Mirena Coil Insertion..

IcyRubyHiker · 2026-03-03T19:37:07+00:00

How did everyone find the insertion of the Mirena coil? I’m so worried about the process and possible complications following a really bad birth experience in the past and complications following it.

StrawberryPi · 03/03/2026 19:43

I found that it hurts, but only very briefly. Also my first was much worse than the subsequent (I have not kids yet so cervix undilated) so having had a baby should help too! Take paracetamol and ibuprofen in advance of the appointment just in case.

The other thing is it makes me quite woozy for a few minutes afterwards. Apparently it’s something to do with the vagus nerve. So make sure you rest properly before you try and get on with your day, and maybe plan a sweet treat for straight after to perk you up!

ChirpyAmberLion · 03/03/2026 20:01

I’m on my 3rd coil.

The fitting of the first one was horrendous, more so because it was pre-internet, so I couldn’t Google it, plus the nurse didn’t explain the actual procedure at all. I’d also given birth twice previous to this. TMI, it was the ‘tape measure’ part to determine the width between the ovaries that was the worst bit. 🙈

The second was a doddle as I knew what to expect.

The third (and the one I have now but 20 years since the last one), was painful momentarily, but I remembered to breathe, sharp long intake, followed by slow breath out, along with the nurse talking to me, dinner plans, what am I up to with the rest my of my day etc., and that helped massively.

Honestly, I’m the biggest wimp going when it comes to anything medical, but I’d take a coil fitting over 7 vials of blood being taken in one sitting any day!

Monsterslam · 03/03/2026 20:03

Tbh with a bad birth experience it feels like a walk in the park. Still painful but nowhere near as bad as when they had to hook my waters.

Original poster

IcyRubyHiker · 03/03/2026 20:04

ChirpyAmberLion · 03/03/2026 20:01

I’m on my 3rd coil.

The fitting of the first one was horrendous, more so because it was pre-internet, so I couldn’t Google it, plus the nurse didn’t explain the actual procedure at all. I’d also given birth twice previous to this. TMI, it was the ‘tape measure’ part to determine the width between the ovaries that was the worst bit. 🙈

The second was a doddle as I knew what to expect.

The third (and the one I have now but 20 years since the last one), was painful momentarily, but I remembered to breathe, sharp long intake, followed by slow breath out, along with the nurse talking to me, dinner plans, what am I up to with the rest my of my day etc., and that helped massively.

Honestly, I’m the biggest wimp going when it comes to anything medical, but I’d take a coil fitting over 7 vials of blood being taken in one sitting any day!

Thabk you so much for your reply. I am honestly such a massive wimp too.

i’m considering cancelling my appointment because I also have a fear of being sick, and I’m so worried about feeling faint and nauseous after the fitting ☹️ I just can’t see a way through the appointment at the moment and it’s entirely optional at the end of the day so why am I putting myself through it!!

OP posts:

SincerelyDoubtIt · 03/03/2026 20:04

I'm on my third. It didn't hurt much worse than the smear test I had at the same time. As a PP did, take some painkillers 20 mins beforehand.

ETA: No nausea or dizziness afterwards. Joked with the practice nurse a bit, got in the car, and drove home.

Original poster

IcyRubyHiker · 03/03/2026 20:06

Monsterslam · 03/03/2026 20:03

Tbh with a bad birth experience it feels like a walk in the park. Still painful but nowhere near as bad as when they had to hook my waters.

So sorry to hear your experience. I had to have my waters hooked too and I’m so scared it’ll be comparible to that. I am so triggered by anything ‘down there’ because of horrible past experience.

OP posts:

Original poster

IcyRubyHiker · 03/03/2026 20:08

ChirpyAmberLion · 03/03/2026 20:01

I’m on my 3rd coil.

The fitting of the first one was horrendous, more so because it was pre-internet, so I couldn’t Google it, plus the nurse didn’t explain the actual procedure at all. I’d also given birth twice previous to this. TMI, it was the ‘tape measure’ part to determine the width between the ovaries that was the worst bit. 🙈

The second was a doddle as I knew what to expect.

The third (and the one I have now but 20 years since the last one), was painful momentarily, but I remembered to breathe, sharp long intake, followed by slow breath out, along with the nurse talking to me, dinner plans, what am I up to with the rest my of my day etc., and that helped massively.

Honestly, I’m the biggest wimp going when it comes to anything medical, but I’d take a coil fitting over 7 vials of blood being taken in one sitting any day!

Do they literally poke around in your womb to take measurements?! That sounds so medieval 😮‍💨😭

OP posts:

Allswellthatendswelll · 03/03/2026 20:09

Mine only hurt for about 30 seconds and I had c sections. Take painkillers before.

SincerelyDoubtIt · 03/03/2026 20:10

IcyRubyHiker · 03/03/2026 20:08

Do they literally poke around in your womb to take measurements?! That sounds so medieval 😮‍💨😭

Show quote history

No, they don't.

troppibambini6 · 03/03/2026 20:10

I’ve had three and not found it painful. It felt for me like a more rummagey smear test. I did feel a little light headed when I sat up but the doctor told me I would. I was fine after five mins.

troppibambini6 · 03/03/2026 20:11

Oh and I’ve never had any kind of tape measure any where near my ovaries 🤣

EmilyintheUK · 03/03/2026 20:13

I had mine fitted during a hysteroscopy so I was using gas and air at the time.
I took painkillers beforehand.
No pain at all but some pressure when inserting.

EnchantedDaydream · 03/03/2026 20:14

I had my third fitted a couple of weeks ago a bit worse than a smear each time but not much. I've always taken paracetamol beforehand and been fine to drive/walk afterwards.

