If you've had a coil fitted, please can you tell me ...

[ThatDamnDog]

... exactly what the procedure consists of?

I've read reams of leaflets but all they tell me is that an internal examination will take place - fairly obvious, I thought!

It was a bit like a smear test - speculum in, bit of jiggery pokery, slight discomfort and done!

[faints]

OK. Sounds like it'll be OK. [deep breathing]

I'm hoping my poor lacerated undercarriage has healed by the time the appointment comes around ... right now no speculum would be needed, just a couple of clothes pegs!

It is uncomfortable and i would advise you take painkillers an hour before you go. Get someone to drive you if you can.

However the benefits of it have so far for me, greatly outweighed the not so pleasant procedure.

It wasn't exactly nice. In my case way worse than a smear. But did make the next smear I had feel like a walk in the park.

hope they don't stop halfway and say "just need a bigger speculum", like they did to my friend

its no biggy, bit of ky, poking about for 10 seconds and your done - actually not as uncomfortable as a smear

definitely worse than a smear because they have to poke through the cervix to put it in place, but it's bearable, and quick!

thinkng back though, did have draggy period like pain next day

It was painful, very painful but worth it. No periods, no pmt, no babies!

OK, can't really get anyone to drive me but it's only a mile. I'll pop some ibuprofen first. GP had no such wisdom to offer when I asked if there was anything I should know/do first, so thank you. :)

I didn't find it painful but i did take paracetamol and ibuprofen (on the advice of my DB who's a GP!) beforehand.

I've had smears that have been more traumatic!

I had 2 particularly horrible internals a couple of weeks back - one for my (short-fingered) consultant to have a rummage and one for the midwife to try and break my waters, which took some doing as I was only 3cm dilated and there wasn't much in front of DD's head to actually rupture, so that took a sustained bit of fumbling. So I shall mentally prepare myself for that again.

I drove home after mine, no probs. Some cramping and bleeding later in the day but solved by ibuprofen.

I started driving myself back (only about a mile) and had to stop the car as came over all faint and cold sweat etc. But am possibly a wuss.

I drove home too, I had some cramps after the first one but no cramps after the second one.

I had mine fitted under a local.

But on removal had the 'hang on, need a bigger speculum' moment. Was v but they explained that they needed a longer one as my cervix was hiding high up.

Not a local, a general.

I found it a lot less painful than a smear and I didn't take painkillers. Did feel a bit pins and needles-y for a couple of days afterwards, but that may have been completely unrelated. Worst thing was being told "this should see you to the menopause" - made me feel very old

It is v.uncomfortable as they clamp your cervix while they measure uterus and then insert coil. My cervix shut tight after the measuring as it (understandably) didn't like foreign objects being poked into my uterus so it took longer than expected. i would take painkillers before if I was doing it again.

It hurt me, but I haven't given birth and have never had a smear. It wasn't the worst pain ever though, I have had worse period pains. I needed a little lie-down afterwards, and the nurses put me on a bed. The bit I didn't like was when they held the edge of my cervix (with some tongs or summat).

I had my first one pre-children and it was quite painful: lots of cramping and I had a bit of bleeding too.

However, I'm on my third one now and have to say that I haven't noticed the fitting of the last two. Obviously, this has something to do with things being a bit more 'relaxed' after the children. I have had no problems with any of my coils.

This was for the standard IUD - not the Mirena coil.

For me the speculum was the worst bit but it took four minutes exactly. That was a Mirena. Sadly it fell out when I had it checked two weeks ago. So have lost a leetle bit of confidence in it

No pain after here. But then I took two diclofenac beforehand and was away with the fairies frankly.

I don't mean to put you off but I would have like to have been better prepared.
I had a copper coil taken out and a mirena one inserted and it was very very painful. I wish that I had thought to take some painkillers before I went, I had quite bad cramps, worse than the usual period ones. I was off work for two days. But everyone is different as is their pain thresholds.

I was also told "this should see you to the menopause". Then a long pause. Then "how old are you again?"

I am 34.

Added nicely to the indignity!

I took a couple of Ibuprofen before hand, and it was uncomfortable, and I got a bit wobbly when I sat up, but it was ok really. The fact there was a holdy-hand nurse made me feel more anxious iyswim.

While I was lying there with my eyes closed the GP said to the nurse "God, they're enormous aren't they!"
(She was talking about some scissors, but my legs clamped together instantly!)

they tried to get one in me but it wouldn't fit through - apparently my cervix went into spasm . Apprently it's much easier to fit once you've had children as the entrance is bigger (?). I was told the only way to have it done would be go have a general and have then shove place it in while I was asleep, for various reasons I ended up declining. The pain wasn't nice but it wasn't terrible - I had crampy pains for the rest of that day/next day but was able to drive home and do normal things just gently for the rest of the day. Try deep breathing and being as relaxed as possible as I think the more tense you are the more painful it could be.