A question about coils

[Lochie]

I'm sure someone on here can give me some coil advice as I am confused!!

I am due to have a coil fitted at my surgery clinic in January. A doctor has just called me to discuss which one I want - copper coil or mirena coil. I don't want anything hormonal (otherwise I'd go on the pill), however, the GP has told me that the hormonal option (mirena) is better for my circumstances (I have heavy irregular periods which will likely be made worse by the copper coil).

The doctor told me the hormonal element of mirena is localised and negligible, will lighten my periods and is a great form of contraception.

I was just wondering if anyone on a mirena coil found that the hormonal aspect affected them in any way? I am really not interested in it gives side effects caused by hormones, but from what the doctor says, it doesn't. Any advice/experience of either copper or mirena?

Thanks in advance. PM me if you prefer :-)

[susyp]

Hi just to say I am in exactly your position and couldn't have a coil fitted for the reasons you state re side effects. So be interested to hear what people say. I have nightmare periods!

Susypx

[Belle]

Yeah I'm in a similar position and am a bit unsure about the hormonal aspect though I know it's meant to be much lighter than if on the pill. TBH am looking at more permanent measures!

[buggie]

I had a mirena & loved it - my prev heavy periods pretty well stopped which was fab (felt so free!!).

Didn't notice any affect from the hormones (had never used hormonal contraception previously so don't know how oral contraceptive would compare), if anything my (mild) pmt reduced. when next looking for contraception shall return to it.

[Jessie]

I ended up in A and E with mirena, my reaction to it was so awful. Had it because of endometriosis and would rather suffer its various symptoms than have that confounded coil again. But that's just my experience; some friends swear it's brilliant.

[Lochie]

Haha Belle yes, the very fact I'm having to pose this question makes me think 'for god's sake just get the snip man I'm fed up of having to sort this out all the time'!!!!

My main concern is in relation to moods, my 'mood' was affected terribly after my first born and I really believe hormones had a massive part to play in that. Since then I have been very frightened of anything hormonal, otherwise I'd probably go for mirena and not think too deeply about it. I mentioned this to the doctor and she wasn't concerned, however, having just googled mirena and it's side effects it does say it can affect mood in a few women, hence my hesitation.

[Jessie]

It made me very, very low. That was one of my worst side effects.

[Lochie]

oh dear jessie that does not sound good yikes! Guess its all just about individual receptiveness and there is no way of knowing without trying it out oneself

[Bumpkin]

I had a non hormonal copper coil fitted 4 years ago as I was breastfeeding at the time and didn't want the hormonal one. Having always had light periods before (partly due to being on the pill for years), I wasn't too concerned about them getting heavier, however they were very heavy to start with and much closer together and I had much worse pmt. Also, I had around 3 or 4 times mid month where I had really severe pain which I thought was kidneys, but the dr told me was likely to be a ovarian cyst bursting and I've never had that before, a friend of mine had the same so I guess it's linked (didn't last long, but was very bad at the time). After a couple of years, it all settled down and my periods are pretty much back to normal, not painful and not that heavy and I haven't had the severe pain in ages. For me, I think it was worth going through the early painful period, but I was starting from a very easy base.

[anna_r]

I have had a non-hormonal coil for a year or so. Felt my first few periods were heavier but then fine and now I manage them no problem with the Mooncup (recommendation from forum!) Very slight period cramps, take an ibuprofen for first day. Admittedly my periods have never been too bad. I would try the no hormones one first and if periods got very heavy then switch - rather than other way round.

xx

[pebbles]

I had a mirena coil fitted after my 2nd having had 23 weeks solid heavy bleeding after I stopped breast feeding with no.1!!!

I personally think it absolutely rocks!! I haven't bled since. No abnormal affects, I did have slight stomach cramps for the first couple of months but no more than a period pain and I had been warned so I was expecting them.

The problem with all of these things are that there's always positive and negatives. My mother had horrendous periods and went on the copper coil and i just remember my life as a kid of her not being able to leave the house as things were too heavy and i knew I didn't want to go down that road - especially as I had experienced that after no.1.

My husband is actually going to have the snip, however I will stay on the mirena as it's just so so so easy for me, no periods and it just gets changed every 5 years.

Jessie - I'm so so sorry for your experience, I can't imagine how hard that must have been.

Dare I say though, suck it and see and just make sure you're aware the moment anything strange happens that you have it taken out!!

So difficult, there's always going to be positives and negatives

Good luck whatever you decide xx

[jennyh]

Had the copper coil and didnt get on with it i'm afraid, like you I didn't want the hormones from the other one. I had very heavy bleeding and cramping and couldnt really get up for some of the time, i waited a few months for it to calm down but it didn't so I had it removed. Other than that I didnt have any side effects.

