I have 1001 questions about the coil...can you just give me the pros and cons please.

[ladytophamhatt]

I just picked up the phone to make an appt to get one sorted but had a wobble again.

The idea of having a little device in there freaks me out.

I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?

I can't risk another unplanned child though. It'll set me over the edge.

Watching this thread with interest as my doctor has reccomended the mirena coli to me. I have been on cerezette (mini pill), but couldn't cope with the very irregular bleeding. I chickened out of commiting to coil while I was there because I was scared of the pain involved in having it fitted, so am trying another mini pill, but if this doesn't agree with me I will think seriously about the coil. Doctor told me you don't tend to get side effects (other than reduced periods, which to me is a bonus!) because of the very small amounts of hormone, but then I have read things on here that go totally against that.

Thats teh same for me PC.

Its stuff i read on here that scares me.

I think maybe the mirena is teh way to go then.....I'm sure I'll be able to get my head around the no periods thing.

Thanks for this thread. I'm watching, too, because I've been having my period almost nonstop since mid-June, and my Dr. is recommending the Mirena, as I've been on the pill for 3 months, and it hasn't done anything. I'm in the US, where it is pretty rare, and have been reading with horror how many people seem to hate it here. I'm pretty much at the point where I'll try anything to stop the bleeding, though.

After my experience a few weeks back of 3 periods in 2 weeks, I could get my head quite easily around the no period thing! Knowing my luck, I would be the one in hundreds that would probably have non stop bleeding on it! Feeling rather pessamistic after my experience on this bloody pill!!

Have a few friends who have the marina & love it, but then I read a few horror stories on here & get put off. The fitting process scares me too!

I was terrified about the fitting and if I am honest it was that that was putting me off. But I was on Cerazette and though no periods on that was great the hair loss wasn't .
So I took the plunge.
I went to the Family Planning clinic as our docs don't do it and I decided they are looking at fanjos all day there. I was very brave and even let a doctor in training do the fitting.
I had a fab nurse who kept me chatting the whole way through. There was a bit of discomfort and a fleeting moment of 'ooh' type pain but nothing worse than that. You can take painkillers before which will help.
I did feel rather odd after and a bit wobbly. Also had bad period pains that I took painkillers for for about 24 hours. All normal. Since then I have felt fab. Libido even seems improved and no bleeding yet at all.
I have an inkling I am eating more (like my pre period binge week) so I am putting a check on that as I know there can be weight issues.
My friend had hers fitted at the tail end of her period and had no pains or wobbly moments at all.
And all I keep thinking is that this is it for five years. FIVE years!! How brill.
Worth a go imo. If you hate it have it out. But you might love it.

Cod would say it is great too.

Another thing that scres me is losing them.
my RL friend had one and it fell out.

Ohhh,I don't knwo what to do.

I wish DH would get teh snip.

i love mine. had it put in 6 weeks after dd was born (didn't feel a thing ), & now i don't have to think about contraception until she's 8! i have the copper one, & it has made my periods heavier, but not unberably so. i also get worse pmt, but think that's non-coil related (& i had been on the mini pill for years pre-kids & in between them, so i suspect it's just my natural hormones re-asserting themselves). go for it, honestly.

LTH - after each 'period' you check the strings. You would know if it 'fell' out.

I went to the clinic a couple of weeks ago to have a diagphram fitted, they did do it but looked at me like I was out of the ark!!

OK I'm in my 40s but it always worked well for me even when I was married.

When I asked why more people didn't use it they said that people wanted something more spontaneous!! Don't quite get that actually, if you think your might be on a promise you just put it in.

I admit to being very slapdash with the cream and length of time I kept it in afterwards but it worked very well for me and exH was very fertile.

I was quite shocked that they offered me the pill and also implants!! very keen to push hormones which I don't want as I have already had in my 20s

I can't have a coil because i've got fibroids.

Part of me thinks it's a bit sad the cap aka diagphram has gone out of fashion. Perhaps it will just become obsolete. It will do if fp clinics don't promote it. To me it;s the contraceptive equivalent of the mooncup.

My last partner had had the snip and that was absolutely great. very liberating.

