Copper IUD, What's normal and what's not??!!

[haylee81]

I had a Copper IUD (non hormonal, TT380 Slimline) fitted on Weds 7th Dec. After insertion I had the normal labour pains but they subsided and I felt a little better, Thursday I had niggles but nothing major either but yesterday I felt so bloated it was unreal, it actually made me feel very nauseas for most of the day. Woke up this morning at about 5am to again a horrible bloatedness and stabbing pains every few minutes which feels like it's in my stomach...somewhere!! When going to the toilet it feels like there is a tremendous amount of pressure and almost feels like my stomach is bruised. Also uncomfortable when sitting down. I just wanted to know if it was normal to feel this way a few days after having it fitted. I had the mirena coil before but had to have it removed due to bloating and weight gain but thought the non hormonal would be different. Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Haylee

What you've described doesn't sound right to me. The coil is meant to make your life easier not more painful. When i had it fitted i had the pains on that day and then it was fine. Maybe you should go back to your GP.

Incidentally i had an implant for a while and had the same symptoms as you did with the mirena coil. hth and good luck-every woman has to find the right contraceptive for her and it's different for everyone. Casuenut

I'd go back and get them to double check it's fitted correctly.

I bled a lot and had pains when my IUD was fitted pre children. In fact I ached every month just before my period was due.

After DC2 I had another IUD fitted 6 weeks after their birth and had no problems whatsoever after fitting. Odd. Not sure why but honestly it shouldn't be this uncomfortable

This doesn't sound normal. Ring the out of hours service and see what they can do. If there's a clinic open I would get to it if I were you.

It may (hopefully) turn out to be nothing but best to get checked out sooner rather than too late.

It sounds like your body is trying to expel it. I've had two copper coils and never felt as bad as that. I hope you manage to get it sorted out.

Tha doesnt sound normal at all. Can you go back to the FPC and ask to have i checked?

I'm having the Mirena coil fitted next weekend.
I was told there wouldn't be any weight gain or anything like that. Is that not true then?

OP, I shouldn't think that sounds right, what you're going through now.

Can anyone tell me what their doctor told them was the effective life of a t-safe cu 380A? I've had mine since 2003, it's been brilliant, but my current doc is now telling me that effecive life is 8 years and I am now at risk of pregnancy. I could have sworn the original fp clinic told me 10 years and internet research says 10 to 12 years (WHO recommendation). I do not want to get pregnant but may well do in about a year or so and I'd much rather not have it out now and either go through the pain of getting a new one in or start mucking about with hormonal contraception.

Also, for those who have had a coil up to the end of its effective life, when do you actually stop relying on it? It's not going to work perfectly up to the last day of the advertised life, then suddenly stop working, so do you have it replaced say a year in advance just to be on the safe side?

The 380 is a 10 year coil. The 'life-span' given is the length of time you can rely on, so no need to remove/replace early. It wont stop working exactly 10 years to the day (accepting that no contraception is 100% effective anyway) from insertion, but will become less effective as time progresses.

Thanks Cats.

I'm wondering how the OP got on - did you get to speak to a medic about your coil?

I'm also concerned about what's normal and what's not, so I am glad that you're having this discussion. I had a T-safe copper coil fitted on 20th Dec 2011. I have not had kids, and it was very painful getting it fitted. Apparently I have a tilted womb, which I was unaware of until now.

I had crampy, PMT-type pains for a couple of days afterwards but they seemed to subside. I also seemed to ovulate normally (judging by my cervical mucus) and at the right time in my cycle. Since then, however, I have had some bleeding. It's heavier than spotting, and feels very much like a period, although it seems to only last half a day. It has been happening most days since I ovulated though.

Also, although I feel fine in the mornings, if I have been sitting for most of the day (as I have to in my job) by the afternoon I have a PMT-type ache in my abdomen.

I had another coil fitted about 2 years ago at a different clinic and when I was with my previous partner and had loads of problems with it. It felt wrong right from the start and I ended up in A&E with contractions although the nurse who examined me said it was in place. IIRC I slept with my partner once with it in, had bright red (fresh, rather than menstrual blood) spotting, and had it removed as soon as I possibly could.

This one feels much better than that, but I am concerned that I seem to feel PMS-y every day, and am bleeding so often. I certainly don't feel like sex at the moment, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a coil put in!

Hi - bumping this thread.

I've just finished a 9-day period from hell, so I'm keen to know what's normal for the copper coil and what isn't.

