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Family planning

Copper coil experiences?

19 replies

MummaBear4321 · 07/01/2021 19:01

I have a 2 year old and an 8 week old and dont want any more kids. I dont react well to hormones contraception so only used condoms before TTC, but I got pregnant first go on DD2 so now I dont want to take chances with condoms. I am thinking of getting the copper coil. I want honest reviews because I have heard some horror stories

OP posts:
lunalucie · 07/01/2021 19:06

Getting it put in wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, slightly worse than a smear test. I had cramps for a few hours afterwards but nothing major, a few painkillers and I was fine.

My only complaint about it is my periods are a lot heavier and they last around 7-8 days but other people don't have this problem. I've had mine for just over a year and I'm thinking of getting it removed for this very reason, I feel like I've given it a chance to settle and things are not improving.

ListenLinda · 07/01/2021 19:08

Best thing I’ve ever had contraception wise.
My periods are heavier and longer but would take that all day over hormones.

Toasty280 · 07/01/2021 19:17

No pain or anything when put in, but if light bleeding for a few weeks, light oeriods , they became almost nothing. After about 8 years I got bacterial diagnosis and had to have it out, then a new one out in, second time round I've got a mirena one, no problems with this one, had it for 5 years no so it's due for a change.
They have extended it to a 6 year licence but said use a back up from of contraception, I'd rather not but they won't change it at the moment as it's not necessary.

meecrowahvay · 07/01/2021 19:18

Insertion was fine, getting it out was fine. Just didn't work out for me. My periods went from being every 27/28 days and 4-5 days long to every 21-23, they were so heavy, painful and lasted 10-15 days. I know some people that have it and love it though.

RoxanneMonke · 07/01/2021 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MummaBear4321 · 07/01/2021 19:24

The periods are my worry. I already have 7 day long ones, 3 of which are very heavy. Since having kids they arent painful at all, but I used to be crippled with them, so I do worry about the effect the coil would have. The issue is hormonal contraception makes me feel like I have constant morning sickness. I just cant function.

OP posts:
CaviarAndCigarettes · 07/01/2021 19:28

I'm afraid to say it did not work well for me. I also react badly to hormonal contraceptives so decided to try it before we decided for sure whether my husband would get a vasectomy or not (wasn't absolutely sure we were done)

I bled almost constantly for the nine months I had it. There were heavy days and light days with no logic or pattern. On heavy days I couldn't walk my children to school (15 minutes each way) without flooding and having to turn back. I was anaemic as a result,

I recognise it works well for some but for me it was hell on earth

CaviarAndCigarettes · 07/01/2021 19:29

It was also the trigger point for my husband having a vasectomy because we simply could not continue as we were.

LittleBrownBaby · 07/01/2021 19:35

My body rejected mine. It was removed by a paramedic Confused

Lovemylittlebear · 07/01/2021 19:36

Didn’t work out for me as I had quite a lot of cramping and spotting for a while after it was fitted. I have two friends that fell pregnant on the coil also (I also have a couple of friends that fell pregnant on the pill). After I have this baby I’m hoping my husband will decide to have the snip (looks that way right now) so I don’t have to pump my body with hormones or potentially become pregnant again. I have a couple of friends that get on very well with the coil though!!! X

BornIn78 · 07/01/2021 19:39

I thought my copper coil was the best contraceptive I ever used.

No issues with inserting or removal. My periods were maybe ever so slightly heavier and a day longer. I had the 10 year copper coil fitted and only got got it removed after 7 years because DH had a vasectomy.

Helocariad · 07/01/2021 19:42

No issues with it at all- I've had one for 9 years now. Slightly heavier periods, that's all. Definitely works for me.

Tumblebugsjump · 07/01/2021 19:45

Very, very , very heavy period made me slightly anemic.

rainywindows · 07/01/2021 19:49

had one for a few years, periods were awful, ended up anaemic, had to have the copper coil removed

periods stayed heavy and ended up getting a mirena coil to make them go away

tbh I wouldnt recommend it if you can have a mirena one instead

the mirena one did affect my moods for the first few months but it settled down and now many years later I couldnt be without it

RollOn2022 · 07/01/2021 19:52

Hi, I had mine in September last year. Also have two kids and hormones really disagree with me! I had read the horror stories but felt there wasn’t an alternative (there isn’t as far as I’m aware).

I’d read on here to take paracetamol before the procedure - I didn’t need it. The doctor also said it doesn’t make a difference. It really didn’t take long, was uncomfortable due to mask wearing etc, but not painful.

I did have cramps and started my period not long after. This went on for a while, nearly three weeks! Each month the first few days were horrific and I did have a few accidents as I hadn’t anticipated just how heavy I would be. I now wear a super plus and night time always for the first few days. After this mine ends quite lightly within five days.

For me, I persevered with seeing how things go. There was one stage where I thought I’d have to have it removed as I was loosing that much blood and had no energy. I take daily vitamins which help with the exhaustion and just took it as easy as possible.

I have found that I don’t get ‘the rage’ as much anymore, I don’t really get cramps but do bloat and put on 6/7 pounds just before hand, which goes as quickly as it arrived.

I’m happy and had the 10 year one.

Therealone · 07/01/2021 19:52

No problems other than I got pregnant with it in!

reginafalange2020 · 07/01/2021 20:04

I'm a practice nurse so do a bit of contraception in my job. I know you don't want hormones but I'd still encourage you to consider the mirena.

People generally seem to get on well with it and general feedback seems that it is favoured over the copper, the bleeding often stops all together too. The hormones are much less and more localised.
Or your partner could think about a vasectomy? .............

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 07/01/2021 20:10

Had one put in in March just before lockdown, 3 months postpartum.

No periods until November because of breast feeding, and since have had 1 normal period, followed by a whole month of spotting (never had before), then an unusually short period 31 days later (normal cycle for me) then no spotting, but very heavy period 26 days later. So the answer is i have NO idea how it is for me, it has been weird ever since periods returned.

Plus points - not pregnant, no cramping (even on the very heavy period) and less angst & grumpiness the day before i come on, all of which make it a win for me.

3u33y · 11/01/2021 23:04

To be blunt- it’s been awful for me.
Like u I don’t get on well with hormones so got a copper coil. I had pain and cramping after which became heavy bleeding, clots and pain for 5 weeks before the coil finally passing out amongst the clots and painful cramps.
I had a uterine infection which then lead to me getting a UTI also.
I’ve been on 2 courses of antibiotics and strong painkillers to get through it.
I would never get one fitted again.

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