The Coil

[Blairr]

Ok so.. I had my coil fitted this week! I didn’t feel a thing. Literally nothing. No pain or anything. Some small cramps after but minor and didn’t last long. I’m so pleased. Let’s see how I get on with it

 

[lavalamp98]

I have the Mirena coil!
A big benefit of it for me is that I literally have not had a period since,
BUT I do get period-like cramping every few weeks, even though it’s been 10 months since I had it put in, and the cramping is INTENSE. Like really really bad, have to do deep breathing and curl up for a while, and this isn’t something I ever ever experienced before getting it put in.
Also, doctors tell you that you won’t have any mood-related effects, because the “hormones are localised” - but this actually isn’t true. Myself and loads of friends who have the Mirena definitely suffer from mood swings, low mood, anger etc etc that we definitely believe are related to our coils, as we just all feel a little different to how we did before. So yeah if you’re sensitive to hormones be mindful of that!!

EDIT: Don’t know if anyone else had this with Mirena but my sex drive is now next to nothing. I don’t want it at all, and my libido hasn’t gone back to normal since

 

[Dexterina12]

I had my mirena after my first child and it was very painful! Only lasts a few seconds though! I got terrible mood swings but no period. But really bad period pain every 2 weeks Had it taken out last week and didnt feel a thing!

 

[BettyCrocker]

Ok ladies how much does it really hurt? I’d say I have a pretty low pain threshold.. like I found labour super painful, I’m talking begging for an epidural right away when I was barely dialled! I’m loving the idea of no hormones but scared of the pain!

I have the copper coil. Hand on heart - I didn’t even feel it being put in. Honestly. The only thing I felt was the normal pressure from having the speculum in which isn’t painful in anyway just pressure and that was it. She did the procedure in literally less than 3 minutes and I was shocked at how quick it was and how completely pain free it was to have done.

I had cramping for about 48 hours after having it placed but nothing extraordinary and completely manageable with paracetamol.

 

[Sw4]

I had the copper coil. It does hurt to have it put in but its over pretty quickly and then the pain afterwards is just like crampy period pain for a day or two.

It was great having reliable contraception with no hormones whatsoever. However the reason I got it taken out is because I suffer from UTIs and I definitely think they got worse with the coil even though my GP insisted it was highly unlikely, as there were no real studies at the time linking the two and UTI is not considered a side effect with copper coil.

However It got to the point where I was getting a horrendous UTI almost every other week and so I got the coil removed. I’m sure I was right because almost immediately after this the frequency and severity of my UTIs decreased.

 

[Rose18778]

I have had the copper coil for nearly 2 years. The first few months I had horrendously heavy periods but now they are normal. I have suffered with hormonal side effects of other contraception (the pill and the implant) so this works really well for me. It did hurt a bit when putting it in (more than expected) and it fell out straight away so the nurse had to do it again but on the whole i would really recommend it! Getting it out next year to try to conceive but would def get it fitted again in the future.

 

[Londoncailín]

I had the mirena for 13 years and it absolutely changed my life! I had horrific periods all through my teens and after my mirena I had no bleeding and no pain. I still got PMS but nothing too bad.

it does hurt, but the pain is intense and short lasting. take some painkillers beforehand and don’t go in with a hangover like I did the first time

This has been my exact experience also. The coil absolutely changed my life. The only side effects I have had is that the skin on my forehead sometimes breaks out (I’m 40 btw). This is a small price to pay however.

I did not have a hangover when having it put in

 

[cosmo girl]

I have the Mirena. I love it!! I don't have periods and no weight gain or mood swings. They say if you haven't had children it's painful to be fitted. Something to do with the cervix. I had my first fitted before children and it was very painful. I did bleed for a few days and get cramps. The second time it didn't hurt and was fine. My coil lasts for 5 years before it needs removing.

 

[Norfolking Good]

I have the copper coil so still have periods as I didn’t like the idea of not having them at all but have no complaints at all. I’m on my second one, this is a 10 year one and the previous was a 5 yr.
It’s a bit painful having it fitted, more the clamp to hold your cervix open but other than that was fine. The second one I was a bit crampy for the rest of the day but nothing horrific. Do take a few painkillers before you have it fitted just to take the edge off.
The only side effect if you can call it that is my periods last a few days longer but they’re not heavier. Good luck

 

[loubylou50]

I have been recommended the Mirena coil for my endometriosis, but I’m absolutely petrified after hearing countless horror stories from friends - I can see there’s some positive stories on here, so I must just know some unlucky women! I’ve held off on my decision for now, am taking the pill back to back to try and minimise my cycle but it’s not helping very much. Really unsure what to do!

 

[Kitty1204]

Ok ladies how much does it really hurt? I’d say I have a pretty low pain threshold.. like I found labour super painful, I’m talking begging for an epidural right away when I was barely dialled! I’m loving the idea of no hormones but scared of the pain!

