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Family planning

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Original poster

Non hormonal coil experiences?

51 replies

Eggoispreggo · 06/08/2018 18:34

Hello all, just looking for some advice and experiences of people having had a coil, I'm looking to get the copper one to avoid any hormones as I'm breastfeeding at the moment, and don't fancy hormonal contraception again in general really.

Fitting?
Affects on periods?
Effectiveness?
Any horrible side effects?

Thanks so much!!!

OP posts:

WibblePod · 06/08/2018 18:37

No advice I'm afraid, but am also considering getting it and am very interested in hearing people's experiences.

Racecardriver · 06/08/2018 18:38

Fitting was painless, just uncomfortable. Effect on periods gas been minimal (I now spot for a few days before hand when I didn't before). Effectiveness, I have been using it fir two years with no issues. No side effects of any kind.

Bloodylovepotatoes · 06/08/2018 18:39

I absolutely love my copper coil, had it fitted 8 weeks after my son was born (2.5 years ago). The insertion was slightly painful (but tbh no worse than a smear), and I had a bit of cramping and light bleeding after. Since then no unwanted pregnancies (of course). I haven't had heavier periods either. The one definite side effect I have had is that my period pains are worse, but nothing I can't cope with using ibuprofen.

No yucky hormonal side effects either. Win win.

Shout if you have questions.

MrMeeseekscando · 06/08/2018 18:41

I've had mine since May and I love it.
As others said a little more spotting than before, but the rest is pretty much the same.
They will push the mirena hard. I had the bloody speculum in and they still double checked I didn't want it.

MummySparkle · 06/08/2018 18:41

I loved mine. No side effects, periods weren't noticeably heavier with it (although I only had one between the two DCs so I can't really remember what they were like before) Unfortunately mine expelled itself, but other than that no issues!

MrMeeseekscando · 06/08/2018 18:42

Just to add, ive reported depression, non stop bleeding and zero libido on normal contraception and STILL they pushed the fucking mirena.

ReallyRatherBlonde · 06/08/2018 18:43

Slightly uncomfortable fitting but not as bad as I was expecting. Longer heavier periods but its great not having to think about it and obviously no hormonal effects on skin/weight. 100% effective so far! Overall the best option I've tried by a mile (for me anyway).

fairgame84 · 06/08/2018 18:44

I've had my copper coil for 2.5 years.

It was uncomfortable having it fitted but not particularly painful.
Since I've had the coil my periods have lasted longer. They used to last 7-8 days and now last 13-14 days but only around 4 days of heavy bleeding. My cycle is between 29-34 days.
Periods have not been anymore painful for me.
I've got a 10 year coil.

Butternutsqoosh · 06/08/2018 18:47

My was incredibly painful to be fitted! But I think that's uncommon. Periods are 4 days with one massively heavy day and 3 light. Cycle is exactly 28 days, it's brilliant.

Original poster

Eggoispreggo · 06/08/2018 19:51

Thank you so much to everyone!! Has really put my mind at rest, was worried I'd get lots of negatives but it all sounds very positive!
Even if fitting it does hurt I'm pretty much fine with pain, had a baby 5 weeks ago so I'm sure it can't be worse than that and I managed ok 😂
Glad the periods weren't hugely affected, mine were never very painful to start with so hopefully won't make them unbearable.
Will let you know if I go for it, seeing the dr next week so will arrange it with her then I think.
Thanks for the Mirena info, I'm guessing that's the hormone version? I'll stick to my guns and tell them no! 😊

OP posts:

LoveInTokyo · 07/08/2018 08:14

I’ve had mine for about two years

Fitting?

Fine, just some temporary discomfort. No pain.

Affects on periods?

They were quite a lot heavier for a while. About 6 days in total with 3/4 heavy days. Recently (in the last 6 months) this seems to have stopped and it’s gone down to about 4 days in total with only one really heavy day.

Effectiveness?

I’m not pregnant...

Any horrible side effects?

Cramps worse at that time of the month. Occasional cramps at other times of the month too.

Sunshinepimms · 07/08/2018 08:20

Had mine in for about 8 months now. Tried every other contraception but hormones don't agree with me so this is perfect. Fitting it was fine, just after was crampy but they advice to take pain relief for that. Periods are longer and heavier but I would still prefer that than be on a hormone pill ect. And no skin or weight effects either.
They last 10 year's too so no need to worry about it for a while. Although just keep checking the strings as some people's can move or fall out

Emma765 · 07/08/2018 08:22

I had to get mine removed.

