Absolutely terrified of getting the copper coil next week.

[Mumabear123]

Hi all,
I am getting the copper coil fitted in a few days and to say that I’m slightly nervous is an understatement.
I can’t use hormonal options anymore and so this is a necessity for me now. However after (stupidly) looking into the procedure I’m getting very anxious about having it done.
I’ve heard stories of ladies passing out, in horrific pain, being sick, the most painful thing that they have ever endured etc.
Please could you tell me how it was for you? Was it really as terrible as I’ve seen/ heard?
I’m really hoping it’s not!
Any advice that you can offer on how to deal with the pain (if it’s really as bad as they say) would be very appreciated

from one very anxious mama!

Hello lovely, googling procedures will always give you the horror stories - nobody posts about their mediocre experiences!

I have the copper coil, replaced once after 5 years.
It was totally fine both times, a bit of an uncomfortable pinch sensation for a few seconds. Nothing big at all.

Mine has been brill, no problems at all and my periods are so tiny - when before they were insanely strong.

personally I love it!

And in terms of pain - I think I had painkillers to take home (paracetamol) but I can’t even remember if I took them - the whole event was very unremarkable, you will be fine 🤗

If you don’t want to - you don’t have to

I would take 2 paracetamol before you go but honestly mine wasn't as bad as expected but I'm not going to lie the cramps I had afterwards were really painful (but I have endometriosis so could have been because of that) but the actual insertion I would say uncomfortable rather than really painful!

I’ve had two put in. The first was before I had a baby and was painful but bearable with some deep breathing. The second one slid in painlessly but I was only 12 weeks postpartum and the GP said my cervix opened very easily. I had to actually ask if it was done because I barely felt it that time. And that was even though I had worked myself up into a state reading horror stories and found it hard to relax.

I suspect a lot comes down to individual anatomy and the skill of the person inserting your coil.

I had absolutely no issues wrt pain. I didn’t feel it at all.
The coil itself didn’t agree with me though- I felt very agitated.

Thank you ladies!
my fitting was supposed to be tomorrow morning, however, I’ve just had a call from the Doctor’s surgery. They’ve cancelled my appointment as the one person qualified to do the procedure is ill. obviously it can’t be helped but I’m gutted now as I had got myself totally psyched up for it. 😕

I found the fitting very bearable and not much worse than a smear. I did get bad cramps pretty soon after though and would definitely take painkillers before the procedure so that they're already kicking in once it's done. If I were doing it again I'd double up and take paracetamol and ibuprofen half an hour before. The cramps lasted a few hours and were unpleasant but I was ok by the next day, just a little tender. Good luck!

I had the Mirena in years ago and it hurt like hell and I was one of those ones who almost passed out. HOWEVER I've just had another one in and explained to the GP my previous experience and anxiety and he prescribed strong painkillers to take before hand and also valium for the anxiety which will obviously cause you to tense up. This time around it was uncomfortable but completely manageable. Have a chat with your gp and explain your fears.

I had a coil fitted in Jan.

The nurse told me to take paracetamol before, but honestly- I didn’t even feel it. At one stage, she said ‘I’m putting a clamp on your cervix…’ I thought that sounded potentially painful, but again, didn’t even feel it. We were chatting throughout and I didn’t notice the actual coil insertion bit, so was surprised when she said it was all done.

I had very mild cramping for about an hour afterwards and some light bleeding. It was honestly a doddle.

Why is that your only option? I've used condoms for 20yrs, I can't tolerate hormonal contraception either.

I hope if you do decide to go ahead that you are OK OP.

When I had the mirena put in years ago, my GP asked me to go when I was on my period as he said it was much easier to insert. Is that an option?

Had both a copper-7 and a gravigard-t before having DC. No problem at all with insertion. Just take some paracetamol before if you're worried.

My insertion was carried out by a very experienced GP but the clamping pain was terrible, I felt a bit faint afterwards and then had very bad period like cramps and bleeding for around 36 hours afterwards.