It started with 2 days of cramps as severe as the pain I had when the doctor put the coil in. They were easily as bad as the ones I had with my previous coil when I ended up in A&E. I persevered though, took codeine and muscle relaxants (Syndol) and they eventually passed, but this was the HEAVIEST period of my life. Even after a week of bleeding I went through a nighttime pad while watching a 90-minute film

The bleeding has finally stopped, and apart from feeling a little washed out I feel OK. But is this normal? Is every period going to be like this or will they settle down? And do the cramps ease up?

I had the copper coil - same as op - in Nov 2011. I had period type pains and bled for 2 weeks, then had a period. Worst of my life!

I could hardly move, went through at least double the amount of pads I usually do, had clots the size of advacados! I was dizzy, nauseous and in lots of pain.

I've had another period since and it wasn't quite as heavy but still much heavier than usual. Not as painful either, but lasted 9 days as opposed to 7.

Had a check with the nurse and it's all ok - in the right place etc, and she said it should settle in a couple of months. She also got the GP to prescribe me some tranexamic acid.

Just had my copper coil removed this afternoon. The copper coil does cause your periods to be heavier and often more painful as the body tries to expell the coil each month. As it is non hormonal the body sees it as an unwanted body and so reacts like this. Once your period is over, the coil is great so its swings and roundabouts!

Hi there, I am bumping this thread again! Am a copper coil user, posted elsewhere about my ongoing symptoms but coming to the end of my tether and now REALLY unhappy with it. I know I have terrible periods from it -9-10 days of bleeding, heavy and light, I know I get ghastly ovulation pains ( 5-7 days or so) and bloating. Now I also think it is making me put on weight, which isn't the most major concern but I am worried it is yet another way of my body saying no. Any thoughts on this I would be interested to know others thoughts?

Mine is coming out tomorrow as I am convinced it has done me more harm than good!

Monthly thrush infections prior to my period, constant fatigue, aches, itchiness, horrific PMS (and I do not suffer from PMS), eczema, depression, non-existant sex drive particularly after ovulation and I think it hasn't helped my spare tyre!

I'm not one for self-diagnosis especially when most of seems to be on the American sites but this is all just a little too coincidental for my liking that all my symptoms started after I had it fitted!

I would go with if you are unhappy with it - ditch it and see what happens!

I've just had what I thought was a Mirena removed (turns out it was actually a copper one!!)

Had mine for just over 18 months and felt like it was a blight on my life.

Constant cramps, spotting and full periods. Went for a scan just after Christmas to check whether it was in the right place, which it was. Doc said to see if I could live with the pain and see if it settled down!!!

Went back last week and said I'd just had enough - sex drive nil, mood swings and weight gain (and I've been religiously following Weight Watchers for a while).

Trying out the mini pill now to see how that goes, so fingers crossed.

DH asked if I would be less of a bitch now it's out - no way

tulo....you got any links for those symptons?

wee jimmy..... did you ever get any info?.....it's adifficult decision to make, cos the settling in period for a new coil is gonna make the 1 year you might want it for painful. i bet they last longer than they say, but the risk of ectopic pregnancy is scary....

Hi, just had the coil fitted, literally half an hour ago and I've got a really sore back along with the cramping. Did anyone experience lower back pain also?

Hey lornamum1. I had a coppe coil fitted this morning.. very cramps and my back hurts.. how are you managing with yours now?

Hope it's ok. I've never had a copper coil (the family planning consultant put me right off it by telling about the expected monthly bloodbaths). But like all contraceptives, they all react differently with different people.

I have just had my Merina removed yesterday after nearly 5 years (fitted December 2012) I have gained about three stone on it and felt permanently bloated. I had the copper one put in after in its place in the hope that now it's non hormonal i won't have he side affects. Last night I was fine and no pain at all, although a little uncomfortable while being fitted and then this morning not first thing but later on when I was taking my children to school I had a horrible cramp that felt much like a contraction but didn't subside like a contraction does. Took ibuprofen and it seems to have gone now although my tummy feels a bit tight. Not sure how it's going to be but will see

Hi im new to this site.
I had a copper coil fitted on 19th December. Had it removed friday 23rd march due to constant harsh breath taking labour contraction type sharpe pain just reminded me of the pain I kept having before my son made an appearance to the world hes now 3. But since having the coil taken out the pain hasnt gone at all if anything the pain is making my lower abdomen feel really tender find it a lil hard to go toilet both ways and the pain is still breath taking and crippling when out shopping or just sitting in the house. What is going on :'(