to be worried about getting coil fitted?

[Imalittleworried]

I have suggested to Gp last months that I have heard about hormonal coil being helpful for heavy periods.
He agreed that yes that’s right but as he doesn’t deal with it, i was told the gp who fits it, will arrange an appointment.
I have been given a leaflet on the coil to read.
I have just been given an appointment to get it fitted.
Is this the normal procedure? I mean do they not have to check if i’m suitable for it.
The local sec clinic who i was told can also fit if it’s too long of a wait, has told me they would not help as if we are trying to get it done for the purpose of helping periods, gp should rule out any other problems, so should be referred to gynaecologists.
Am i overreacting or is getting a coil not such a big deal and gp is not being careless??

Normally, you'd have a consultation with the GP who fits it as it is their area of expertise. But generally, no, it's not that big a deal and I don't remember having any tests to see if I am "suitable". Just a normal round of questions which you get with any other contraception.
Not surprised a sex health clinic won't do it as they are not (typically) staffed by doctors and won't deal with anything which sounds even remotely like a medically-indicated device.

They love to put coils in but if you want your coil removed it’s usually a long wait.

Have you had a coil before? It’s painful for most women, even with pain relief. Not so much the coil insertion but the sounding of the uterus made me faint both times and ambulance had to be called.

ive had both coils. The copper coil made me have an 18 month period.

Thanks @Catza so the sex clinic does coil fitting but as I’m having it done for period issues, they said no as apparently heavy period could be due to other underlying issues even though i told them i’ve had this all my life and 4 kids

I had an appointment with a GP to fit it, and she couldn't, so she then referred me on to the sexual health clinic, where they somehow just shoved it in in about 5 seconds with minimal discomfort. Anyway, the point of the story is that in my area, the sexual health clinic are happy to take referrals from the GP if needed.

I’ve had a hormonal coil inserted and removed twice at both GP and sexual health clinic. I don’t think I needed any consultation before but it was for contraception, not periods. It was uncomfortable but not significantly painful - I know it is for some women though.

I’d guess it’s a policy of your local sexual health clinic that they won’t insert coil for heavy periods as they’re commissioned for contraception purposes only and that’s why they won’t accept you - but every area will have different policies so wouldn’t worry about what someone else had somewhere else. They’re probably worried about you coming back in a few months if it doesn’t help your periods.

My periods stopped with both my coils so fingers crossed it helps you!

I have mine for the same reason but before trying the coil they sent me for a scan to check my uterus for anything that might be causing heavy bleeding like fibroids. There wasn't anything so I got the coil. It takes a few months to thin the endometrium and there is a lot of bleeding whilst that happens. I've decided to go with a few months of inconvenience (the bleeding is mostly light) to solve my heavy periods for the long term.

I have possibly managed to move mine using a menstrual cup; I'm having another scan to find out. Although only one GP at my practice can fit coils when I called about it moving the doctor said they can all take them out if that's what I wanted and offered me an appointment that week.

Has anyone had to pick up the coil themselves from the pharmacy and bring it along to the appointment??

I had to do that with the implant years ago.

got my coil at the sex health clinic. Maybe they are taking woman’s heath seriously but as someone with endo and PCOS I’m not surprised the GP isn’t that’s standard for them

I’ve had the coil since April. I had to have a phone consultation with a nurse. She prescribed it and I had to collect it from the chemist. I had to wait for an appointment at the clinic for it to be fitted. Have you had children? I’m 53 and had it fitted to stop bleeding as it was very heavy still. I haven’t had a period since April albeit I spotted quite a bit when I started monjaro in October. It’s been fantastic for me. The fitting?? The doctor went through everything before fitting it. Uncomfortable? Yes, a bit but no worse than a smear and then you feel a pinch for a few seconds when they clamp open the cervix. For me it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be and I’m done now for five years!! Having children makes it less painful.

It’s just like having a smear, nothing more, nothing less.

Once in, you don’t feel it.

I haven’t had a period since 2011.

@DryJanuaryWhosWithMe For a lot of people it isn't and can be much worse, especially if you haven't had children - it's good you are ok, but OP should be aware pain relief is available and try again to have it at the sexual health clinic.

They fit them all the time, the GP will probably fit one a week. No brainer.

Thanks everyone yes had 4 children but from memory i’m told i have a very far back cervix? (whatever that means)
im worried more about the hormone aspects of things going into my body as suffer quite a bit with up and down mood especially before periods (and after and in between 😂)
don’t really want to turn into more of a psycho for my kids than I already am 😁

Same reasons for me. Heavy periods. Always suffered with PMS but feel with menopausal looming i need to do something to survive the next few years. I feel my like revolves around my period and I’m sick of it. I would love to not have to deal with it any more.
Good to know it worked for you 😊

It has definitely helped my headaches and moods. I’m on hrt so now only apply two pumps of gel in the morning.

