Don’t know what to do about coil

[flaxensunshine]

So my GP persuaded me to get a coil fitted as I have been on the pill for years. I have no idea why I went along with it but anyway.
the procedure I found to be horrific, but maybe I have a low threshold not sure.
i had it done at a sexual health clinic as they don’t do it at my surgery.
Afterwards they said they wanted me to go for a scan just to be sure it was in the right place. So sure enough scan shows it’s too low and I have to go back.
There are no appointments now until March! I just want it out but they literally have no appointments at all.
im getting myself worked up about it being in the wrong place, and it’s not even providing any contraception so I have to keep taking the pill anyway!
I have got really bad stomach cramps and must be because of this?
if it gets worse will A and E take it out?

Do any of your family planning centres have a drop in facility?

The sexual health clinics can also do this as far as I am aware, though you may be waiting for a while.

I wouldnt go to the A&E unless it is causing you immense pain.

Can you get it out yourself / with a partner? If you find the strings and tug. I pulled one out once and it didn’t hurt

That's ridiculous. I'd call and say I'm putting in a serious complaint unless I'm given an appointment within a week. They are responsible for the outcome of the procedure and they can't just leave you with no follow up.

I had it done at a sexual health clinic. They don’t have any appointments, I even got them to check other towns in my county- nothing. It’s ridiculous I just want it out surely it would take a couple of minutes

Just remove it yourself?

Take hold of the strings and pull gently but firmly.

It's just like removing a tampon.

My lovely GP took it out for me today thankfully! They don’t do it normally at the surgery but she was happy to take it out, she was actually shocked how low it was and that the clinic didn’t take it straight out!

@flaxensunshine so pleased for you!

@flaxensunshine oh thank goodness!

Yes I've found coil provision really patchy. It's frustrating when it's such a good solution for so many women.

By the way, if you want to give the coil another shot (and I LOVE mine), look for a clinic that inserts them using ultrasound. It means they can see where they're putting it at the time, so you don't run into this issue. Basically a scan during the insertion process rather than after, which makes so much more sense to me. It also makes it much less likely to be painful.

Thank you but this has put me right off having one!

Have you thought about an IUD (like Mirena) rather than a coil?

@Whatevs23 an IUD and a coil are the same thing! Although there are different kinds of coils/IUDs

@flaxensunshine aha I mean, fair enough! I hated hormonal contraception so much it was a big motivation for me to try something else but if you're happy with alternative solutions then I do not blame you at all.

Go to your sexual health centre for "emergency contraception" you can ask for a copper coil, which they will have to remove your current one to insert. Then just say you're too scared to get the copper one in

A coil is a type of IUD. Mirena isn't a coil.

Actually I think Mirena is an IUS and copper an IUD. I've had one of each and seen them after. The copper one was the original and is literally a coil of copper wound around the T shaped device. That's where the name is from. Mirena is a hormone system that slow releases progesterone- technically no it's not a coil, but that's like saying my vacuum isn't a hoover. The name from original t shaped internal contraceptive stuck.

What is an IUS?

IUD= intrauterine device.

Maybe it's because I'm not in the UK, but where I live I don't think we use the word coil generically like it sounds like maybe you do. We also don't use the word hoover generically either! We vacuum where I live.