TTC after cooper coil removal

[SST08]

Hi ladies,

I’ve been driving myself mad over this so thought I would post here in the hope that someone might be able to shed some light on this.

Background info: I had my copper coil taken out last November after about a year of having it in. Since it’s come out, my periods have become ridiculously light and short - before having the coil in they were a regular length and flow (around four days and heavy on days 2 and 3). During the coil predictably they became a lot heavier and more painful so I figured since it was non-hormonal it would go back to normal after it was out as my husband and I wanted to start TTC baby #1 this year.

So I guess what I’m wondering is has anyone else had this issue and how long did it take to get pregnant after having the copper coil out? My GP doesn’t seem worried but I feel like my body isn’t doing what it usually did so I’m worried which I’m sure isn’t helping ovulation!

Any help/advice/rants would be very welcome

Sorry - the title should say copper coil not cooper coil! Can’t edit or change unfortunately, I need to type slower!

No advice, but joining you in the situation. I had my coil out this month, with a warning from the nurse that because we had had sex a couple of days previously and I was bang in the middle of my fertile period, I could get pregnant right away. We avoided DTD for the rest of my fertile time as feel that another month would be a better time anyway.

My period was due last week, it ended up arriving on Friday night and was finished by Saturday night. Very heavy on Saturday day. I had done a test middle of last week as I was 3 days late but nothing showing. Quite concerned as to what's happening to my cycle, and whether 1 day can be classed as a period or whether to test again. Who knows!

I had my coil out in November too - November 2015. I'm still not pregnant. I'm going for ivf in the near future. I was 31 when it came out and 34 now. Don't think it has anything to do with the coil though.

My cycles are crap now. I do t remember them being irregular on the coil but I didn't pay much attention. Now they're 28-39 days. My periods themselves are 2-3 days with only a day of proper red...

I honestly think almost everything is normal (except bleeding in the middle of the cycle).

How long does it take to get pregnant? It takes as long as it takes...

I just got mine removed on Thursday so I'm watching this with interest. The copper coil doesn't affect fertility and my doctor also told me I could get pregnant immediately (in theory) so I don't think it should impact on cycles which are hormonal? AF is due in the next day or two though and I've always been really regular - and having the coil in didn't change my period in terms of length or heaviness, and I had coils in for 10+ years - so I'll let you know if things seem different.

Thanks for your replies ladies!

@KnobJockey - this is pretty much what I get - about half a day to a day of heavy-ish flow and then a light brownish coloured (sorry tmi) flow. My doctor said she isn’t worried as I’m still bleeding every month but I don’t have a good feeling about it...

@physicskate - I’m so sorry to hear that. Does your doctor know why this is happening? Is it definitely nothing to do with the coil? Wishing you lots of luck with your IVF and sending plenty of baby dust your way xx

@starsandstuff that’s exactly what I thought too, which is why I went for copper and not hormonal. I’d been on the pill for about 8 years before that and as soon as I came off it my body sprung back into its normal pre-pill cycle which is why this is worrying for me. Let me know how you get on.

In the meanwhile I think my husband and I are going to have a private fertility check up to find out if everything is working as it should - fingers crossed! Hope you all have good days

Hey,

I had my copper coil removed last July.
I was told not to have it as it makes your periods really heavy. They tried to force me to have the hormonal one!
Anyway, I had it for about 6 years. Didn't have any issues with it really.
I think my periods are a little light, but as the coil contains no hormones it should not affect your cycle. I think maybe it made you a bit heavier whilst having it? And now you're monitoring a lot more!
I really would try not to stress, this can be a major factor for not conceiveing.
Set yourself a date in a few months time to speak to a gp, and try to not over think it until then.
This is me being paranoid after 9months of charting everything....
I'm 35 next week. Age is not on my side.
I decided to go get myself tested. London women's clinic are so good. Nhs not interested yet.
I have low hormone levels and low egg count. Doc says it's not that I can't get preggo, might just be more difficult. Given my age we should consider getting help.
As I went private, and we don't have much money, we are going for IUI poss starting in May, depending on my progesterone test, as we can't afford ivf, and I think maybe it's a bit of a crazy step to jump to. Then hopefully if we have no luck the Nhs will fund the ivf.
I'm not telling you this to scare you, I really don't want to!! I'm telling you this as even though I've been trying for ages, I'm technically old, there are other things you can do if it really does come to that. Don't be disheartened that you're not conceiving naturally!
Enjoy you man, try not to be so focused on the conception and play it by ear. You will be ok, it will happen eventually.
I got the clear blue advanced monitor last month, I've just ovulated (apparently) I've heard how good this is. So hubby and I have got serious but been messing and joking the whole way about how we're trying to get pregnant to save a tonne of money.
This month I'm convinced I can't get pregnant... if I do, I'll check back and let you ladies know.

Positive thoughts and good luck to you!

We have no reason sst08. We are 'unexplained infertility'.

80% of women under 35 will fall pregnant within a year of having sex every 2-3 days. 95% within two years. And that's without fertility issues.

I blame education and our 'I want it now' culture. We were warned to not have kids and it was drilled into us that if you have sex once, you'll get pregnant. For most people this isn't the case. I think when we start ttc it's because we're ready for a baby then, not ready to wait a year or so to get pregnant and then be pregnant for 9 months...

Try not to obsess.