I chickened out of having it.
I was on the injection for about a year and halfway through just kept bleeding. Went on progesterone only pill and keep bleeding on and off. Sounds to the GP and she suggested mirena but they don't do it. The sexual health clinic booked me in with a long wait.
I joined a few groups and read a lot of horror stories. Although I'm not having the best time on the pill I can just stop if I want where as apparently it's a bit of a fight to get the coil removed even if it's not working for you.
Good luck!

Your GP won’t be able to predict whether your mood will be affected but you could discuss it and say that you want assurances that if after a settling in period you want it removed then it will be removed without issue.

They do go through everything with you prior to insertion and get you to sign a consent form. As to how easy or difficult it is to insert, that cannot be ascertained until they are in there. An experienced practitioner will almost always manage.

Have you tried anything else for your PMS? If that’s an issue separate to your heavy periods then maybe you need another approach for this.

I recently had my ?6th Mirena fitted, now for HRT. I haven’t had a period in 30 years so you could be lucky like me.

The Mirena was one of the best things I’ve done. I was really reluctant because of the hormone aspect but it’s lightened my periods (to a tiny bleed for two or three days - I used to bleed heavily for 7-9 days) and I don’t suffer with the moods anymore either.
I find getting it put in slightly painful, the same as a smear, but it’s so so worth it.
I hope it’s as amazing for you as it has been for me.

I hope it helps you. I had the mirena coil fitted but It’s really dried me out down there… Has anyone else experienced this?

has the cause of your heavy periods been investigated with a scan? I'd push for that first as it could be due to fibroids.

@MiddleAgedDread I have struggled with it all my life. Yes that would be good but at the minute i’m struggling with low iron which i only found recently and it’s a bit of a lightbulb moment and really hoping that working on fixing that, should help with exhaustion and all the horrid symptoms i’m suffering with.
So really don’t want to wait another 6+ months for a scan.
Ive already waited a year to get here and desperate for a bit of relief

I'm on my 3rd mirena now and never had any problems, fitting it was just like a smear test really. I never had any tests or check ups to see if I was suitable or anything either.

The mirena hormones are localized and largely work within the uterus - you don't have the same high circulating hormone blood levels as you would with the pill or injection so side effects are rarer. Hope it works for you! First 2 coils I still bled lightly but this one has stopped my periods altogether.

My last Mirena fitting was not the easiest because my cervix is very far back. It was more challenging for my doctor than for me! In the end he had to use an ultrasound so he could see what was going on and to get it in the right place. The whole procedure took about an hour - a relief for everyone when it was over! But even with all that, the discomfort for me was minimal. It just felt like mild period cramps at times.

I had bad experiences on the pill (combined and POP) and swore never to use hormonal contraception again. Then peri menopause kicked in, with flooding etc. so agreed to try the Mirena. I had heard nightmare stories about refusal to remove them if things weren't going well, but my GP was lovely and very reassuring that she'd have no problem with taking it out of I wasn't happy.

Having it put in was painful for me, and I had to take painkillers for three days for the cramping. The most intense pain was short lived, but I did feel faint and nauseous for a minute or so afterwards.

My periods carried on pretty much as normal, though thankfully without the flooding, for around three years, but since then they're rarely more than spotting and some mild cramps.

I'm on my second one now, the removal and then insertion of the second one was considerably less painful.

The main downside has been it's made my hair and skin greasier, especially in the first few months. It didn't exacerbate cramps, but did make them feel different (that could be to do with the fact I only have one ovary, as the pain seemed stronger on the side that still has one.)

I had a mirena coil and it was one of the best thins I ever did. It’s was a bit uncomfortable having it fitted and I think I had like a scant period for a week after fitting. After that my very heavy periods reduced to a very small amount where I could just use a small tampon during periods. I never had any problems and completely forgot about it (already had 2 children) I eventually had it removed about 3 years after menopause. It was in about 20 years

I’ve just had one fitted. Mine is for HRT but the dr told me to tell the sexual health clinic it was for contraception because they were quicker and more experienced in fitting them.

it was fine. The nurse (?) talked me thorough what it is, what it does and what I needed to know.

it was a bit uncomfortable. I was told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen beforehand. And have something eat and drink. It took just a few minutes.

slightly crampy for the rest of the day and that was that. Try not to worry. You’ll be ok.