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 have a high pain threshold and never have any problems with smears but I found having the coil fitted the most unpleasant procedure ever. Very painful. I honestly thought I was going to pass out. It’s great now it’s in and I’ve had no problems but I’m dreading having it removed and redone!
Depends if you can cope with pain for a short amount of time for a long term payoff!

Don't do it. I'm sterilised but was having horrific periods due to fibroid so they fitted a coil. It hurt me and I'm not bothered about people rummaging around my cervix. If you had that horrific an experience with your smear I'd definitely not have a coil.

I should point out I had a student fit mine so probably was worse than an experienced gp.

A well known side effect of the copper coil is heavier periods so I wouldn’t even consider it if you already have heavy periods. I had a mirena to supposedly resolve my heavy bleeding and it made things even worse and gave me a year of hell while the medical professionals told me it might still settle down. They like to recommend the coil because once it’s in they hope you can forget about it for several years but IME it it doesn’t work you then getting it removed is somewhat less easy!

And this is why women are reluctant to speak about their fears and difficulties regarding smear tests, vaginal exams etc.

For some people it really is that bad. Some people have had previous sexual assault for example which would make this kind of thing really traumatic.

Just because it isn't bad for you doesn't mean it isn't bad for everyone

What a shitty shitty comment.

On the period front, I'm going to go against the grain and say that the copper coil didn't make any noticeable difference to mine. When I had my first one fitted, they were heavy and stayed that way.

I'm now on my third coil. Age and thyroid problems have made my periods far lighter. The third was fitted a long after the second coil was no longer effective, It hasn't made my periods heavy again, and I've seen no noticeable difference to how they usually are these days.

I had one last week. Previous to this one I had to go to hospital to have it inserted by a local. This time wham in and all over in a second thank god