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Original poster

IUD copper coil vs mirena coil - personal experiences??

49 replies

lightningpeach · 18/04/2021 15:44

After having last DC, I need to go back on contraception but am still breastfeeding. The progesterone only pill is not as effective as I would like so doctors have recommended the copper or mirena coil. Ive looked through pros and cons and looks like the mirena is better long term however if I can avoid put additional hormones into my body it would be better.

What are people's personal experiences with either of these?

OP posts:

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 18/04/2021 15:53

I am thinking about this too

All my friends/family who are GPs or HCP choose Mirena

But I have 1 friend for whom having it inserted was very painful

But yes, am thinking about Mirena right now (49 and need to come off pill soon due to age, but not yet menopausal or even peri 😬)

Winecheesesleep · 18/04/2021 16:30

Like you I was keen to avoid the hormones so chose the copper coil to start with (I have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer due to family history and the GP suggested it might on balance be the better option.) She said it would probably give me heavier periods but post-DC they were quite light and painless so I wasn't too worried about them being a bit heavier.

For me it was absolutely awful, my periods were extremely heavy and painful, like when I was a teenager but even worse. Although it got a bit better after 6 months it was still so much worse than normal and I asked for it to be removed after about year. They actually swapped it straight over with the Mirena and it was such a relief immediately.

My experience with the Mirena has been completely different, back to painless periods and they've been getting lighter and lighter to the point where its pretty much just spotting.

So in my experience Mirena has been much better but I researched it before I chose and its different for everyone.

Piglet92 · 18/04/2021 16:46

I had the copper coil. Having it put in was mildly uncomfortable, much less painful than the smear test I had at the same appointment.

In the 3 years it was in I went from having light periods to mega ones. Soaking through a night time pad in the space of an hour on bad days and the cramps for the week leading up to it were horrendous. The amount of blood I was losing was making me feel ill as well as just gross so I had it removed.

At the moment I'm not rushing into any contraception other than condoms whilst we decide if we want more children. I certainly won't have a copper coil again but I would definitely consider mirena.

Piglet92 · 18/04/2021 16:47

I was breastfeeding at the time of fitting and trying to avoid hormones after bad experiences with the pill.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 18/04/2021 16:51

But yes, am thinking about Mirena right now (49 and need to come off pill soon due to age, but not yet menopausal or even peri 😬)

This is completely false unless you have a health condition (such as hypertension or history of clot) or a smoker, you can use the combined pill up until the menopause. Do not fall for outdated rubbish to push you onto the coil.

I had the Mirena but it migrated and I needed an operation to get it out. They offered to install another one. Nope.

The copper I wouldn't use as it causes heavier periods.

disconnecteddrifter · 18/04/2021 17:01

How did you know if migrated? I csnt find my strings at all and I'm worried about this

idontevenknowanyonecalledblurb · 18/04/2021 17:07

I have the mirena in ... because I can't get it out! It has moved and I am waiting to go into hospital to have it removed after four unsuccessful attempts. I would never get it again; I now have to take weekly medicine for thrush, have a loss of sex drive and dryness- all started when I had the coil put in.

BigButtons · 18/04/2021 17:09

I had the mirena. The strings disappeared and I was scanned to find them. They had gone right up into my uterus and had to be fished out on a gynae ward with no anaesthetic.
I bled constantly with it- not spotting, proper bleeding which got worse and worse. I was covered in spots and had constant cramps in my womb.
Horrendous.

dementedpixie · 18/04/2021 17:11

@idontevenknowanyonecalledblurb

Mine was removed under general anaesthetic as they couldn't remove it normally. Luckily dh got a vasectomy so I don't use anything now

RicStar · 18/04/2021 17:13

I have a copper coil and I really like it, (I was worried about mirena as progesterone only pill made me a complete psychological mess and so I wanted to avoid hormones) my periods are maybe slightly heavier than all the years of babies and breastfeeding but not worse now than when I was younger. I have had mine a year now, and so far so good.

smithyca · 18/04/2021 17:15

I have a love/hate relationship with my copper coil. I love being hormone free because I had terrible side effects from the mini pill but hate that my periods can be quite heavy the first 2 days. That said I've had it for 18 months and I'm slowly getting used to it, I suppose it was a shock after not having periods for over 7 years when I was taking the mini pill. Insertion wasn't as bad as I thought it would be either, I booked the day off work expecting to be in pain but I've had worse period pain, if I'm honest I could have gone back to work straight after.

normalmumandwife · 18/04/2021 17:17

I've had a Mirena now for 10 years and just had third put in. Brilliant. Never had a problem..not had a period barely for 10 years except when it starts running out. Four friends all have one as well with same experience as me.