I’ll be honest I did find it painful about an hour after; honestly the worst cramps I’ve had in my life but I’ve never had a baby so I think it was just a shock to something foreign in my body lol but it passed by that evening! And it’s been totally worth it since.

 

[wizardora]

Onto my 3rd mirena and can’t fault it. I didn’t feel any pain when getting them in (no diff to a smear) and no pain afterwards.
No periods, no side effects. Perfect for me

 

[Justreading]

I had the Mirena in for about 3 months and had that kind of bleeding constantly. It gave me night sweats and many other symptoms too, so I had it taken out. Have to stress I do not get on with any kind of hormonal contraceptive. Thought Mirena might be different as it is a small dose in the uterus but it made me miserable.

Yes when I first had the mirena fitted I would bleed mainly spotting for the first few months but since then I don’t bleed at all

This was my experience with the mirena. I had a copper one for 5 years without any issues. Had thAt removed tHen had my youngest child. Afterwards went on to the Mirena but bled constantly for 8 months - I kept persevering under my drs orders in the hope that it would settle but it didn’t. In the end I had it removed and went back to the copper.
Apparently it’s rare but can happen to some
I hope it does settle for you as so many have them with no problems at all

Thanks for your replies. Praying this works, hopefully the bleeding will stop soon as other than that its great. No other side effects or symptoms. Seems to be a mixed bag though

 

[cedarpeach]

I had the mirena for 13 years and it absolutely changed my life! I had horrific periods all through my teens and after my mirena I had no bleeding and no pain. I still got PMS but nothing too bad.

it does hurt, but the pain is intense and short lasting. take some painkillers beforehand and don’t go in with a hangover like I did the first time

 

[Mamacita]

I've had the mirena and hated it, made my mood terrible.
Now I have a copper coil and it's fine apart from heavier periods and more cramps.

I didn't think either of them were painful to put in, don't remember feeling much at all. Both felt a bit crampy for like 1-2 days after.

 

[laughing]

I don’t really use anything tbh. My life before having the coil was so restricted as I bled so heavily. I figured a few spots on my forehead was a small price to pay for the freedom it gave me. They are tiny spots, which don’t bother me that much any more. It took me a few years to realise it was linked with my coil.

Exactly the reason why mine was fitted. I could not move some days.

My forehead does be red, raw with flakey skin, so attactive but I have had a fringe cut in.

 

[Sailorontheseasea]

Me! I’ve had 2 csections. Both my labours I got to 4cm and had to have emergency sections (both for diff reasons).

I literally did not feel a thing. Nothing at all! I was petrified in the waiting room and honestly it was nothing.

Fab - exactly what I needed to hear! I got to 4cm too for my first so think that will help Thank you! Hoping my GP are fitting them at the moment as have really psyched myself up to get it xxx

 

[oioisaveloy]

I've had the Mirena for just under 5 years (getting it removed next month). Best thing I ever did.. I haven't had children and got on just fine with it. I did get cramping on insertion but no worse than period pains and nothing painkillers couldn't sort out afterwards! I experienced irregular bleeding with cramping for around 6 months and then after that no periods at all which has been a dream! Before the Mirena I had irregular periods that could be quite heavy and painful to the point where I was having to take time off work - the Mirena has been a god send for this. Over the past few months I've had some spotting like a light period, have been told this is due to the hormone in the coil now running low as its close to the 5 years which is why I'm due for removal. There is a bit of controversy surrounding the coil and it's not best for everyone but for me it has been an absolute god send! I'm not going to get another one put in as I want my body to get back into its cycle for various reasons but I will definitely get another one in the future if I go back on birth control!

 

[eSsExBiRd]

I had a Cooper cool fitted 1 year after my Son was born, I wanted to give my body break after 16 years of hormones. I kept having periods but got really painful boobies in the week leading up to it and every 3/4 months they were super heavy. I suffered bad clots and bad cramps for about 2 days. Kept it for the 10 years.

I’ve recently had the Mirena put in after the Nurse at the clinic recommended it. So far I’ve not had a period but very light bleeding, no cramps or painful boobies.

it’s uncomfortable, I won’t lie. It feels weird and like a smear and the part where it’s inserted is painful but very short lived.

 

[Poptart]

I had the copper coil and it was awful. I bled for months and my Dr was so concerned she sent me for to the gynaecologist before she would consider fitting the mirena.

All was fine so I had the mirena fitted and I love it. No periods! Would highly recommend.
I've got kids but had c sections so never a "natural" birth but I didn't find the fitting of either painful, just a bit uncomfortable but it didn't last long. The mirena caused a little bit of bleeding after fitting but it soon settled to nothing