Ladies, please come and talk to me about the coil.

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I am 38, the Dr no longer wants me on the normal oestrogen pill and the progesterone only pill just makes me bleed continuously.

So, I am considering the coil as I am fed up with condoms (as we seem to have more than our fair share of them malfunctioning ) and really need a good alternative.

The problem is that I find internal examinations very uncomfortable, even painful at times and I'm worried about having a coil fitted. I would love to hear about your experiences and how the procedure went, how long it took and if it was painful etc.

TIA.

I'm having one fitted this week as 39 breastfeeding and don't want mini pill or any more permanent option.Had one before I had any children too.Took about 15 minutes .I remember it was uncomfortable when fitted,like low back pain period pain.The pain lasted for 4 weeks.I also had light spotting for 6 months which was annoying.Other than that it was ok.This time I'll be taking painkillers before I go(diclofenac and paracetamol).

37 and could have written your post. Watching with interest.

Me too - too high a bmi for combined pill and the progesterone only gave me awful side effects. Currently pg and l intend to bf again (bf'd first dd for a year but wasn't worried about conceiving again after). As far as I can see copper coil and condoms are my only reliable option (mirena has hormones same as pill)... so interested to see what other people's experience is

Me too OP. 37yo and since DC2 the pill hormones made me feel really depressed. Came off the pill and feel great, but still need contraception other than condoms!

Should have said,it was the Mirena that I had with small amount of progesterone,copper coil should not cause any spotting but may make periods heavier.

I've had 3 copper coils in my life - one at 19 that lasted for 10 years, then two more either side of DS1 (removed to TTC) and have been very happy with them.

The last one I had fitted they actually used a local anaesthetic to numb the cervix so there was pretty much no pain. Before that it was uncomfortable but only a bit more than a smear and very brief, about the same time as a smear.

They use the same device to open your cervix as the smear (or looks similar I'm not medically trained!), insert the coil and then it opens (which is when you get a feeling of cramping) and that's it.

I've never experienced the spotting but it does make your periods heavier - never bothered me but mine were reasonable to start with.

My advice would be to try to use a sexual health clinic rather than a GP. In my experience the people that fit a lot of them regularly do it better than occasional fitters and also keep up to date with the developments e.g the anaesthetic. If you are in London, I use Margaret Pyke in Warren St - very good.

Also definitely take 2 ibruprofen or similar before you go it helps with the period pain feeling after - which for me lasts about 24 hours.

In conclusion it's not that bad - and then you don't have to worry about it for 10 years!

Hi I've had 3 copper coils in all, having the first 2 removed so I could get pg, I had light periods 3/4 days but quite bad period pains before I had the coil, I found its only made them a bit heavier now 4/5 days but I don't get pains anymore but I think that's as I have had 3 dc's
All hormone contraception gives me migraines that's why I've had copper coils and also it doesn't effect fertility at all.

As for fitting I think everyone is different, I didn't find it too bad, I can remember the most uncomfortable bit is when they measure the length of your cervix but it literally hurts for 3 seconds, as for afterwards you feel a bit sore or crampy for a day or two.

I had to have mine removed last week as I had treatment for abnormal cells following a smear and they couldn't leave it in, I will defiantly be having the coil again I might try the mirena one this time!
I'd say go for it

Thanks for your replies, I think it would be the copper coil I'd be looking at. Bit nervous about possible heavier periods though, mine are already pretty heavy now.

The device they use is a speculum which opens the vagina, I don't think it opens the cervix. The coil comes in a packet with its own insertion device, which gets it in the cervix.

I would recommend going to a clinic where they have specific family planning doctors who are very experienced. I personally would prefer not to have my gp do it as she only does them once per month.

I have seen threads on here where people have had problems with cerazette (pop) ie constant bleeding for 3 months +. Some ladies were advised to keep going with it, and we're happy they had followed the advice as the bleeding did eventually stop, and they had no further bleeding.

Good luck finding one that suits.
Fwiw I have copper coil, and found the bleeding was heavier than normal for approx 6 months, but it went back to my usual level after that.

I had a copper coil fitted at 30 (pre child) fitted by gp, I won't lie, it was painful. At 39 had one fitted at family planning centre, was mildly uncomfortable. Don't think this was down to childbirth though as I had a c section.

As a method of protection I love it. Hardly any change to my cycle and you never really have to think about it (apart from checking threads).

Just had 2nd Mirena fitted yesterday by GP.She has fitted loads of coils was amazing and it was pain free.I took diclofenac and paracetamol 30 mins before.Practice nurse did a smear first and that was actually painful when it never has been before so it was definitely the technique of the GP that made a difference.GPs have to fit a minimum of 1 coil per month in order to maintain their registration as a coil fitter.So I definitely recommend choosing someone who fits loads,so go for a GP in a practice with lots of patients or if not,a GP working in a family planning clinic.