DramaAlpaca · 03/03/2026 20:17

I had my first one under general anaesthetic for another gynae procedure, so obviously didn't feel a thing. I had my second in during a hysteroscopy and it didn't hurt at all. I suppose I was lucky as some women find having a hysteroscopy very painful.

ChirpyAmberLion · 03/03/2026 20:19

That’s how it felt (to me anyway) and yes it was a tape measure, remember they will have used a speculum to ‘open you up first’, so it’s not a ‘rummage’! I’m pretty sure that it was a copper coil and not the Mirena, so that might a reason?

Anyhoo, just breathe and talk, even if the nurse/doctor isn’t talking much. Far better to babble away than lay in silence to help distract yourself and pass the time.

If my first was copper and not Mirena, then you’ll def find the Mirena a walk in the park.

Amodernhistory · 03/03/2026 20:24

Fine. Look it’s not enjoyable but if you’re in eg a sexual health clinic you can get local anaesthetic. And most importantly (and the reason I’m on my third) is for many it stops periods. I haven’t had a period or a cramp, or a tampon in my bag, or a bloodied sheet, or PMS for… 17 years.

It’s a minute of discomfort for FIVE YEARS of freedom (for some).

Absolutely the best medical invention to ever personally affect me, outside the general ones for humanity like antibiotics of course. I don’t have a period after my late twenties and it stayed during the time my friends were having horrendous peri menopause floods. God bless medical science

traveltraveltravel78 · 03/03/2026 20:25

I've had 3 maybe 4? And they hurt a little but nothing that's not manageable. I take some ibuprofen and cocodemol 30 minutes before. Never felt, sick, lightheaded or dizzy afterwards and have been fine to drive home afterwards.

twilightcafe · 03/03/2026 20:30

No pain at all. However, I did take 3 X paracetamol and 3 X ibuprofen together. Figured it would be fine as a one-off.

Recovered for 20 mins afterwards, then walked the 5 minutes home. And spent the rest of the day watching trash from the sofa - doctors' orders!

tortiecat · 03/03/2026 20:38

I had my first Mirena put in last week. Took two paracetamol about an hour beforehand. It was just the same level of very minor discomfort and about as quick as a smear test. I’ve not had any pain at all since either. I’m sorry to hear of your birth trauma OP, and if you do go for it I hope it is as uncomplicated for you.

IceOnTheLake · 03/03/2026 20:45

ChirpyAmberLion · 03/03/2026 20:19

That’s how it felt (to me anyway) and yes it was a tape measure, remember they will have used a speculum to ‘open you up first’, so it’s not a ‘rummage’! I’m pretty sure that it was a copper coil and not the Mirena, so that might a reason?

Anyhoo, just breathe and talk, even if the nurse/doctor isn’t talking much. Far better to babble away than lay in silence to help distract yourself and pass the time.

If my first was copper and not Mirena, then you’ll def find the Mirena a walk in the park.

They don't measure the space between your ovaries. A uterine sound is used to assess the length of the uterine cavity. It's a very fine instrument with cm markings on it, but it doesn't look like a tape measure.

OP, I think it's best to be prepared for it to be uncomfortable, and make your decision based on that possibility. I had 2 failed attempts before a 3rd successful go and tbh it was very painful. However I know many people who have just found it briefly uncomfortable, including my DD.

Cotswoldmama · 03/03/2026 20:47

It is painful but not for long. My gp couldn't get my 2nd one in so I had to be referred to a sexual health clinic, they had gas and air ready for for me if I needed it. I didn't but it was nice to have the option. Maybe you could be referred? It was a long wait though about 6 months.

CrochetMadRosie · 03/03/2026 20:57

I took paracetamol about half a hour before and did still find it a bit painful.

The doctor did find it tricky to insert due to various reasons, and at one point I did say “well we can always leave it!” They did offer to stop at that point or have one more go… I decided to go for it as hopefully it was a few seconds of pain for 5 years of relief and they made it very clear that they would stop at any point which was reassuring.

Not something I’d want done every day, but 6 weeks or so on I’m glad I carried on.

Hope it goes well for you.

LondonLady1980 · 03/03/2026 21:16

Ive had two Mirenas.

The first one I had was put in by a GP who had never done it before, which in a way worked to in my favour because she was so cautious and gentle and explained everything. I won’t lie, it wasn’t comfortable but nor was it painful. The measuring aspect is to find out the distance from the top of the cervix to the top of the womb so they know how far to insert the coil. The whole process took about 20 minutes but I think that’s because of how cautious the novice GP was being.

The second one I had put in was done by a far more experienced GP and she’d obviously become numb to how uncomfortable the procedure can be as she had no bedside manner and no awareness of my nervousness or consideration that it might hurt and she just shoved it up me as casually as you’d chuck your trainers in the cupboard after taking them off when you got home. It took about two minutes and it did hurt, to the point where I had tears in my eyes. However, I want to stress that the pain was due to her personal technique (i.r not giving a shit), as opposed to the procedure itself.

I’m having another one put in next week and I will make it very clear that I do not want that GP doing it again.

If you explain how nervous you are, and ask them to take it slowly I’m sure you will be fine OP. As others have said, it’s not comfortable (like most things that women have to go through) but it is manageable and with taking painkillers before and after it’s not anything that causes any long lasting discomfort.

I had a bit of tummy ache for a few hours afterwards with both insertions but it wasn’t anything that stopped me carrying out my normal daily duties and I was back at work the next day absolutely fine.

Even with the unpleasant experience of having my second one put in (again, only because of how crap the GP was) the 30 seconds of pain was still worth it.

Being nervous is nothing to he embarrassed about though so even if you do end up cancelling, that’s ok. But honestly, it won’t be as bad as you think it will be if you have got an understanding and sympathetic practitioner doing it.