CONTRACEPTION HELP

[Daisy1904]

Hello,

Could anyone help me?

I’m really debating what to do and would like some advice. I recently gave birth a couple months ago and then I began to start taking the progesterone only pill. My options are limited with contraception due to migraines and an extensive family history of breast cancer. I don’t feel comfortable putting hormones into my body each time I take my pill, I often feel sick and as time has gone on my moods have become lower. (Not post natal depression have already checked this out). I’ve tried the mirena coil and the nexaplon implant previously. Various pills. However, I’ve just never got on with them. The only options I have left is the copper coil, condoms or to not have sex at all. I’m drawn to the copper coil as there aren’t any hormones.

Could I have peoples experience with the copper coil?

[Galen70]

Daisy I am sorry no one has replied to you from they own experiences so far. Every woman is different , some people think the IUD is the best option they have ever used, some women less so for various issues. I think sometimes the only way you will know is to give it a try and see. here is the FPA information about the IUD. It should be fitted by an experienced person, and if you have given birth, its a little easier to fit.

fpa.org.uk/sites/default/fi...

[0000Ruby0000]

Hi congrats firstly on your baby! I am not a sexual health expert/health care professional, but I can tell you about my experience with the copper coil. If you click on my icon I’m sure you could find my post looking for help/advice.

I personally have not got on with the copper coil. I have given it 10 months to settle and am going to get it taken out next week. I chose it over the mirena as I too wanted to stay away from hormonal contraceptives. Most of my teens/20’s I was on the pill, (microgynon) and then they changed me to yasmin as I was having issues with oily skin and scalp. But ultimately I decided I didn’t want to take hormones every day, so went for the copper coil, I really wished it work for me. I haven’t had children but having it inserted was absolutely fine, just a little uncomfortable. But from then on I’ve had random pains/spasms up inside my vagina, belly pains, bloating and ‘heavy period’ is an understatement. I just felt like I had 3 days of feeling normal a month.

You have made me wonder about migraines. My mum had hormonal 3 days migraines most of her life up until menopause and I always worry I’ll follow suit soon. Do they advise not to take any hormonal contraception due to your migraines? You didn’t say why you didn’t get on with the Mirena coil, was this due to hormones or another reason?

Even though it hasn’t worked for me, I would still recommend you give the copper coil a go. It could be perfect for you. I know people that have both the copper and Mirena and wouldn’t ever change it.

[Embley24]

Hi Daisy, I wanted to let you know about my experience with the copper coil. I had it put in early January 2021 and I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the pain I experienced when it was put in, plus for at least 2 weeks after. It took my breath away and I almost fainted as they put it in. Then I spent the next 3 days in bed in agony with the strangest crampy period pains. Then I bled heavily for about 10 days, none stop. I was going through 5/6 tampons a day. As the weeks went by, I was starting to doubt if this was a good option for me, but wanted to stick it out a little longer. Gradually the pain decreased and to my absolute relief, my second period was relatively normal (on time, lasted 4/5 days and wasn’t ridiculously heavy). I had prepared myself for 3+ months of heavy and painful periods so I was pleasantly surprised. I was starting to feel like it was settling down and I thought, if this carries on like this it’s going to work amazingly for me. Then just before my 3rd period, I noticed some strange cramping and a weird smell, similar to BV. I booked a check up at my local practice, expecting them to tell me everything was fine and I was overreacting, for them to actually tell me I was giving birth to my coil and it needed to come out immediately. It had moved out of place which was causing the smell and a potential infection, and I’d also been unprotected for an unknown amount of time. I was so shocked and upset! They struggled to get it out due to where it was sat which was another horrible experience, they had to give me emergency contraception and wouldn’t fit another coil for at least 3 weeks to be sure I wasn’t pregnant. I’m now exploring other contraceptive methods as I don’t think I can go through all that pain again but similarly to many others on here, I want to try and stay away from hormones! I would certainly stay away from the coil I’ve read so many horror stories and wish I did more research before I had it put in. Hope you get sorted x

[Daisy1904 in reply to Embley24]

Thank you for taking the time to reply! This sounds awful and I couldn’t imagine what you went through with it. For the moment I’ve decided to come off all contraception. I went onto the pill for nearly 3 months but I just hated the side effects my body had to it. I’ve decided that for now, I track my cycle well and know when my body ovulates and when I’m likely to get pregnant or not. We use condoms but currently I just didn’t want to put anything into my body especially with my family’s history of various different cancers. This may be a possible option for yourself if you feel comfortable? I have never felt better to be honest and do not regret the decision I made. I was very nervous and sceptical at first but even a health professional recommended this to me. Initially I was very paranoid but it’s been around 3 months since and I just feel ten times better! X

[Lola199712]

Hi daisy,

I’ve been reading your post, I’m in a similar position to you 8 months ago. The pill has too many bad side effects for me to stay on it. My only option is to go condoms only. This worries me, the uncertainty of them splitting and causing more stress. How have you found just using condoms as contraception ?

[Daisy1904 in reply to Lola199712]

Hi Lola, I decided to come off contraception and just track my cycle! Knowing when I’m ovulating etc.. It worked for us for well over a year but I am now pregnant but that was a decision down to us! We had unprotected sex on the day we knew I was ovulating