Fitting was pretty painless.

My periods doubled in length to 8 or 9 days and were incredibly heavy. Pain was horrendous and would come as stabbing pain that would see me doubled over wherever I was.

Seemed to be effective, no pregnancy.

Also had some emotional side effects I'd previously thought impossible with there being no hormones but felt very down and depressed.

The amount of blood I was losing made my hair fall out and it's never recovered.

There's been a few threads on here with a lot of women having similar experiences to me, maybe have a look for them.

I'll add that I hadn't had a child when I had it, and I've heard pain is worse for women who haven't as the uterus is smaller. So you're less likely to have a bad time of it.

paap1975 · 07/08/2018 08:25

Anyone had any feedback from their OH about them feeling it? I think I'm going to go down this road too as the pill has killed off my libido

Bloodylovepotatoes · 07/08/2018 08:26

paap if fitted correctly then no he shouldn't feel it.

Thirtyrock39 · 07/08/2018 08:30

Do you have to regularly check the copper coil to see it's still in place? This puts me off more than the pain of having it fitted!

lennyisnuts · 07/08/2018 08:30

@Eggoispreggo
The copper coil is a great method of non hormonal contraception.
As a contraception nurse we fit a lot of these and they are well tolerated by many women.
The fitting procedure can be anywhere from uncomfortable to totally unbearable pain. It is never the same for one person to the next so I personally would not rely on opinion for this. I think of you have a high pain tolerance then you should be fine but always go into the fitting expecting some degree of pain and if you sail through then that's a bonus! We are irritating your uterus with a foreign body at the end of the day- you are going to feel something but it will be short lived.
In terms of periods- most women do experience heavier and longer periods so if you have very heavy or painful periods currently then the method generally isn't recommended. It is often more painful the daily before you period actually shows. Some women have no issues at all.
I should point out that if you want the coil removed it is a much easier and far more comfortable process than having fitted.

lennyisnuts · 07/08/2018 08:32

@Thirtyrock39
We recommend that you check your threads once a month after your period has finished so give you the reassurance that the coil is indeed still in situ. Women who have heavy period may not notice the coil has he expelled otherwise.

HerSymphonyAndSong · 07/08/2018 08:32

I loved mine - had it in for about 5 years before TTC

Bear in mind I had one put in before I had a baby via vaginal delivery - it wasn’t painful so much as uncomfortable and the bit when it’s pushed through the cervix made me feel a bit sick, but it was all over very quickly and not too bad. I don’t know what it would be like post vaginal delivery as I haven’t got that far yet!

My periods were heavier, longer and more painful but as they were pretty light and short beforehand they were probably in line with the average period. I would be a bit cautious if you are prone to heavy and/or painful periods. There was some spotting initially but it settled down

My H says he thinks he felt the strings occasionally in certain positions but this wasn’t anything that concerned us

pitterpatterrain · 07/08/2018 08:34

Mine is good, fitting was uncomfortable but ok

Periods definitely heavier

donajimena · 07/08/2018 08:35

I had heavy periods and recurring BV. I didn't get on with it all.

SoftMyrtle · 07/08/2018 08:35

I had mine fitted because I didn't get on with hormonal contraception, although they tried to talk me out of it because it's unusual to give them to women who haven't had kids, for some reason. The fitting was a bit uncomfortable (more like bad period cramps, weirdly), and I had enough spotting afterwards to delay my period, which made me paranoid I was pregnant!

After that it was GREAT. Made my periods lighter and less painful... Would definitely recommend!

Original poster

Eggoispreggo · 07/08/2018 14:06

@lennyisnuts thank you for the info 😊

OP posts:

HerSymphonyAndSong · 07/08/2018 15:36

How odd softmyrtle that they would try to put you off - no one tried to put me off having it in before children!

I never ever checked the coil was in situ the whole time I had it in. I had a smear in that time and the nurse commented that the strings were there

LoveInTokyo · 07/08/2018 15:38

Some of you need to change GP.

I don't have kids, and I have never had my GP try to give me any kind of contraception other than the one I asked for.

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