Physicskate ..... spot on!!!
Ready for a baby now... not in 2 years when they tell you you're 'high risk' of everything.
I have quite a few friends, and my sister with multiple children. All conceived within a few cycles. So stupid me for being sensible and waiting until I'm ready! 🙄
You just can't win these days unless you're ready in you're early 20's. 🤦🏻‍♀️

@wishful30 - ah my GP was the opposite - she encouraged me to go for the copper coil as it’s non-hormonal. Maybe you’re right, I am monitoring too much or thinking my periods before were heavier!
I did look into the ‘couples MOT’ at the London Women’s Clinic - I was reading their reviews and they seem good so might give them a call.
IUI seems like a good option - I don’t know too much about treatments yet but IVF looks so expensive and no guarantee that it will even work. It’s awful what we put ourselves through first not to have a child and then to have one! If only our bodies just did what we wanted them to do when we wanted them to do it - seems unfair that the one thing we should be able to control we can’t! Positive thoughts and lots of baby dust to you and your partner too

@physicskate - I’m sorry to hear that, it sucks. I totally agree with you when you say it’s education to blame. At school we had it drilled into us that all it takes is one time - if only that were true!! This book I’m reading, Take Charge of Your Fertility, explains the same thing. Trying very hard not to obsess! Wish you lots of luck and positive thoughts also xx

@wishful30 - ugh, isn’t it just the worst?! Since hubby and I have started trying towards the tail end of last year three people I know - including my twin sisters-in-law - have announced they’re pregnant. One of the girls, a good friend of mine, has PCOS and the month she conceived she hadn’t had a period the previous cycle nor was she tracking her ovulation. Another friend, who was told she had a 1% chance of conceiving, also because of PCOS and endometriosis, conceived after four months of trying. I’m so happy for my friends and sisters-in-law but can’t help wishing I was in the same place. And this only ever seems to happen when you really want to get pregnant too

SST - look at the statistics. I think you 're a LONG way off from needing intervention. At 6 months ttc, you're only slightly more likely to have fallen pregnant than not. That means out of two people, only one would have fallen pregnant (and up to 50% of pregnancies end in miscarriage of some sort)...

Technically, I am only just considered infertile. I had a chemical pregnancy in March 17. So I am still the one in five not pregnant after a year of ttc.

Save your money (or start saving up your money). Wait till it's been a year. IVF and IUI are absolutely no guaranteed and is super super pressured.

I wouldn't wish what I've been through in the last two and a half years on my worst enemy.

@physicakate - I know we haven’t been trying long at all compared to others, including you. I guess from my perspective I’m a planner and have this insatiable need to plan and control (🙄 I know). It sucks that the NHS takes so long to “consider” a couple “infertile”. I’m definitely not wanting to go down the IVF route anytime soon, just want to make sure everything is working and ok I guess, just for our own peace of mind...
I’m sorry you’ve had to go through such a hard time. I hope things get better for you and your partner, it must be horrendous to have to wait all this time because you literally have no other option...sending you lots of positivity, luck and baby dust and hope you get your little bundle of joy soon x

But that's the thing - even ivf isn't foolproof. Doctors can't magic you pregnant.

I was a planner (hell ive been a teacher for 7 years where every sentence has to be planned in advance). The sooner you can get it out of your mind this is something you can control, the better off you'll be.

I know three people now pregnant with their second since I've been trying to get pregnant... stop comparing yourself. They aren't you and you aren't them. Their ability to conceive doesn't affect yours.

It doesn't take that long to be defined as infertile in the grand scheme of things. It's just because it is far more likely that you will fall pregnant within two years than not...

Honestly, I hope you get pregnant soon, but you're a long way off (6 months or so) before you should be starting to worry...

So my period is currently awol 🤔 Day 34 and no sign. Can't remember a cycle this long before. I'm 41 so of course I'm now also panicking I've had my last ever period...

@starsandstuff my cycle became long after coil removal too...I’m sure it will turn up! Janet Jackson had a kid at 50 so hopefully there’s hope for the rest of us yet...keep everything crossed for the witch!

Thanks @SST08
I'm praying for AF to arrive so I can get ready to pray for her not to come next month

Fingers crossed @starsandstuff! Let us know how you get on!

I had the copper coil removed last November too, after having it for 10 years. Periods changed dramatically. On the coil, mine used to be 6-7 days long and so heavy for at least a few days - was using super extra tampons and pads. Post-coil, periods have been surprisingly light - regular tampons are fine. I wondered if I was making enough lining for implantation! And I had the worst period of my life in March - it was so bad I ended up at the after-hours doctor and finally in A&E, after fainting from the pain at the doctors and with super low readings for my heart rate and blood pressure.

Anyway, we have been lucky and are currently a little over 5 weeks’ pregnant. Same as everyone says: fell pregnant in a month where we were busy and travelling all over the place and weren’t putting too much pressure on ourselves.

Good luck to you all.

I had a copper coil for 8 years. Heavier flow and more noticeable discomfort whilst it was in but not too much difference. Had it taken out end July 17, conceived mid Sept 17. However I get acupuncture regularly (started for migraines but am now a devotee) am fit, quit fags, barely drink, not stressed. On the other hand I'm an ex smoker, tad heavy, OH works with uranium and we are 36/37 so not the best stats. Acupuncturist reckons 3 years is the time to start stressing about not conceiving, it can take ages, we were just bloody lucky!

Concentrate on what you can influence such as your health and happiness as this will support your fertility. And keep shagging on the hot week!!

@Attie17 - ahh so pleased for you! I’m also worried about my lining so going to get it checked out. Sorry to hear about your hospital spell, I hope you’re feeling better now...wishing you lots of joy and luck with your little one :)

@PLFDiDi - I’ve heard acupuncture can be good for fertility! If all else fails that’s what I’ll try too. I’m a total stresspot so that probably isn’t helping and acupuncture will deffo be good for that.
Congratulations to you too, you must be due so soon!

AF finally arrived on Sunday, so it was about 5 days later than usual. But so far it seems the same, no lighter or heavier. My usual is about 5 days long so I'll see if it's shorter. Maybe just a weird coincidental blip... Hope yours settle down again @SST08 and all is well.