Has anyone tried both the implant and the hormonal coil?

[RealLifeClanger]

I have horrible periods but don't get on with the mini pill. Need a progesterone only option. Goal is to stop or greatly reduce periods so considering the implant (nexplanon) or the hormonal coil. Interested in experiences of both as I'd prefer the implant insertion and safety wise but not sure if I'd get on with it hormonally. The coil would probably be better hormonally but I'm pretty scared of something going wrong with it (moving out of place, infection, uti's etc) and the insertion sounds horrible. Probably doesn't help that I have a tilted uterus either :/

I’ve had the implant and hormonal coil. I bled constantly for 6 months on the implant and it didn’t agree with me at all. Had light bleeding for 3-4 weeks on the coil and then it all settled and I had spotting once a month when my period was due. Really liked the coil. The progesterone only mini pill also didn’t agree with me and causes constant bleeding.

Similar I bled continually for 9m with the implant and had to take the pill on top to try to stop it. Eventually removed

Mirena was great from a bleeding pov nil at all, insertion was only a tiny bit worse than a smear and I've not had kids (which makes it more likely to be painful and a tiny cervix). I had to remove it after 2y tho as got ongoing period cramps constantly (this is super rare my body just wanted to get rid of it

Same here, implant was tricky (and removal was horrid) but am on third mirena now, first took a while to settle with random bleeding but now none and haven’t for years…

I've had the implant for 1 year 2 months now. I have irregular bleeding however my cycles have settled to being long and irregular, so it's fine by me. some cycles are up to 70 days long. the average is 40. occasionally I will have shorter ones around the normal 28 days and once I've had a random 14 day cycle. I've only kept it because although irregular, the cycles are generally long, so long breaks with no bleeding. the periods are light and 4-5 days, no pain etc.

I never liked the idea of the coil for it potentially going missing, having to really try and feel for the strings to make sure it's there correctly etc. I dunno, just not for me. it's really easy for me to check my implant is still there and it's in the same place.

getting it inserted was fine, the worst was the prick of local anesthetic but that was literally nothing after childbirth only 12 weeks before! fit and forget for 3 years is perfect.

@Sagittarius25 this is also what freaks me out with the coil. I do not want it embedded or getting lost in there! I guess it's just a case of trying the implant first since I'd be happier if that actually worked well for me.

@Destiny123 and @Popsicales did you bleed heavily for all the time you mentioned above? Or was it light/medium? I couldn't cope if it was like a constant period as my iron is already low.

Ermm less heavily than the horrific periods that I got it out in for to supposedly stop but certainly not light. Wow I'm failing my explanations as a Dr! Between pantiliners being OK and 3 pads a day (medium)

Had great fun getting it out though as it got really stuck in my arm the gp asked if I'd been bariatric size and now lost half my body weight! She was v grateful that I could hold the forceps and help her dissect it out my arm else she'd have had to send me to the hospital to have it surgically removed lol

Migration with a coil is vanishingly rare, the only real risk of perforation is when they put it in, just get it done in a sexhal health clinic where they do hundreds. They don't cause utis. Infection again is vanishingly rare

Depp Provera injection is the bomb

@Iamblossom I had it in my head that the depo contains oestrogen. Does it not?

No it does not contain oestrogen

I'm on my third implant and have had no issues at all

I have had the coil - my god it was awful. Used to have really light periods and no cramps. On the coil I had horrible cramping and such heavy bleeding for a least a week. For me it was horrible. I also didn’t get on with the mini - pill but I’m on a really low oestrogen pill called milinette and that works well for me.

I had the implant and then the mirena and I bled (medium) continuously for months on both - about 9 months on each before having them removed.
I had the copper coil (non homonal) about 31/2 yrs ago and have had no problems whatsoever. I have irregular periods as I’m in peri but I don’t think this is related to the coil. It was a huge relief and I much prefer not having the hormones. However I know everyone’s experience is different so I think there is a bit of trial and error, frustratingly!!

No it's great (albeit does make some people quite fat... n the downside is once its in its in, and you just have to lump any side effects till they're gone 3m later). Can get some delays with fertility returning on stopping. Can cause osteoporosis so I could only be on it for a year as my nan had a few spontaneous rib fractures). Think there's a generic max time for everyone but its too long ago since I did it in med school. But yeah was great no periods, no cramps no nothing

Yup I find gynae fascinating as all our teaching is the copper coil makes bleeding far heavier and to avoid if that's the issue, but then some think it's amazing. I've not tried it settled with back to backing a combined pill that's quite rare but works

Crikey, another option to consider. I think I need to have a good chat with someone at a sexual health clinic and see which would be best for me.

https://www.tht.org.uk/sexual-health/improving-your-sexual-health/contraception/long-acting

Similar here but the other way around! Had the implant and that worked like a dream, with coil in (now just over 2m) I'm constantly spotting between periods. Pill made me constantly bleed heavily.

I must say though, I had the implant at 19 and also had the pill before then with no issues. It was only since having DCs and being older that most contraception keeps going wrong for me so it must be to do with age / hormones etc

@Destiny123 thabks for the link, I've booked in for an appointment at my nearest clinic. Apparently there's a 2-3 month wait for a coil here so going for a consultation and will probably try something else in the meantime and see what happens I guess! 😬

I had a coil fitted at local GP within a week!

@TY78910 GP's aren't doing them anymore apparently. The woman I spoke to on the phone clearly wasn't happy about it.

What!! I had mine only 2 months ago! Unless it’s dependent on the area

Totally area and funding dependent. I waited 6wks for mine in sexual health granted about 9y ago

Ah, that explains it. NHS funding funding is pretty lacking where I live unfortunately.