How painful is a coil?

[raininginbaltimore]

Had dd 2.5 weeks ago, she will be our last. DH will prob have snip, but until he is absolutely sure we want something long term. I can't have hormonal contraception as it effects my moods (I am bipolar) so uld be copper coil.

Thinking about having a coil fitted makes my eyes water, despite giving birth to two babies! How painful is it?

I have had a coil fitted twice, after both pregnancies (I had it removed in between, obviously). The pain isn't too bad, and they use an anaesthetic to help relax you cervix. You are also advised to take painkillers before hand. It is worse than a smear, but similar, and it is all over quite soon. Now I wouldn't know it was there, it can stay for years and I don't have to worry about contraception. I have a Mirena and I have been more stable moodwise than ever before, though whether that is because my life is more settled now I don't know.
They usually wait till six or eight weeks after giving birth before fitting them. Congratulations of the birth of your dd. Were you on medication throughout your pregnancy? I had twins on lithium (but I'm not bipolar)

I came off my medication to conceive and then throughout pregnancy. I was well in both my pregnancies. I have restarted lithium now though.

If you don't mind me asking, why were you on lithium? I have never known it prescribed for anything else.

I had a copper coil fitted a month ago. I was pleasantly surprised that even doing a smear at the same time it was totally painless! I had to go to the sexual health clinic as the GP who could do them has left, so the nurse was clearly an expert in vaginas! Only having a speculum holding everything still for about 5 min was a bit uncomfortable.
I had almost no bleeding after, too - very happy.

I have treatment resistant depression, I have been on every AD going and they don't work for me. I take it with an antidepressant (citalopram) and it increases the effect of that. It is quite unusual though.

I had one fitted 12 weeks post partum. Worst bit was keeping legs open for 15 minutes. There was a bit of a cramp when they did something (she warned me of that as she did it). Similar in feeling to a smear with the added cramp just takes longer.

It does nip a bit having it put in but take cocodamol and ibuprofen beforehand and you'll be fine.

The coil has been brilliant for me.

id rather have a coil than go through labour ,ive just had my 2nd one put in its a bit uncomfy but take painkillers 20 mins before.

Go to a Sexual Health clinic or FPC where they are experienced at fitting IUDs, I have had one for over twenty years on and off as I cannot use the pill, I have not had any problems with it.

My experience was an awkward one, I had to have a camera inserted into my womb and because I have a retroverted uterus it was very painful. They then inserted the coil which wasn't anywhere near painful compared to what came before!

I nearly punched my (otherwise lovely) GP in the face when she was doing the tampenade (??) bit. And I cried in the car afterwards.

Sorry to be negative. However she did say (afterwards) that it probably hurt more than usual because I was still BFing, so my cervix was more tender or something. So do bear that in mind - from everyone else's experiences it sounds like I was unlucky.

Fucking awful. Thought I was dying. Ended up hospitalised because they'd rammed it in to the wall of my uterus.

The internal scan (of dildo cam) was a particular highlight. The violent vomiting for 24 hours+ was delightful as was the follow on vomiting from the super strength painkillers for the next week whilst I was in recovery.

I know someone else who ended up somewhat iller than me because of the damage it caused.

Had a coil for last 7 years, yes it's a bit uncomfortable going in although I've been pain relief free for them never fucking thought to take any doh Would recommend a Mirena they can stop periods completely, I had a copper one for several months but periods were a bit heavy and after 5 years of not having them it was a bit of a shock! My GP used to be a Ob-gyn surgeon so am completely confident in her abilities

I can't have a mirena I think because of the hormones. Generally hormonal contraceptives effect my mood too much and I become unstable.

Think I might still be too chicken!

I was breastfeeding when I had mine put in. I went to the FPC though which the GP recommended because they do them all the time so very experienced.

It didn't hurt to have it fitted. They do have to measure something first (uterus, cervix? I can't remember) and that was uncomfortable rather than painful. It was a weird sensation of a bit of rootling around in the lower regions of your body. I wouldn't have said it was painful and I wouldn't even say I needed pain killers. It was on a par with a smear.

That was just putting one in. One thing I won't be doing again is having one out and another put at the same time. Apparently if you take something out of your cervix is snaps shut and you can't get the new coil in. The doctor had to use asthma spray on it to dilate the cervix again. That is the only time the process was painful but that shouldn't put you off having one put in, just warning you so that the removal can be planned to be a different day from the insertion of the next, should you need it.