/trauma, I have considered it but also think I would find it quite hard to discuss and I have no idea if I'd need to see a special sort of counsellor for it? I have had CBT in the past for anxiety and depression but I can't imagine talking about vaginal examinations with my old CBT therapist!

Thank you once again for the support and lovely comments. x

That sounds awful, I'm sorry you had to go through that! I've never heard of cervical shock before?

@takealettermsjones The nurses who did my smear weren't the best, I won't lie, but I don't live in the same city any more where I had it done, so thankfully I don't have to go back there. Fortunately when I had DD and explained to the midwife what had happened, and why I wanted a C section, she was very supportive.

I hated mine.
Had it taken out after 6 months and ended up passing out. Would never recommend

I also suffer with hormonal spots etc on the pill so I just said sod it and tracked my cycle instead. That worked for me but it's one of the riskier birth control methods!

I loved my coil once it was in but by god did it hurt getting it in. Then it ran out, they tried to replace it and my cervix went into spasm and they couldn't get it in. That hurt even more. Now i have the implant instead...

I always avoided the mirena coil due to my bad reaction to progesterone with pill etc I took the plunge when I went into early menopause and my periods became even heavier. Best thing Iv ever done, after 6 months no periods. I would recommend if you can getting it fitted at hospital, getting cervix numbed and using GA