talk me through a coil fitting please

[justgaveup]

I've got my guts up and am finally going to see family planning clinic about having a coil fitted. I don't really understand if I go for an appointment to chat it over or whether they'll fit it there and then?

Can someone talk me through the procedure?

Do they 'inspect' your cervix first? How?

How long does it take?

What's the worst bit?

Will the put my feet in stirrups?

I'm more freaked out at having my feet in stirrups than any possible pain!

I had mine done by GP.
They use s peculum like a smear test, then clean the cervix with antiseptic.
I had a bit of bother TBH the first design he chose would not go in, then the 2nd one did- but it partially came out after 3 weeks. Had it removed at the FPC.

All took about 10 minutes.

I think they will do it there and then if that's what you want.

OK, you go in, knickers off and on the couch.

Speculum in. The GP or Nurse will use tiny clamps to hold open your cervix for insertion of the coil(I found these more painful than the coil itself).

Once clamps are in the coil goes in(I didn't even feel the coil in).

Clamps come out.

Speculum out.

Knickers back on.

Go home.

Will prob be some cramping but will only last about 24 hours. Basically just your body reacting to a foreign object; trying to expel it, you won't expel it, you will get used to it quickly.

Enjoy the freedom of plenty of pregnancy free shagging.

No stirrups. At my surgery they ask you to attend for a swab a couple of weeks beforehand to check you've no infection before they fit it.

For the fitting, just like a smear but takes longer, apparently she measured my womb - not sure how, then put it in after applying anaesthetic gel. Just lying back while they did some slightly painful rummaging really.

Bled for few days after, then lots of spotting that settled eventually. hth.

Oh and I had to go for a scan about 6 months later because the strings had disappeared but its still in!

fantastic everyone thanks, doesn't sound too bad...maybe like a bad smear test? lol

Can I also ask did you have spotting for ages? (weeks? months?)

It's really not too bad and well worth it in the end (and I hate smear tests with a passion!). I had a bit of spotting for a couple of days and then lighter periods for 6 months and then they pretty much stopped. I get the odd tiny bleed, maybe once a month, maybe once every couple of months for a day or so but that's it.

Good luck!

Can't remember exactly but think the spotting probably lasted about a week or so.

Really worth the bit of initial discomfort. Since having one fitted about 18 months ago I have recommended it to anyone who is thinking about new contraception because it really couldn't be simpler.

You'll be fine