It was worth it though.

Having it taken out was pain-free and simple.

unfortunately it is potentially life threatening for me to get Pregnant again and so for me, condoms are just not a safe enough option for us as there is a larger risk of human error when using them.
I will be sterilised eventually but at the moment the coil is the way forward for me.

@Mumabear123 that sounds awful I'm so sorry for you it must be very stressful.

Hopefully the insertion will go OK.

Just to reassure, I have had both copper coils and Mirena. Never had any trouble with insertion.

I have one and so does my daughter (who hasn't had children yet).
My cervix is very hard to find! The doctor at the clinic couldn't insert the copper coil - she didn't hurt me, it was just a bit uncomfortable like a smear can be- and she was very apologetic.
Referred for consultant at bigger clinic. He did it first time with a scan and it didn't hurt at all, despite me being very tense! Bit of bleeding and cramps after that was dealt with using paracetamol and an evening with my feet up, Netflix and some Dairy Milk.

Daughter said hers was uncomplicated and that also didn't hurt.

I had one inserted last October so about 8 months postpartum. I was very anxious about it as my two friends who haven’t had babies found it incredibly painful. I didn’t feel a thing. The most uncomfortable bit was the speculum. I will say I went to a sexual health centre, so the nurse has done a LOT of them in comparison to the average GP surgery. Whether that makes a difference I don’t know.
However, I had to have mine taken out a month later because the bleeding wouldn’t stop. It was more than just a little spotting and it was constant. My body just didn’t agree with it which was a shame as it would have been the ideal contraception for me as hormonal ones don’t agree with me very well either!
taking it out didn’t hurt either.

I had the coil last week. It was absolutely fine I didn't even know she had done it until she said 'all done'.

I had it done twice already, seriously it's not nothing painful, it was fine.
If anything it sting a little while putting in, but I would say that getting injection is more painful.

It's never been more than uncomfortable for me. I'm on my 5th I think.

Just to add another reassuring story, I’ve had a copper coil fitted once and it was fine. Not super fun or anything, but uncomfortable rather than painful. Then a few cramps for the rest of the day, similar to a period but with no bleeding.

I have what is charmingly described as a thick and unyielding cervix. To be fair, getting the copper coil was fairly unpleasant in terms of a very stressed gynaecologist and a quite unpleasant experience for me. He was forced to inject local in my cervix after grabbing a bit of it with what felt like pliers On the other hand, it was worth the five years of worry-free contraception. I nearly crushed my husband's hand.

Later, I did try the mirena Another specialist got it stuck in my cervix. The original specialist had to get it out and reinsert a new one and said a few choice things about the specialist who had inserted it (something about soundings) and commented that I was doing well to be mobile in the circumstances. The mirena I think worked beautifully except I couldn't stop crying.

The chances are you don't have that kind of cervix and it won't be that unpleasant. I am apparently odd because even though I have had two children (by c-section) the hormones never moved my cervix. I think you are probably pretty safe about the insertion if, unlike me, you have no close female relatives who suffered devastating childbirth injuries.

I’ve had 3, they were a little uncomfortable (but more to do with having to stick my balled fists under my bottom to get my cervix in a good position) and on one occasion the speculum winder knob thing got a pube stuck in it (!), but the actual insertion was like a little, gentle pinch & pressure.

I had minor cramping, much less than usual period cramps, and there was a little bleeding, so go armed with a sanitary towel for afterwards. The GP advised to take a couple of ibuprofen just before the appointment which helped too.

My lovely older female GP also advised to put my feet up afterwards & make sure my other half made me a cuppa, saying that it’s the least our partners could do if we’re having to have a coil fitted as much for their benefit as ours!

Possibly asking the obvious, but in that case why isn’t your DH having a vasectomy?
Copper coil fitting was fine for me but it made my periods very heavy.