Getting the coil - advice

[Nutbutter]

Hi, I have an appointment to get the coil fitted today and am having last minute nerves and change of mind after reading some posts on here.

I've been on the combined pill for about 7 years and I can't stand it anymore as was really messing with my hormones, giving me mood swings etc. I opted for the coil as I thought it didn't affect mood much and also that it eventually stopped preiods & bleeding. Has anyone had good experiences with it and would recommend it??

Wish I hadn't read into it so much as now feel like it's just going to be really painful and bring on awful bleeding.. I don't know anyone who's had it so any advice much appreciated.

Thanks

[StripySpoonie]

Hi

I've just spotted that this answer might be too late 🤔 Did you go through with fitting a Mirena?

I had used the pill for years to control heavy and painful periods. Then after having my daughter in 2006 I looked into this as it was still relatively new. I went on to have a second after the five year period and had that for a further three years. I only had it removed as having a child had triggered M.E. and so my body was on different medications and had been on hormone based contraception for probably 25 years by then and wanted to give it a break and see if there was a chance menopause might be in reach.

I'd absolutely recommend it overall but as with all hormones everyone is different. I'd say the main difference with this is they earn you in advance that it may take six months for your body to adjust and they gave me a chart to record bleeding for that time (before the days of phone apps!) My body took the full six months. There was no pattern to the bleeding but it was frequent. It was pain free and light enough to not be a problem for me but towards the end of the six months I did wonder if a pattern would ever develop but then it was like someone flipped a switch and they stopped completely. It was bliss after years of awful periods and I've often considered putting one back now! If I was ill or run down of have an odd day of spotting but nothing more even when the replacement was fitted. The protection rate for contraception is one of the highest. Another advantage is it doesn't stop ovulation so if you may want children in the future that can be a plus as some women don't restart ovulating for awhile if they've been on the pill long term.

There are always downsides. Having had it removed it was clear that I'd gained weight from it but that was the case for me on the pill too. The regular string checking was impossible too but that was due to a prolapse when I gave birth rather than a design fault with the coil and I'm sure would've been easy enough otherwise.

In summary it doesn't suit everyone but if you're going to try you do need to be prepared too give it did months to see if your periods will stop. If you're unhappy with your current method it's worth considering. The hormones may be worth discussing with your doctor as the varying brands of pill can differ and they can tell you how it compares in that respect. I certainly never suffered from PMT like I do now with only my own hormones. My family keep their heads low for a full two weeks of each month 😂

Good luck x