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Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

  •  Still using

I only had the copper coil fitted 6 days ago. At the appointment I was shown how to feel for the strings and how the insertion was going to go and although I know they need to tell you that I would have rather not known about hoe they insert it! I can’t lie the insertion hurt but the doctor was amazing making sure I tried to stay calm and offered me local anaesthetic, I think everyone is different I went with my friend the other day to get hers and she didn’t bat an eyelid so don’t let that put you off! I had quite severe cramps on the first day felt like sharp pains and painful period cramps. Since then I have had a dull aching pain, bloating and spotting that lasted 4-5 days the spotting has only just stopped but the dull pains and bloating remain. The dull pain and bloating has me worried however, I will try and ride it out in hopes it is just “settling in”. Overall, if this works it is 5 years covered without a worry and it will be totally worth it. I would recommend going with someone and them driving you to the appointment so you can find a more comfortable position to sit in on the way home after the fitting as I found sitting up straight quite unbearable the first day. It is still early days for me and compared to the mini pill it is already better as it has no hormones which made me depressed, gave me mood swings and made me gain weight. Just the dull pain and bloating which I hope will sort itself out in time.

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Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

  •  Stopped using

This was the first pill I've taken and was on it for about 5 months. When I first started it I had the worst breakthrough bleeding and cramps so bad I was bedbound but thought that may be my body just getting used to the hormones as I'd never been on the pill before. However, I breakthrough bled a 'period' every month for a couple weeks whilst not on my break. I had no weight gain or mood changes which was great. This really helped my acne!!! I've struggled with back acne for years and this has improved it drastically. However, I also developed pretty bad eczema all over my body a month into taking it which I haven't had since I was a toddler. I've been off it for a week and it has actually gone down so much.


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Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

  •  Still using

It's been about 2 months since I had my Copper IUD inserted - and I'm so glad to say it's been the best decision I've ever made for contraception. I was nervous reading all the horror stories online, but my experience couldn't have been better. Minutes before I went in I actually started my period, so I'm not sure if that affected anything. My nurse injected an anesthetic into my cervix - just felt like a small pinch and not strange at all. I know a lot of women have not been offered this so this could explain more painful experiences. When inserting the coil it kind of felt like a period cramp that spreads quite quickly, I just closed my eyes and noticed I held my breath a bit but otherwise I was really calm. I had cramps for the rest of the day but just got tucked up on the sofa with a hot water bottle and was completely fine. What IS strange is that I haven't felt a SINGLE cramp since that day. I've had one period since and about to start my 2nd, and again, not a single cramp. I usually do have quite intense cramps on day 1-2 of my cycle, but NOTHING! I had really prepared myself for them so it was strange when nothing happened. My periods have been really heavy though, and usually a pad and tampon is necessary, but that lasts for 1-3 days. It's not as 'thick' as usual so it felt like a lot was coming out quicker. My partner and I had penetrative sex about 5/6 days after insertion and neither of us felt a thing. I can't say everyone will have this experience, but if you're like myself with relatively painful/heavy periods, no endometriosis, and a decent pain threshold, you'll be FINE. If you want to avoid all hormones like I did, but don't want to use condoms or take risks with Natural Cycles, then it's an absolute no brainer. Have even convinced my sister to come off the pill and have the Copper IUD as well. If it makes a difference, I specifically went to a sexual health clinic and not a regular GP.


