Copper coil (IUD) vs Cap or diaphragm

Periods became heavy which was expected but cramping after insertion was incredibly painful and I was not prepared for the level for pain. I required A&E support with pain relief and examination to ensure it hadn't moved or perforated. The monthly pain had me missing work, almost fainting and squirming in pain. I had to learn pain management every month to be able to work effectively. Around 1 year later I felt in control but around 3.5 years I have experienced even heavier periods and more pain. I felt determined to make this method work as I didn't want to use hormonal contraception again. Cramping and heavy bleeding caused nausea, extreme fatigue and ovulation cramps. Overall, I experienced a lot of discomfort and only a few days out of the month where I felt well. I recently got told my iron stores are VERY low and that explains a lot of the worsening menstruation symptoms due to losing too much blood per month from the copper coil. I'm not going to scored it as terrible as I know others have had no issues using the copper coil and there were times when I felt in control of it. Maybe my age and change in hormones have made my symptoms worse? Or it just sucks, I don't know. Take ibuprofen and paracetamol before your insertion as this will help a lot!!

The insertion was painful and for the rest of the day I had severe cramps, which paracetamol and ibuprofen didn't help with. I wasn't given any option for pain relief at the time, if I had known it would have been so bad I would have asked whether pain relief was available. After insertion, I went from having manageable periods to very heavy and painful periods (severe cramping particularly on days 2/3 of my period). Naproxen was the only thing that helped to somewhat ease the pain. I persevered thinking it would get better with time, but after 11 months of no improvement I decided to have the copper coil removed. My partner and I also noticed that we would both get very dry and my partner would get cuts on the head of his penis, since removal these have not been an issue. It could be a complete coincidence, but when I asked the nurse removing my coil she said it could be possible... the cuts could have been a result from the dryness or could have been directly from the coil itself (depending on the position of the strings, and they were still quite firm as they take a while to soften). Everyone's body is different and for some this may be a great option (I initially thought it would be due to it being non-hormonal), but I definitely noticed a negative impact on my mental and physical health every month. Since having it removed (2 months ago), I feel a lot better and my periods have pretty much returned to normal.

I got pregnant because my copper coil moved down towards my cervix. Could still feel the strings as normal. For 4 months prior to that I'd been having symptoms of vaginitis (dry feeling during sex without actually being dry and stinging during urination). The doctors told me it couldn't be the coil causing it but I now believe it was, instead they treated me for uti and yeast infection and dermatitis (none of which I actually had). So yeah I suffered pain for 4 months and then got pregnant. I wouldn't recommend because it's so hard to tell it moved, if you get symptoms of vaginitis or vaginal irritation ask for an ultrasound. Getting pregnant at 20 and then having to terminate the pregnancy is traumatic.

I decided to invest in the Caya diaphragm since I was determined to find a non-hormonal method I could use that wouldn’t impact sex too much (I get irritation with condoms and the copper coil moved out of place pretty much immediately). I really wanted it to work but unfortunately it was way too uncomfortable during sex. It feels like there’s just way too much ‘stuff’ inside me. And I think it obstructs my natural wetness (I suspect that’s why some people mention a lot of discharge upon removal). My partner also said while he could definitely feel it, it wasn’t uncomfortable. I’d choose condoms over the diaphragm unfortunately. Hope this helps :)

I’ve enjoyed using the cap around my fertile window but struggle to feel 100% confident I have inserted it correctly. When removing the cap I notice a lot of discharge but not after use, only when removing. Way better than the pill or condoms for me.

Apart from the issue I'm currently dealing with (it getting stuck inside of me), I LOVE the diaphragm. I found out I wasn't never fitted (which is why it kept getting stuck upon removal), so my new, awesome doctor actually sized me. It's easier than popping in a tampon once you learn how to do it and then ya pop it out the morning after sex. No side effects, no hormones, no emotional hangover. It's very hard to find though. Pharmaceutical companies don't want women to buy one silicone object that lasts for the rest of your life, so finding the right size and actually getting it has been a challenge. My mom used it and only got pregnant to have me (her only child) and I've been using it for 5+ years with no issues.

I've used Caya several times over the past couple years (they last up to 2 years- due for a new one now). I use it on the edges of my fertile window (with fertility awareness) and/or combined with withdrawal or condoms to boost efficacy during the fertile window. Always use with Caya/Contragel- they come with an applicator to re-insert the gel into the vagina, as you need to reapply the gel each time you have sex. Watching the YouTube instructions on how to put it in (plus the instruction manual in the box!) helped me understand how to use it properly and to have an idea of how it was inserted properly.

I used the caya cap. It has been a game changer after previously taking the pill. I feel in control, no need to remember to take a pill, just put it in when needed. Better than condoms as it is women based and not detectable. Effect of not taking hormonal contraceptives has been amazing. All the side effects that I had ( migraines, reduced sex drive, dryness, breast tenderness, strong period pains, breakthrough bleeding and emotionalness) all gone. I wish someone had told me about it before!

Having experienced terrible physical and mental health side effects from both types of contraceptive pill (Combined and POP), and permanent pain and repeated UTIs with the copper coil, I hoped that Caya diaphragm would be a suitable non-hormonal method to try. Unfortunately, I found insertion very tricky - it seems I have a case of "deep vagina, small fingers", as I could never tell whether I'd pushed the diaphragm up far enough to cover my cervix, and sex was always a bit uncomfortable. I'm naturally prone to cystitis and thrush, and getting both while using the diaphragm also put me off using it long term. However, on the plus side - I didn't get pregnant (though I was still breastfeeding a lot, and my periods hadn't yet returned postpartum), and I did manage to avoid the hormonal depression, skin changes and weight gain/loss that I've experienced in the past with pills.

All in all it was acceptable

Fiddly and a faff. Didn’t bother a couple of times and ended up pregnant. He’s nearly 20 now and I’m still married to his father so not all bad :) Tried the copper coil for a bit after but it gave me very heavy periods and stomach cramps which had never been a problem before. Switched to the mirena coil and now on my third - no periods for 15 years and no menopausal symptoms despite being 52. What’s not to like?

I was only using it shortly, as I wanted to avoid hormones. It was not bad, but the need of using a spermicide as well was the reason why I stopped, I had vaginal discharge caused by the spermicide.

A bit fiddly until I got used to it.