contraception....the coil???

[mandajane2004]

I went to my doctor yesterday for the pill...she said i might not be able to have the normal pill due to high blood pressure....i was on the mini pill before.She suggested I have the coil fitted.I dont know anyone who has had this done.Can anyone give me any positive feedback on this..I have 6 weeks before I go back to see her and really dont know what i should do!

[handlemecarefully]

The strings are quite high up (not hanging down like a tampax string - they are internally high up)....and no, there isn't a problem with errr...ummmm...semen

[ponygirl]

Kama, I'd really never thought of that! Will take hmc's word for it though.

[Toothache]

The cords on my mirena coil are quite long. The GP left them longer as if they are too short the man can sometimes be jagged by them!! LOL! I liked the sound of that.

The vagina is self cleaning and produces fluid all the time. Any semen is simply washed out as normal. The cords eventually kind stick to the sides!!!

I had my coil fitted in January. My cycle is just settling into a routine, but I've had no period pains and more importantly... NO PMT!!

[Toothache]

Kama - they are more like wires! Like fishing line.
I must point out that although the GP left the wires longer... they are still internal.

[Looneymum]

Well, I've just had poor old Mirena removed. I think it just didn't suit me. Mood swings, inability to lose weight, screaming like banshi at DD1 (aged 3). Had to invest in book called "When mum turned into a monster" to try to explain my craziness to her! I have to say, my "real" period started straight away and I feel so much better. Have also lost a couple of pounds but will have to wait and see if that is just a coincidence! How's your weight loss coming along Toothache?

[Toothache]

Looneymum - Just stayed the same. Although I'm not really doing that much to lose any. I am cutting down on portion sizes, but that doesn't seem to be making a difference!! Might as well up the portion sizes again.

[sallypearce55]

with vaginismus you can do nothing other then cringe and be miserable. for me that was my life until it all changed and i could go to family planning and smear appts and have a good bedroom relationship :) Its called a Vagi-Wave and after 3 weeks the problem vanished as if it was never there, I cannot stress how good this bit of kit is, would not want to be without mine, it is more precious than my expensive handbag, yes its that good. so go get your life back and get one.x

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

I've had mine for just over a year. Was shockingly bad getting it inserted and I'm no wuss. However I'm putting this down to the fact there were only appointments with GPs who were training to insert them at my clinic so there was 15 minutes of rummaging,poking and shining big lights up me before they declared job done. Bled for a month initially and no probs since.

[StopStuffing]

I have the old fashioned copper coil, so no hormones just a metal widget.

As a contraceptive it has worked brilliantly for me, and I love the fact that we don't even need to think about it. Because it doesn't have any of the hormones, I still have a normal cycle. My periods, whilst still heavy, are much more regular and predictable and significantly less painful which is a massive bonus. But there have been some drawbacks:

Like IamMummy, having it fitted was horrific. And this with an experienced nurse both times (once after ds1, but had it removed for a variety of reasons, then again after ds2- I thought it might have been different second time round but no). For me, it really was just like being in labour- the actually fitting bit was fine, lasted 10 mins max and was no more painful than a smear. But the next 12 hours were obviously my womb trying to get rid of the damn thing and it was exactly like being in labour. Established , mind-off-somewhere-else-with-the-pain labour. Then it must have settled into an "acceptable" place and all was fine.

Also, the threads that hang out up there (can just about feel them) are apparently irritating my cervix and I have a very large patch of "erosion" there which does cause occasional bleeding (not spotting) after sex. Two smears have concluded that all is well and that there is nothing sinister about it but I am having a think about whether or not I want it still in there - having it removed last time was absolutely no problem though so at least that isn't a worry.

I would say that my sister also had this same type of coil and had none of the negative experiences- so guess its just a case of trying it out.

Good luck.

[StopStuffing]

Oh blimey just seen that this thread was started in 2005! Sorry.