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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:
cerisepanther73 · 27/11/2023 16:44

I did feel light headed like i was going to faint too when i had mine put in .

Moredarkchocolateplease · 27/11/2023 16:46

The first time I had one, I felt nothing. I was on day two of my period - GP told me to come when I was bleeding as the cervix is already relaxed.

The most recent one was painful. But only for a couple of minutes. Lots of yoga breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Eyes closed. Hands digging into the bed. But then it was done.

It just feels like you are being pinched really.

BMIwoes · 27/11/2023 16:50

I had the same worries as you OP and resisted a coil for years before giving in in Feb when my period pains got so bad I couldn't bear it any more. And, to my great surprise, it was fine. A sharp pain for about 2-3 seconds and otherwise like a smear. I have had 2 c sections but no vaginal birth. I would now heartily recommend Mirena, it took a few months to settle but I now have no periods or a tiny bit of spotting, and mild cramps for maybe 1 day. Don't even take paracetamol whereas before I took codeine and ibuprofen.

I took codeine amd ibuprofen 2 hours before appt and then paracetamol on the bus on the way and it must have helped.

Sausagesinthesky · 27/11/2023 16:50

Literally felt nothing. Not a thing. 3 vaginal births though…

MrsBungle · 27/11/2023 16:54

I’m on my third. Same as a smear for me. Not painful.

Ascubudr · 27/11/2023 16:58

Had mine put in a 5 weeks after a vagunal birth, literally felt nothing. Had the second one at the same time as a smear mildly uncomfortable. Thinking about getting the mirena next time ( I have had copper coils) as have some weird bleeding.

tomatoontoast · 27/11/2023 17:03

Horrific. Truly horrible.

Spendonsend · 27/11/2023 17:10

I have had 2 natural births if that makes a difference.

I found it uncomfortable the first time the mirena was fitted.
The second time it veered into painful but only for a moment.
I was a bit period painy for the next 24 hours

witchypaws · 27/11/2023 17:13

I don't have children and am on my third copper coil
For me the measuring is the worst bit, it's like one giant period cramp but I barely got to say FUCK and it was done
Then insertion and that's it
They did use some numbing gel on my cervix

witchypaws · 27/11/2023 17:14

Oh and I can't work either after, I get bad cramps for about 12hrs so I plan it around my day off

wishuponastar1988 · 27/11/2023 17:16

Mine didn't hurt, was about uncomfortable as a smear test. I had recently given birth though so the pain from that was still etched in my memory!

cakesque · 27/11/2023 17:19

Not going to lie.

I have had one non-vaginal birth in case this helps.

I have had 3 coils

1st - mirena - bit painful. Nothing too bad.
2nd - jaydess - absolutely no problem
3rd - agony incredibly traumatic

BurningBenches · 27/11/2023 17:20

I've 5 vaginally birthed 9lbers. My first mirena in 2011 was pretty painless. I had not long had my 3rd, never had a period for 5yrs until I had it out.
Second in 2021 following 5th child. Awful, total bodge, the clamp slipped off my cervix and nicked it. I cried after I got out after feeling I had to be brave throughout. I bled for about a month following but now only have monthly spotting 2yrs on.

irishmurdoch · 27/11/2023 17:56

For me it was significantly worse than a smear. I'd put it in line with that procedure where they inject dye to scan your fallopian tubes (HSG?). I'm quite hardcore with pain and usually a bit of hypno breathing does the trick but not with this. I'm going to insist on pain relief next time (let them fob me off last time).

Tittie · 27/11/2023 18:11

I've had a few because they kept falling out (turned out the menstrual cup sucks them out!). Two were done by a male doctor and were quite uncomfortable - I think because he wasn't that nice, which made me tense up, and that in turn made it harder to insert, and more painful. The several times after that was with a female nurse who was fab, barely any pain at all.

I think it's very variable and very random.

TheFormidableMrsC · 27/11/2023 18:35

I've had several coils over the years and it's been mildly uncomfortable but absolutely not painful.

StoatofDisarray · 27/11/2023 19:06

It didn't hurt really. It was uncomfortable, like one of those quick arse cramps you get when you're having a period, but in your cervix.

Sell123 · 28/11/2023 17:49

I'm having my first mirena tomorrow. Dreading it. I'm glad I found this thread though

AngelsWithSilverWings · 28/11/2023 18:10

I'm having mine removed and replaced tomorrow under general anaesthetic. This will be my fifth time having it done this way.

Last time when I came round the nurse told me they had quite a bit of trouble fitting it so I'm glad I insisted to my GP that I needed to be referred to a gynae specialist.

Stargazer46 · 28/11/2023 18:23

I found insertion uncomfortable but not painful as such. I bled and had period type pain pretty much constantly afterwards and had it removed after about 3 months. The removal was horrendous. Still makes me feel sick thinking about it now!

Spin4Gin · 28/11/2023 18:26

Before having a baby I found it painful but only very briefly and the pain didn't linger at all. After having a baby it was so much less painful. Same as you, I had a c section but dilated to 9cm and that was enough for it to make it less painful for me. Totally fine after as well

emmetgirl · 28/11/2023 18:29

I had a mirena put in 6 weeks ago for post menopausal bleeding and I didn't feel a thing. Try and relax and take deep breaths and it'll be over before you know it xx

Roselilly36 · 28/11/2023 18:34

I won’t lie, for me Mirena insertion has been agony each time, I presume due to the fact my womb slopes, but it’s worth it once it’s in. I am on my 3rd and final Mirena. I can cope with pain, have experienced natural child birth twice. I hope you are like many other women on this thread that find it a breeze.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 30/11/2023 20:55

Had mine done yesterday under a general anaesthetic. You have to request a referral to a gynae consultant and unfortunately at the moment the wait list is long.

I was referred in January to discuss mine being replaced after the GP mentioned it would need doing by September or it would stop doing its job . So due to wait list I was a bit late getting it done but it hasn't been a problem.

I was told by the consultant who fitted my first that he would never insert without a GA on a women who has never given birth. The most recent consultant tried to talk me into having it done without but I got quite distressed at the thought of it and he finally agreed to do it.

thebartenderatethethief · 30/11/2023 21:19

@AngelsWithSilverWings I had my smear done under G.A recently. It was suggested by a consultant as I have severe vaginismus but once the referral had gone through they did try to change it to just with gas and air. I refused mainly because it hadn't been discussed with me.

They DO do these things for women if we insist. We don't have to suffer.

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