Any form of contraception usually has someone who doesn't get on with it. None is perfect but for me the Mirena is as near as.

RiskyReels · 18/04/2021 17:33

I'm on my 3rd mirena too and absolutely love it - no periods, no PMT (this used to be bad for me). Is just liberating to not have to think about periods at all. The first couple of weeks after each was put in were rough for me with big mood swings, migraines - I guess because of a big initial release of hormones but well worth it once they settled down.

hobag82 · 18/04/2021 18:37

I Had the mirena twice, decided to have a copper coil this time to give my body a break from hormones and also because they last for 10 years but I hate it and am having it changed back to a mirena this week after 18 months of trying to get on with it.

It has made my periods very very heavy and they last for around 10 days. With the mirena I only had a day or 2 of spotting if I even had a period. So personally mirena worked better for me. The actual insertion and removal process has been fine, a sharp pinch and then period like pain for a day or so with some light bleeding.

QueenPaw · 18/04/2021 18:42

I have a copper one (my third)
Periods last a day longer but were always heavy so hard to tell if they've changed. I will have another when this one runs out

MargotMoon · 18/04/2021 18:49

I had a copper coil in for a couple of years but swapped to Mirena because of the heavy and lengthy periods. Only get the occasional 'smudge' every few months now and no other side effects

Nuffaluff · 18/04/2021 18:54

I have the copper coil. I’ve never been on the pill, so didn’t want to have the mirena.
It’s been a good experience for me. Insertion was no big deal, but a smear is nothing to me either. My periods have got a little longer (7 days), but my two heaviest days are pretty much the same as before. Most days are very light or just spotting.
We used condoms before so I really like the lack of hassle I have with the coil.

Nitgel · 18/04/2021 18:55

Periods are heavy, long and painful with the coppercoil. I was glad to switch to the mirena and am on my second. Copper coil seems antiquated in comparison. Why suffer.

overwork · 18/04/2021 19:25

I also didn't want to use a hormonal contraceptive for various reasons, so I had the copper coil. Personally I found insertion horrific, but since then it's been great. My periods are a few days longer but they aren't painful or heavy. I love that I have practically zero chance of getting pregnant on it, and I don't have to think about it again for years!

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 18/04/2021 19:39

Thanks @osbertthesyrianhamster

The nurse gave me the impression that I would have to stop at 50

I am a good bmi and in good health (fingers crossed!) , low blood pressure, low cholesterol etc and am happy on Yasmin, but thought I was not allowed it?!

Will need to figure that one out with the GP then.

Peanut91 · 18/04/2021 20:00

I have had two mirena coils and one copper coil. Both times with the mirena I suffered with depression within 6 months of fitting. Every GP I have spoken to has said that there is no correlation but depression is listed as a very rare side effect and as it happened twice within the same time period and I have been depression free since I just don't want to take the risk again.
I had the copper coil fitted after the birth of my DS and it made the first 2-3 days of my period incredibly heavy. Luckily they only last for 5 days and are really irregular...no way could I cope with that every month but one every 2-3 months is more manageable. I am currently pregnant and not sure what I will do post birth.

DailyMaui · 18/04/2021 20:05

I'm on my 4th Mirena - love it. First three were for contraceptive reasons, third as part of my menopause treatment.

I haven't had a period in years and it is wonderful.

Although, having it removed was awful. The first two had to be taken out in hospital so I didn't realise just how bloody painful it could be.

Original poster

lightningpeach · 18/04/2021 21:44

Thank you for all the replies, very interesting hearing everyone's different experiences. I didn't realise how difficult and painful it can be to have them removed. Is it always difficult to remove? Do they still work if they migrate and can you tell before it comes to remove if it has?

OP posts:

QueenPaw · 18/04/2021 21:46

Mine have been fine to remove. Literally cough and tug and out (I don't have DC)

dementedpixie · 18/04/2021 21:48

@ChubbyLittleManInACampervan

Thanks *@osbertthesyrianhamster*

The nurse gave me the impression that I would have to stop at 50

I am a good bmi and in good health (fingers crossed!) , low blood pressure, low cholesterol etc and am happy on Yasmin, but thought I was not allowed it?!

Will need to figure that one out with the GP then.

I think you are correct that the risks outweigh the benefits after age 50 and you'd be asked to use something else without oestrogen

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