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Family planning

Has anyone got a coil? Would you recommend it?

13 replies

Slh122 · 11/02/2014 21:11

Currently 3 weeks post partum and thinking about contraception. The midwife told me that EBF acts as contraception but as DS was conceived on the pill, using no 'proper' contraception isn't a risk I'm willing to take!
I don't trust the pill after last time, and just using condoms would make me nervous.
I've heard from several people that the implant can make you bleed a lot.
I've been thinking about getting a coil put in. Has anyone got one? Do you get heavy periods with it?

OP posts:

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 11/02/2014 21:36

I've got the mirena. My AF have gone from extremely heavy to ultra light since having it fitted.

The best contraception we used after having DC was sheer exhaustion and no. Am impressed you have the energy to even think about sex

Congratulations on your new Lo

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MalloryTowels · 11/02/2014 21:44

Yes I have had one for five years and yes I would recommend it unreservedly. My periods lightened up for a couple of months and then stopped and I can honestly say I've never had a minute's trouble with it - maybe I have been lucky but I love not having to think about contraception

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JanePurdy · 11/02/2014 21:49

I'm surprised at the midwife. Breastfeeding does suppress ovulation & act as a contraceptive in that way, but some women will get their cycles back at 6 weeks (I didn't - mine came back at 8mo & 18mo) - & most of all, you only know once you get your period that you've started ovulating again so you can get pregnant that ovulation totally unawares! If that makes sense.

Anyway I've had two copper coils & been very happy with them. My periods are heavier than they were before (they were very light before) but I don't know if that is because of having had the DC as well. Had my coil out last week to ttc #3 but planning to have another coil in afterwards.

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Pascha · 11/02/2014 21:52

I have a copper coil fitted as emergency contraception after a condom break at 4 months post-partum. Its been in for 9 months now and I don't even know its there, apart from a very slightly heavier period. I would recommend one definitely.

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Wincher · 11/02/2014 21:56

I had a baby in September and would have liked to rely on breastfeeding - official nhs advice is that it's very reliable ( www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/natural-family-planning.aspx). However we really don't want any more children and I kept hearing stories of people conceiving in the first few months, so I got the copper coil fitted in November. It's been great so far, but then my periods haven't come back yet so I don't yet know whether they'll be heavier! The fitting was uncomfortable but doesn't take long, and worth it for 10 years of contraception.

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BelleOfTheBorstal · 11/02/2014 21:56

Had a coil now for coming up on a year and a half, a copper one.
My periods used to be five days but now last six or seven days. Not any heavier though.
It's great, would highly recommend it.

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thecapitalsunited · 11/02/2014 21:56

I've had a copper coil for 4 years and I would totally recommend it. I don't have to worry about contraception failing if I'm sick and I don't have to remember anything. Best of all, my sex drive wasn't affected.

It did make my periods slightly heavier for a while but I found they went back to normal after a few months. I don't find them any more painful than they were before.

Having it fitted was painful but I'm so glad I had it done.

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Wincher · 11/02/2014 21:57

Link: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/natural-family-planning.aspx

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JanePurdy · 12/02/2014 07:27

From the NHS page - this is my point - 'After having a baby, it is possible to get pregnant before your periods start again. This is because you ovulate around two weeks before your period. For more information on breastfeeding, LAM and other reliable methods of contraception, talk to your health visitor, midwife or doctor.'

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Wincher · 12/02/2014 09:33

Yes, but if you are fully breastfeeding, that's unlikely to happen before 6 months. The page does say if used correctly only 1 in 200 women will conceive, which is an acceptable level of risk for me. But too many people have stories of failure...

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WeeClype · 12/02/2014 09:37

I've not had the coil but I had the arm implant put in 2 days ago, so far I've not had any side effects and I'm hoping it stays that way.

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honeybunny14 · 12/02/2014 09:40

Ive had the copper coil.over a year now and i think its great apart from longer and heavier periods.

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Blueuggboots · 12/02/2014 09:56

I had a copper coil and it made my periods horrendous!! Very painful, very heavy and diarrhoea every month too....
After DS was born, I had a mirena fitted as I'd heard it was good for pmt. I had it taken out after 6 weeks because I literally wanted to violently kill everybody (not my DS) and my hair was falling out - DS was 6 months old and GP agreed that hair wasn't just normal pregnancy loss.