Is a COIL my last option?

[TinselinaBumsquash]

I am thinking of having a Coil fitted, it seems to be my last option in helpiing sort out my awful periods and providing a contaceptive at he same time.

I am 22, i have 2 children i dont want anymore for a long time.

I used to take the pill for years but during my first pregnancy i got severe vlood clots and it is now a no no.
I cant get on with progesterone of any kind it makes me bleed really badly and after having 2 depo injection i was hospitalised where it made me so ill.

I have also tried many other POP's whith the same constant bleeding and making me feel rubbish.

As a contraceptive we are currently using condoms, which is fine but i would prefer something that we didnt have to worry about applying everytime we had sex.

My periods are awful though, each month i get wicked PMS and i am in agony from the waist down, not cramps just real bad pain all trough my groin, lower abdoman and legs, it often reduces me to tears.
I also get spotty, greasy hair and i sweat really badly,i have to wash and change my clothes twice a day.
Here is the other thng though in regards to the pain.... i am allergic to most painkillers, anything stronger than paracetamol makes me really sick and paracetamol just isnt touching the pain.

The GP has reccomended a Coil, not marena just a homoneless one, i am scared i am going to get ill like i have done in the past, can anyone tell me if they have had side effects with a coil?
Also if i did get side effects that were to bad would they stop as soon as it was removed?
I aslo have a hard to get to Cervix (cant remeber the name sorry!) will this make it painfull getting the Coil in?

Is there any other option that might sort this out for me?

Any advice or experiences much appreciated. TIA

Hi Tinselina,

Many GPS are too quick to treat the symptoms of "womens problems" but not think about what the actual cause of the problem is.

I would actually be asking your GP to refer you to a gynaecologist as a matter of urgency as this is impacting on your day to day life.

BTW is sex at all painful?. I only ask that because if it is I would say that this can be highly suggestive of endometriosis being present as well.

Your symptoms could be indicative of endometriosis. Am no expert at all but all the symptoms you describe re the pain makes me think of endometriosis being the underlying cause.

It can also cause heavy bleeding. At the very least you should be referred to a gynae for further evaluation.

You don;t have to put up with it, seek specialist help from a gynae via the GP. Don't rely solely on the GP to treat you.

Hi TinselinaBumsquash,

Is your cervix posterior? Mine is and is therefore sometimes hard to find.

I have a copper coil, one without hormones, and I find it very convenient. It's just up there doing its job and I don't have to think about it.

It does however make my period heavier than it was before when I was on the pill or using condoms. It's very heavy for the first three days; it seems like it comes out quicker but that way it's over quicker so I don't really mind that much. Its a little bit more painful but nothing I can't just get on with without painkillers. It's only a few days isn't it?

I was hesitant before I got a coil, I didn't like the idea of a this strange contraption being inside my womb but, like you, I had exhausted all my contraceptive options except for the injection or implant which I really didn't want so I went for it and I don't regret it at all. I would recommend it to anyone looking for new contraception.

Yes Pineapple, posterios thats it! I only know this after my 2 pregnancies where Drs were routing around trying to get to it.

Attila - I shall make an apt to see our GP to try and sort it, it does effect daily life, i never had any problems before had children but after DS2 its been a nightmare! My periods are really heavy at the moment and i get a lot of nausea with them but i think that might be becuase of the pain. I dont experience any pain during sex though. I have never heard of endometriosis, is there a test or anything they can do for that?

Hi Tinselina,

www.endometriosis-uk.org is a useful website that has a lot of information on it about endo that you may find useful.

The four classic symptoms of endometriosis are:-
Painful periods
deep pain during sex
pelvic pain (continuous or cyclical)
subfertility

You don't have to have all of these symptoms to have endo diagnosed. My main problem with it was the pain both menstrual and within the pelvic area.

Glad you're going to make a further appt with the GP, this warrants further investigation in any event.

Endometriosis is usually only diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy.