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Original poster

Coil insertion - how painful is it really?

64 replies

piglet81 · 27/11/2023 16:03

Just had my implant taken out due to low mood and 0 libido. Nurse/dr recommended a mirena coil instead as the hormone dose is lower…but I feel sick at the thought of having it put in. She blithely said ‘oh, it’s probably no worse than a smear’ but I simply don’t believe having something poked through the cervix isn’t going to be agony. Really not sure I can bring myself to do it but on the other hand she said I need contraception until age 55 (I’m 42) which is a bit of a long haul.

I haven’t given birth vaginally but did get to about 8cm dilated before emcs. That was 8 years ago though.

Please tell me your thoughts and experiences!

OP posts:
BuddytheElf1 · 27/11/2023 16:09

I had the mirena coil fitted last year & for me, it didn't hurt at all, I'd heard a few horror stories about how painful it was etc, but it was fine, I had it fitted at the same time a biopsy was taken, I was fine, no pain & no cramping later.
I had to have it taken out a few months ago as it really didn't suit me (bled every single day for 9 months) & the removal was fine too.

HerLadySheep · 27/11/2023 16:15

I've had two now and not had problem with either of them, they dilate your cervix, they don't just bodge it in!

yikesanotherbooboo · 27/11/2023 16:16

It is really variable as to how painful it is . Take ibuprofen ( if you can) before the appointment and say 'stop'if you need to. For most women it is briefly very uncomfortable, some hardly seem to notice it and for a few others it is very painful and may not be able to be fitted. Ask among your friends , the majority of women with mirenas are very happy. A copper coil has the same negatives as far as insertion is concerned but would last you until 55 and has no hormones. It's drawback is the risk of heavy, prolonged periods but this is not a given.

barelyfunctional · 27/11/2023 16:16

Absolutely horrendous for me, and I have a high pain tolerance!

DustyLee123 · 27/11/2023 16:16

Didn’t hurt me, just like a smear.

CrapGoat · 27/11/2023 16:18

It's different for everyone. I don't have one (lesbian) but a few people I know do and it varies from absolute agony/unable to go through with it to not hurting at all. It depends on you and your body. I've known some people get it done under sedation.

ZuliKyanLarsFoz · 27/11/2023 16:18

Mine was uncomfortable for about 1 minure and then hurt like hell for about 10 seconds, and then it was all over (I'd never been pregnant/birthed before). I then had 6 weeks of heavy bleeding and cramps, but then it settled, and I had 7 years of period free bliss! I'm glad I stuck with it for those initial few weeks

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 27/11/2023 16:18

My experience was very painful - but I have never given birth so that probably made a difference. For me there were two points where it was awful, one where they (I think) "measure" your womb, and then when it actually goes in. At both stages I mooed like a cow! I bled a lot immediately after, and then on my way home I had to sit down for five minutes because I thought I might pass out.

Once I got home I had something to eat, took more painkillers (my friend had told me to take an hour before I went to the appointment which I did) and went to bed for an hour or so with the cat and a hot water bottle - after that it was bearable. I went running the next day so it really was just that one bad day.

I got a kind of gel spray stuff on to numb my cervix but I'm not sure it helped. I was also offered an injection of local anaesthetic. I stupidly hadn't realised I would bleed afterwards and the doctor had to give me a pad, so that's maybe worth considering. I'm a lecturer and went in the summer holidays and while I know everyone is different there is no way I could have done it as a lunch-hour thing and gone back to work.

DumboHimalayan · 27/11/2023 16:21

I had an IUS fitted that was slightly smaller than a Mirena, called Jaydess IIRC (I think they recommended it as I haven't ever given birth). For me it was really painful, though only for a short time — a sort of deep, queasy, unsettling pain that was like nothing else I've felt. Once they're actually in the process of jamming the thing in there, I don't think there's any way to get them to stop that isn't going to be just as painful as letting them finish. And the damn thing dropped out a couple of days later anyway.

Madickenxx · 27/11/2023 16:22

For me, not painful at all. Have had coils for 20+ years and never a problem. The first time I had the Mirena in (had a copper one for years) I bled lightly daily for 7 months and since then I've not bled once (2 years now I think). I have it done by a gynaecologist rather than a GP - not sure if that makes a difference in terms of how practiced they are in fitting them.

midtownmum · 27/11/2023 16:23

I found it deeply unpleasant, with a weird nauseating and quite intense pain for about half a second. Then fine. I had a copper coil between kids, currently have a Mirena and due to get that replaced in a few weeks. I will say I LOVE the Mirena. I had very painful periods with heavy bleeding all my life before getting it, much worse when I had the copper coil (which is normal) but now have a day of mild spotting max and it is amazing. Although I do still get PMS, so it's not like being on the pill. But evening primrose oil is good for the PMS, I find. Am not looking forward to getting my new coil but it will 100% be worth it. Obvs mainly because I don't want more babies! But also because it is bliss not to lose 3 days a month to the cramps and misery - and I haven't ruined a pair of knickers or trousers in YEARS.

