Contraception Advice?

[Sparkles512]

Hi I have always had issues with periods and been on various pills etc.
The Dr's have now suggested I have the coil which I'm really not sure about seeing as we haven't had children but hope to in the future.
Another option is just coming off contraceptives completely, tracking my cycle and hoping we can be sensible with condoms!
Does anyone have any experiences good or bad please? Thanks!

Hi 👋🏻 @Sparkles512
I have a copper coil which lasts 10 years. I had constant bleeding and BP above normal on hormonal contraceptives so I had to have something with no hormones involved. It works for me. Had it in for almost 9 years now and next year I will have it replaced for another 10 year coil. By the time that ones done it’s 10 years I’ll be too old to have any more. There’s the Merena coil also which lasts 5 years but contains hormones. Obviously the copper coil can cause heavier periods but on the plus side your hormones won’t be affected by it and you can become pregnant again as soon as it is removed.

I'd recommend the Mirena - no periods, no fuss.

If you do get a coil fitted, ask for/insist on local anaesthetic - they don't offer it in my experience, but they can give it, and it makes things a lot easier.

I also had a copper coil - it was inserted after my second child. I found it fabulous. Prior to that I had relied on condoms + spermicide, moving on to a diaphragm once I moved in with my BF. Never fancied hormonal contraceptives. So things had always been fiddly and the coil was a breeze in comparison. I wouldn't rely just on tracking my cycle unless I wasn't too fussed about avoiding pregnancy.

I didn't need an anaesthetic because I'd already given birth but i think it may be recommended if you haven't. Someone on another thread mentioned self-anaesthetising with vodka (if I recall correctly) before they had it inserted!

Let everything go wildly natural, dont wear deodrant or wash your hair and make frog ribbit noises if he goes near you. Oh, and avoid sex. That should do it.

Hope I helped!

I didn't need an anaesthetic because I'd already given birth but i think it may be recommended if you haven't

@Dery I've never heard of someone having anaesthetic for a coil. I've not had children. On the NHS website it says people can ask for local anaesthetic.

@Sparkles512 I had a hormone-free coil (like PP's I don't get on with hormones) for 8 years and it was great. That particular one lasts 8 years as far as I know.

Unfortunately when they replaced it, it was in an uncomfortable place and constantly caused a bit of pain (it was a great contraceptive. ) But hopefully you wouldn't get that. I got it removed after a couple of months.

If I was going to have sex I'd use condoms. Any bloke who had issues with that I'd like to think I'd tell to bugger off.

I have the mirena, you don't need any anaesthetic to fit, doesn't hurt ! Hassle free but it lasts 5 years and the dr won't prescribe unless you want to stay child free for at least 1/2 of that. If you want to conceive in the next year or so I would just use condoms to be honest

@minnieok thank you! Yes we are hoping to start trying after hopefully our holiday goes ahead in May!
The Dr is aware that we are keen to try for a baby in the next year or two but he thinks it will stop my bleeding which has been everyday for the last 2 years.
I have also researched the hormones in the coil being Levonorgestrel which I have found you can get pills the same so maybe I should speak to them about that as an option?
It's all very confusing and my husband just tells me it's my decision and won't give any input!

The Dr is aware that we are keen to try for a baby in the next year or two but he thinks it will stop my bleeding which has been everyday for the last 2 years
OP Yikes - have you talked to other doctors in your surgery about that or just the one? Never mind about contraception, if your plan is to start TTC within the next year anyway I mean who cares if baby comes along a few months early, but that really doesn't sound right...

@Fbcbsjdb87273 Yes I have spoken to a GP and I have also had a telephone appointment with a Gynecologist who told me I had to have the coil even though I said I'm really not keen seeing as I'm only 25 and have no children yet! He also said it can take up to 6months to see an improvement on the coil which yes I expect it to be a slow process but in 6months or so we will probably start trying for baby!

I'd had a child (c-section) and tried to have a coil fitted.
45 minutes later and some pain, and they still couldn't insert it.
So that was that.
I have the implant.
But that's a 3 year thing.
Would the depo injection work for you?
A coil is in for years so not sure that is even a good idea if you want to try to conceive within the next year.

I have the mirena, you don't need any anaesthetic to fit, doesn't hurt !

Correction - it didn't hurt you.

It can hurt on insertion, and given op hasn't had children yet (and doctors don't tend to offer it) I think it's good to suggest a local as an option.

@category12 I'm a bit of a wimp and have a low pain threshold so thank you for suggesting I ask for anesthetic if I decide to go ahead with the coil!
I'm just concerned it's a big commitment and risk if something does go wrong or if they refuse to remove it because I want to try for a baby after only having it for a year or so!