[susyp]

sorry to digress - i just looked up the mooncup thread - never heard of this before. How often do you have to change it. On days 1 and 2 of my period i have to change a super + tampax every hour. It drives me bananas. And I don't find the whole string hanging down v hygenic. Could the mooncup change my life? I swim regularly and can't on the days of my periods as it's all just too much hassle. Can you swim with it in?!! I shall buy one now. Tell me more?!!

susypx

ps also to say i have to take nurofen + for the first 3 days of my period (and often the day before) and it doesn't get rid of the pain- just makes it manageable. Still need hot water bottle at night. So anyone in the same position - you have my sympathy! (should I be getting stronger painkilers? )

[anna_r]

Re mooncup - for my first few periods I couldn't get it to work, couldn't sleep with it, kept leaking etc. but now I've got the hang of it I change it every 3 hours or so during the day for first two days, an after that can sometimes go 8 hours. I like the no string. You have to be happy dealing with blood (getting it all over your hands sometimes!!) For first two days I also wear a small liner in case of spotting. Night time during first two days I sometimes have to get up in middle of night to empty but my body seems to preempt it before mess... I was skeptical but am definitely a convert now. I go swimming with it.

Too much info?? X

[Carrie]

I have had a mirena coil for years now ( in fact I am on my second)- and am evangelical about it - previously had very painful very heavy periods but now no bleeding, no pmt no period paid - what is not to like! for me the original fitting was very painful - about a day of really really bad period like cramps but after that only slight spotting for a couple of months and then no periods at all - massive saving on tampax!

And Susyp - get to the doctor for a prescription for mefanamic acid - much better than any over the counter remedies for period pains.

[treehugger]

Mirena coil changed my life - that and internet grocery shopping (I mean it!). I was getting extremely heavy periods and the severe pain that I had had prior to having children was coming back. Yes it is painful on the day it is inserted - like period pain and requires nurofen, a hot water bottle and bed for the rest of the day. But after that absolutely fantastic. No periods, no side effects, no contraception worries. I really, really recommend it.

[simonethebeaver]

Susyp, I adore my mooncup. I have always have fairly light periods but I have friends who have periods like you describe and say the mooncup changed their lives. One in particular is pre-menopausal with very heavy periods and went from a super tampon plus a towel, changing them every hour or two, to a mooncup changing it every two to three hours with no leaks. She just wishes she'd used one years ago.

[susyp]

simone yes my experience is the same as your friend's. Just ordered one. Hurrah!

susypx

[Mrs_Glennie]

I'm a big fan of the copper coil, had one for 5 years before trying to get pregagnt and was pregant within 2 months after having it taken out!

I had another fitted 6 months after having my daughter under local anesthetic and although my periods are still painful I am very happy with it. I too have had terrible experiences with hormonal forms of contraception and this has been by far the best way for me.

[Saffron]

I have a plain copper coil. I wanted to avoid hormones for a variety of reasons, due to past experiences. But just prior to having my first coil fitted I was successfully using NuvaRing for contraception. This is a local hormonal contraceptive in the form of a vaginal ring... The website does a better job of describing it: http://www.nuvaring.co.uk/ .

You could opt for a combination of copper coil, and give NuvaRing a try if your periods are heavy. If you historically have problems with systemic/oral contraceptives, then maybe NuvaRing would be better tolerated.

The reason I stopped using NuvaRing and opted for a coil was only b/c I wanted longer-lasting contraceptive.

[Lochie]

Hi saffron that link was for seasonal canine illness do u have the nuvaring link?! ;-)

[Saffron]

Oh dear! Something gone haywire with my clipboard?! Here's the link for NuvaRing: http://www.nuvaring.co.uk/ (and edited above as well).

The thing about NuvaRing compared to the Mirena, is that Nuvaring is easily removable. If you started with the copper coil and had heavy periods, then you could always give NuvaRing a try with your copper coil to moderate your cycles. If you start with the Mirena and the hormones don't suit you, then you have to face having the coil out which is a bit unpleasant.

[crescent]

Have had Mirena coil for few months now, after DC3 (previously on pill). Notice nothing at all - not any moodier than before :-). Did not find it painful after insertion - bit of bleeding now and then for a few weeks afterwards that I did not like at all, and was all set to have it out...but by 6 weeks, all fine, and would say try it - like the contraceptive pill, suits some people and not others.

[Saffron]

Lochie, it might be worth asking how long your doctor would want you to have a coil before taking it out, if you decided it wasn't for you. My doctor had suggested that she would want me to give the coil no less than an 6 month trial. At the time, and considering the historial problems I had had with oral contraceptives, I didn't think I could take 6 months of something that didn't suit me. So, I opted for the plain copper coil.

Different doctors might have different opinions on what the minimun time for a new coil would be, depending on the coil type and the patient's history. However, in general, doctors are reluctant to take coild in/out without good reasons, as the procedure can irritate surrounding tissues.

[amyt]

As others have said, this is a topic where individual experiences vary quite a lot. The good thing about NuvaRing is it's easy to stop, so it's certainly worth a try if you're interested.

But for what it's worth, I bloody hated that thing. Maybe I never learned to insert it correctly, because it was _always_ slipping and poking out so that I could feel it. I think I ended up shoving it back in just about every time I visited the loo.

Plus, it seemed to be located in the absolute worst place with respect to its entire purpose. But to be fair, you can take it out for short periods of time.

On the positive side, I didn't have any trouble with its hormones. But I also haven't had troubles with any other hormonal birth control (Depo-Provera and Implanon), so that may not be relevant.