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Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

  •  Still using

I switched to Cerelle from Hana a few months ago. This pill has been a big improvement for me. My sex drive is back, and everything seems to function normally down there again! I feel more myself than I had before, my moods are generally better. I haven't had a period since I started which is amazing for me as I've always suffered with PMDD and very heavy, painful bleeding. There are a couple of downsides, I have had more headaches and migraines which I've always been prone to. Hoping they will settle with more time. I've also noticed sometimes painful, quite major bloating. At times I look pregnant (I'm definitely not!). I have managed to solve this by adding a supplement to my routine so it's not too much of a concern


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Used for 12 - 18 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

  •  Stopped using

Hana was my first experience of taking a contraceptive at the age of 33. It was generally a positive experience. It really reduced the PMDD symptoms I was experiencing and made the week before my period more manageable. My period was lighter and less painful overall. There were some negatives,my sex drive completely disappeared and I experienced vaginal dryness. My periods were less regular and sometimes I would have two back to back with just a few days in between. Because they were so light it wasn't a huge problem. The biggest issue was I realised that in balancing out my hormonal mood swings it felt like it had gone too far and I was overall emotionally flat. I realised that I wasn't really myself, it was subtle and it took me a while to realise.


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Used for 8+ yr
56 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

  •  Stopped using

Potentially safe


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Used for 3 - 5 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

  •  Stopped using

It did it's job in preventing pregnancy but the side affects weren't pleasant - No sex drive, vaginal dryness, caused acne, moody and irritable. I got put on it at 16 as I couldn't be trusted to remember to take the pill. It stopped my period which was great! I came off it during COVID due to not being able to get to the doctor for it and the bleeding aftermath wasn't nice - a lot of heavy periods which calmed after a while. However, what caused me not to go back on it was I didn't realise how it affected my personality until I came off it. Off it I was no longer depressy or irritable, vaginal dryness went away and I suddenly had a sex drive. Overall it wasn't awful as I was none of the wiser to what I was like not being on it.


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Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

Do not recommend! The procedure was traumatic to say the least, the aftermath even worse, plus the serious weight gain was unimaginable. Only benefit was no periods and forgot it was even there after a while. I wasn't fully aware of what the procedure entailed - I wished I did my research/ the doctors should be more informative. My recommendation is it should not be your first choice of contraception. The procedure itself was very painful, quick, but very painful - I passed out. The procedural pain is a forgettable pain tbh but the aftermath pain I will never forget. I was told I will get "period like cramps" afterwards. The cramps started immediately after the procedure and it was the worst "period cramps" I had ever experienced. I felt like my uterus was being ripped apart, the nausea, the dizziness, I was shaking from shock. I had to crawl out the surgery back to my car - thankfully wasn't driving as the pain just progressively got worse. The "period cramps" were more like labour pains and went on for 2 hours afterwards. The next day I was fine - small cramping continued for weeks after but then eventually went away. All the pain would of been worth it if I didn't gain the amount of weight I did. Within 6 months I went from a UK size 8 to a UK size 14. The weight was rapid - I have the stretch marks all over my lower half to prove it. I go to intense exercise classes twice a week and have a personal trainer and the weight will not shift! I did research (little late) and apparently the Mirena coil typically doesn't affect your weight but yet when I speak to other women most claimed they gained a serious amount of weight because of it. Overall I'm getting it taken out in a week and I'll be glad to see it gone. Hopefully the weight can be lost. And for those thinking about it - DO YOUR RESEARCH and don't be scared to ask your doctor a million questions - I wish I did.


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Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

My insertion was surprisingly a good experience, great communication, pain relief and local anaesthetic provided as standard. I didn't have any concerns during the insertion, however I experienced cervical shock about 15mins after ... not nice but supported very well by the team. Since then I have had inital breakthrough bleeding, lower back pain and cramps for about a week after the appt. My first period since was heavier and lasted 6days instead of my standard 4 days, I was also early by 3 days. Apart from that some spottinghas remained. I suffer with migraines and saw an increase in the amount from the insertion, since then its gone back to normal. Overall I am excited to see how it goes, hormonal contraception doesn't agree with me so not an option.


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Used for 6 - 12 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

Used for 9 months and at the start I really liked it kept my periods regular but I did notice they became longer. They lasted around 8 days long and became more heavy. Went on this pill to help with the heaviness and the pain but it didn’t help either. In the last 3 months of taking it I began getting random sharp pains that weren’t like cramps they were right at the enterence of the vagina and they became more and more regular to the point it was multiple times a day.


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