Shinyandnew1 · 27/11/2023 16:24

It was bloody agony-so much worse than a smear. The pain was X10 to get it out again afterwards!

I hadn’t had vaginal births though-maybe that didn’t help.

Original poster
piglet81 · 27/11/2023 16:26

Great that it wasn’t painful for you…I’m sorry it didn’t work out for other reasons though. Constant bleeding sounds rubbish. It’s so hard to know what the best choice is!

OP posts:
Original poster
piglet81 · 27/11/2023 16:27

Oh whoops, I was replying to the first person who said it wasn’t bad but got distracted! Blush

OP posts:
Workingitout1 · 27/11/2023 16:29

For me it is worse than a smear…. But worth it

Just had it re done. It was really uncomfortable for about a minute whilst it was inserted - lovely nurse let me squeeze her hand. But you just breathe through it. Slightly crampy for the rest of the day and a little bleeding, nothing that a hot water bottle and painkillers didn’t sort.

The positives for me - my horrendous periods stop. No pmt, no mood swings, no cramps. No sudden heavy flows and leaking, or random light bleeds . All gone for another 5 years. I didn’t suit the pill at all (never had the implant was too scared due to not suiting the pill). Life changing. Totally worth a minutes cramping pain and then a slightly sore afternoon. Wish I’d had it many many years ago.

if you’re really nervous they can refer you to a hospital and sedate. I’m a wuss about pain (have had procedures stop before as I faint). But I didn’t feel the need for it for this.

Workingitout1 · 27/11/2023 16:30

Oh and I did bleed on and off with my first for a month or so, but very light and not sore. And then nothing at all for nearly 5 years. It can take a little while to settle.

Spybot · 27/11/2023 16:30

Agony, I had never had a natural birth, so that may have had something to do with it. It didn't agree with my body and I had it surgically removed 18 months later under sedation as in office removal ended up with the strings coming away and the coil remaining in the uterus. This was a copper coil, not a Mirena

AlisonWonderbra · 27/11/2023 16:31

No different to having a smear for me, although with the last one my husband could feel the strings and we weren't able to have sex until they were trimmed.

susiedaisy1912 · 27/11/2023 16:32

Really really uncomfortable for me. The speculum is fine it's the tiny clamp they use to open the cervix that I found the worst bit. But the benefits it gives outweighs the discomfort. I currently have my 3rd one fitted.

Workingitout1 · 27/11/2023 16:33

Oh and mine was done as a lunchtime appointment, I was in a meeting an hour later. 5 mins after slightly light headed. An hour later working, some cramping but manageable

Original poster
piglet81 · 27/11/2023 16:34

Ugh. Really not loving the idea. Frankly I have no interest in having sex at the moment anyway (hoping this will change now the implant is out) so am not exactly motivated to torture myself.

OP posts:
cerisepanther73 · 27/11/2023 16:35

Hi @piglet81
I am on my second one of those Minera coils, for extremely heavy periods i couldn't cope anymore with excessive leaking,
even embarrassing on my friend's sofa,
and another memorable occasion even having to borrow my Arsehole,
ex Partner thermals underwear to wear,
as fearful the same/ similar thing would happen again,
he thought it was amusing story to entertain his former female flatmate who was a proper Narc,

Anyway i had Minera put in it was extremely uncomfortable and i felt a Sharpe painful discomfort briefly,
but then it was over,
just felt a bit dizzy ,disorientated nurse asked me if i was OK, and i sat down with a glass of water,

in hindsight i wish i had either,
requested a form of pain relief to numb my cervix beforehand, or had taken pain killers tablet .

I still recommend the Minera coil to anyone, as my heavy periods issue is a real thing of the past thankfully .!

NoCloudsAllowed · 27/11/2023 16:35

Pre kids - briefly intensely painful.

Post kids (incl post emcs where I also got to about 7cm dilated) barely noticed it!

First period after having it removed was a painful clotty torrent from hell, fyi

CandyLeBonBon · 27/11/2023 16:37

I had 2 attempts before it would go in (pinprick cervix) and I found it very uncomfortable and borderline painful and I'm having to go to gynae to have it removed 5 years later as I can't face the same pain in reverse (plus I have a bicornuate uterus and it's shifted into one of the horns so not as straightforward to remove).

cerisepanther73 · 27/11/2023 16:43

I've heard copper coils can create issues such as extreme heavy periods ,

copper coil is never recommended for women who suffer from heavy periods as it just make it worse for them.

Sorry for the poster's who have experienced issues like that too.!

Yes thats it its the clamp measuring ensuring your have right fit Minera coil, that's the bit of the inserting in the coil that's painful,
you have just reminded me.

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