Does anyone else use the cap

Cap has never even been mentioned to me - Our GP however did offer DH the snip at 6 weeks postnatal with our db3

NO way...more babies for me please!

Hi i have just had normal (not mirena) coil put in (2 weeks ago) I have really heavy periods anyway and am yet to have my first coil period - am scared as have been told that could be heavier...eeeeek! Can't have mirena as am overweight and have been told they are not that great for someone with PCOS (ie me!)

The Mirena didn't suit me I am afraid.
Like you LTH,I wanted one after our fourth child and had it inserted 12 weeks later.Was ok for about a year,no periods.
Then I began to bleed suddenly and heavily with no warning,every few days or so.
Had it removed and went back on pill,which I take pretty continuously without a break as when I do stop I have horrendous bleeding again.
Probably need to have 'endometrial ablation'(DH tells me,he is doctor) but had such a horrendous birth with DC4 that I cannot face any more interference!
Bck to Mirena though,would probably be great for you.

I had a coil (called it an element by mistake - as it looks like an element)

It was so fantastic and I could have lots of sex and not worry about having babies!!

The fact that you can just forget about it for a year at a time and not have to do anything for another 5 years is great.

My first to periods after I had it fitted were a little heavier but then everything settled down great.

I have now been sterilized so no more fuss ever ever. But if you are not sure the coil is the next best thing to my mind.

ps not the mirena coil just a plain one for me

I definatly cannot risk PMT getting worse.

I'd end up killing someone.

That's a shame sleepcat - to me it couldn't be simpler and no invasive hormones.

It does require to be non squeamish about your body and it isn't 100% and there is a small risk of toxic shock and cystitis but I just found it so easy to use. I had 10 years on the pill and did not want to go back on it.

Didn't always use the spermicide and as I said my exH is very fertile.

If you really want to try it probably have to push for it.

Mirena coil usage has meant the number of hysterectomy's for heavy periods has been reduced by 80%.

Weight gain = many women have the mirena put in round about peri-menopause. Sorry, as you get older, you do put on weight. So people do associate the mirena with weight gain, whereas it may just be coincidental.

A very small amount of progesterone is released into the uterus continually. This ensures the lining of the womb remain thin, so no or scanty periods.

Please allow 6 months for the mirena to have peaked to a good level of working.

Pain = make sure you take adequate pain relief before having the mirena put in. Anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen is best. Take adequate pain relief for a few days following insertion. Be gentle with yourself.

And please, please, please, take someone with you when you go to have it fitted. You may not feel like driving following insertion. (Both my colleague and I have driven people home after they have had a mirena). One lady brought her 2 young children along, in the pouring rain. You would have had to have a heart of stone to make her get the bus home.

Hope this helps.

Yes, you can have a coil fitted if you are overweight.

Yes, you can have a coil (normal or mirena) fitted if you are overweight. There is a slightly higher risk of it falling out in the first month, but aside from that it is just as good a contraceptive as in a person of pefect weight.

I had mine done a couple of weeks ago - I lost some weight in the first couple of weeks as I felt a bit sick, but that passed.

I did waver a bit (this is the second time I've been to the Drs about it, the first time I bottled it) but with 4 children and a DP who also refuses the snip, it seems pretty sensible. I'm not 100% comfortable with having something in there, but its that or a baby.

The procedure was really straightforward, a bit uncomfortable but short and sharp IYSWIM. They measure the opening and get the right size then put the coil in. Its over in about 10 minutes. I admit, I did waver whilst on the bed, but I think its OK and I'm quite comfortable with it now. I felt fine afterwards, a bit crampy over the next few days, but absolutely fine.

HTH.

I have had the copper coil in for about two years now. I have pcos and did not want any extra hormones inme as the ones I have cause enough bother thank you very much. I have2 children and not ready to rule anymore out so the coil seemed right although I was abit dubious of having something sat inside me. Its best thing ever for me. Yes the initial fitting was uncomfortable and cramps after but if you can stick it out three months I forget I have it and so does my dp. But be warned it made me bleed heavy for at least three cycles ,had a share in always ultra

my periods were a bit heavy for 6 months, and the bleeding phase was a bit long (10 days) but have subsided back to normal. V Happy with my plain coil!