Considering Copper IUD as issue with progesterone

[Mermaid2020]

I had the mirena coil for 3.5 years. When I had it implanted, I had spotting for a month and two heavier periods but after that pretty much no periods for the whole time so loved it from a contraception/period perspective.

However I became very emotionally up and down and depressed (unlike anything I’ve experienced emotionally before), also Weight gain and awful hair growth on my face - like a beard and acne. I didn’t connect it with the mirena until I had it removed 3 months ago and felt so so much better with 7-10 days. Literally like a new me. New hair growth has stopped and I’m having laser treatment for the existing hairs.

My periods have gone back to 2-3 days a month, light for 1 day, normal heavy for 1 day, coming to an end for 1 day. Absolute clockwork 30 days cycle.

I need to sort out contraception because I like the intimacy of not using condoms with my bloke and definitely don’t want another child at the moment! The only pill the doctors will prescribe is a progesterone-only one due to my age (40) and BMI.

So I’m thinking about having the copper IUD fitted given I didn’t have any issues with the physical bit of the implant or having a coil in my uterus. However - I’ve read that this can cause heavy periods, especially in the first few months. This is apparently because physically having it in your uterus makes causes vascular changes which mean heavier bleeding until the body gets used to it.

My question is:

• If my body was used to the mirena coil for years, and it’s only been out a couple of cycles, is it likely to be a quick adaption to the copper coil In the uterus and not be months of bleeding to settle in? Has anyone else had a similar pattern?

• as my periods are pretty light anyway, are they more likely to just get a day or longer (I’ve read horror stories about women having 10-14 day periods!!). Anyone else had light periods and then had one fitted?

We have a special romantic holiday coming up at the end of Feb and I’m keen to not mess that up - so am trying to decide whether it’s likely to have all settled down by then if I have it put in this week (mid Dec). Or if not, would taking the non-prescription period delay pill in Feb help before I go on hols?! I’m not fussed about having spotting or bleeding for a few months normally but want that fortnight to be clear and to not risk getting pregnant then!!!!

Any experiences where the fact pattern is similar to mine? Thank you!

Hi @Mermaid2020, we're just giving this thread a bump for you.

I've had a copper could for about 14 years now (well, several!) With a year and a bit off for pregnancy. I think its brilliant. Periods are prob 4-5 days but not so heavy on the first and last day that I need to use anything. The only time I had issues with heavy bleeding was when I tried a 10 year coil instead of a 5 year - that came out after a year of 2 week periods! Whenever mines been put in I've had light cramps that day and maybe a bit of spotting for a day or two but no messing with my period coming on time.

I had a copper coil. My periods (now I’m off it) are 4 days, but they were 9 and really heavy on the coil. And were getting heavier the longer I was on it, so it isn’t necessarily the first few months that are the worst!
That being said I was on it 10 years...

I absolutely would recommend it, I don’t get on with progesterone either and there was no fuss at all once it was put in.

Thank you both! Sounds like the 5 year one will be worth trying for me. My periods are literally 2 days from the very start to the very finish at the moment so even if they double or triple in length then it’s ok. It seems to be women that had heavier periods to start with who then get even heavier ones...

Really appreciate the responses.

I have a copper coil because any hormonal contraceptives I tried just ruined my life in various ways.
I've had it for over a year now, had it fitted just after my baby was born. I was bf, so I haven't experienced a pp period without the coil.
Before I was pregnant my periods were on the heavier more painful side, now with the coil they are slightly heavier, but only really slightly. It's bad for a day and then tapers off. It's very manageable. Not painful which is what I was worried about.
When I had it fitted i spotted for a day and that was it, there wasn't really an adjustment like with some hormonal options.
I'm really happy with it, and I'm annoyed I didn't try it sooner honestly.

When I had mine fitted the nurse told me that most of the reports of heavier periods cane from women that had been using hormonal contraceptives so were actually just natural periods as opposed to heavier than normal periods. Not sure how true it is but my period has remained the same to the way it was immediately before I had it put in. I’ve had heavier periods in the past not using contraceptives. I think it’s a case of just seeing how your body reacts to it.

Thanks guys - that really puts my mind at rest. Like any of these things, you start looking on the internet and read all the horror stories but I suspect it’s the ones with real issues that post the loudest and there are thousands of women who have no problems with it. I suspect that given I have a very regular cycle and it’s very light, that I hopefully won’t have an issue with it.

My family planning clinic told me today though that I would have to come back for a consultation, STI tests and then come back in February to have it put in. Ridiculously long wait! If I’d gone in and said I’d had unprotected sex yesterday they would have done it on the spot as emergency contraception. Really frustrating.

So I’m going to try Cerezette in the mean time for 2-3 months and then have the copper coil put in. It was a good 6 months before Mirena starting really affecting me so hopefully that will be ok in the interim especially as it is a different form of progesterone.

I've had the copper coil for about a year and it's honestly been pretty shit - I'm only starting to feel like normal again now. Until it settled (within last 5 months I'd say), I was having awful cramps - not just when I was on my period but randomly and down my legs and just awful. I was also spotting between periods, honestly probably 70% of the time I'd have spotting or brownish discharge due to the coil. I didn't take it out because I always hear it does settle and I can't take hormones, making this my only option. Periods also longer by around two days and a lot heavier!

My periods were medium-heavy to start with, now after coil they're so heavy on second day I risk bleeding through hourly which is a massive pain. So that has remained even after settling, as has period being long and also a full week of cramps leading up to my period. The bleeding between periods has thankfully stopped but it was a journey, and in my experience wouldn't have been settled in 2 months after getting it.

Best of luck!