Periods on copper coil - will it get better??

[NC866]

I had the copper coil fitted in August, before that my periods were pretty easy. About 5 days long, only 1-2 of those with moderately heavy flow, some months no cramps at all and some months just a day of moderate cramps. I was obviously aware before I had the copper coil that my periods would likely get heavier but thought it’d be ok. So far I’ve had 2 and if this is how they’re going to stay I don’t think I can put up with them! A full week of almost debilitating cramps on and off, 3 days cramping and spotting before the period actually starts and then on the heavy days I’m saturating a nighttime pad in an hour. I can’t (and don’t want to) use tampons or a mooncup because I have prolapses and it’s too uncomfortable. The cramps make me feel nauseas and when I’m on the heavy days I feel like I can’t really go out because I need to change pads so often and end up leaking.

Will it get better? What have other people’s experiences been?

it took mine a few months to settle.But a month or two in i had a really bad period that lasted nearly a month.I took utovlan for a wile and stopped i had one more big period.Then back to normal and been fine since.

Mine didn't settle down. Had the copper coil in for 2 years but then diagnosed with anaemia and it had to come out. It's been out 6 months now and my periods are lighter and further apart but still heavier than they used to be. DH had the snip yesterday!

Thanks both, hmmm this is what worries me, it may be a case of giving it 6 months I suppose but even the thought of another few months with periods like this depresses me! I feel grumpy and snappy with the kids because of the cramps and then on edge all the time while it’s heavy.

Also I don’t know if this is normal but some of the time I can feel it when I’m walking around? Like a sharp scratchy feeling at the top of my vagina. I assume it’s the strings - is it normal to feel them scratching you?! It’s not all the time but on and off.

I've had mine for over 2 years and they have settled down in that time. I still get about a week of spotting before my actual period arrives though which drives me mad. I have been wanting to get it taken out for a while but just keep putting it to the bottom of the to do list.

Yes the spotting before the period arrives is really annoying! It seems such a long build up! I’m currently on day 7 of my second period with it in and it’s mega heavy at the moment so obviously not going to be finished for another couple of days. This month it has gone like this:

Day 1-3 cramps (enough to take pain relief) and spotting
Day 4-5 proper bleeding but not heavy
Day 6-7 very heavy bleeding and awful cramps again

I just don’t know if I can handle this long drawn out affair every month. I feel like I need to sit on a towel today on my sofa because I keep leaking even with a massive pad on

A side effect of the copper coil can be heavier bleeding. I had a mirena which is supposed to make the bleeding lighter but had similar experience to what you're describing. Mine was fitted to "help" with heavy bleeding due to fibroids though. I would phone your GP or whoever fitted it to let them know how bad it is. They will probably tell you to give it a few more months to see if it settles but in the meantime they may wish to send you for an ultrasound to check it's in the right place, and should also be able to prescribe tranexamic acid which will help with the bleeding. Also take ibuprofen if you can.

Also, if you're bleeding that heavily and relying on it for contraception then make sure you can still feel the strings after your period. My mirena bled out (or at least that's what we assume happened to it) but I didn't realise until I couldn't find the strings.