Copper coil (IUD) vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

I loved the copper coil however it caused very heavy and long periods and I had to get it out after 5 months due to anaemia. I also have pmdd so I wanted to try something hormonal to ease this

Before having the copper coil, I’d tried all other forms of contraceptives. I got to a point where I felt, even though the copper coil would cause more heavier and painful periods, it was non hormonal so thought it was my old option (hormones really don’t suit me) The insertion was pretty bad I won’t lie but when it’s done it’s done! I never could feel my threads and my periods went from 5 days to 10 days. I went from being someone with light periods to unbelievably heavy; to the point I was wearing period knickers with two overlapped night pads for two of the days. The nurses said after 6 months my body would adjust and the bleeding would settle down. They started me on TXA as my ferretin and iron became low. To cut a long story short the bleeding never settled and I was still having ten day long periods. It was a horrible 12 months as I felt the majority of the time I was on a period and doing daily tasks or working proved very very hard some days. I became anaemic and would spend a lot of money on supplements alongside the prescribed iron. The anaemic led to a lower moon, zero sex drive, ravinous appetite and tiredness. I know they say research shows a small percentage gain weight on it and I was one of them. But they always like to say it’s others things like lifestyle. For me I was certain it was the coil due to the anaemia it causes. I’m 155cm and weigh 8 stone 3. I’ve always been that weight and I go to the gym 3-5 days a week, probably twice a week since the coil. I gained a stone in that year.

Brain fog ,Acne , weight gain , tender and painful breasts all the time as a result , extremely heavy periods, although it's non hormonal doesn't mean no side effects , be careful when considering " non hormonal contraception"

occasional cramps and sore boobs but I'll take that for no periods and no babies!

I got the Benilexa IUS to treat painful periods and PMS. However, within under two months, it severely exacerbated my PMS, causing sleep deprivation, frequent panic attacks, bouts of crying, and increased suicidal thoughts. This was also experienced during my period. Most importantly, it has completely disrupted my Psoriatic Arthritis management. Despite being on a biologic (adalimumab), the IUD has triggered a massive flare in my right foot that has now progressed to my left foot and ankle. I went from rarely needing NSAIDs to relying on daily ibuprofen. Regarding my psoriasis, I noticed a slight change in dryness/thickness in scales but not much else. My periods were even more awful than before and I had to call sick into work which l've never had to do. I further experienced fluctuating pelvic and ovary pain, with some days better than others. I expected side effects, but not to this extreme, system-wide level. I understand for some women the IUS is life changing in a positive way and a great treatment for endometriosis, etc. However, for other women, it may not be suitable for our body, especially if you have pre-existing conditions like myself. Whether that's due to the small amount of hormones released into the blood stream or the body reacting to a foreign object to the body. Or even both. Please do your research and consult with professionals if you have specific conditions or autoimmune diseases. Because most of the time, they won’t or care to understand your concerns. I've thankfully had it taken out today and was told by the GP it would take a few weeks to see a positive adjustment, flare reduction, and difference to body/mind, to my joints especially. You know your body best, any triggers and what helps. If you have a terrible experience like mine, don't let anyone tell you to put up with the lUS a few more months just to see if it "settles", etc. Advocate for yourself and try all avenues. I’m lucky my threads today were visible as they were not at the last GP appt. And I’m very grateful I had a caring and understanding GP who listened, affirmed my concerns (such as assessing my joints), and believed me.

Super convenient; few side effects though not negligible.

Sex drive plummeted on this, plus I think it made doggy uncomfortable and even painful, never had that issue before! I also had breakthrough bleeding whenever I did have sex, although this was the only time I would bleed. I had more intense period cramps and sore breasts on this than I had on any other contraception (implant, combined pill and mini pill), and I'm so glad to have it gone! Absolutely horrific experience getting it in, and ended up getting it out by myself at home when the sexual health nurse didn't want to remove it. Thankfully it was barely even uncomfortable to remove (would still recommend going to a health professional to remove though just in case!).

I've had the mirena coil for four months, I'm still bleeding irregularly (period every 8 days) and lots of spotting. I've been dizzy for months, I'm feeling very low, I have water retention and a lot of lower back pain that feels like a pinched nerve so I'm battling to concentrate on work. I really want to have it removed but I'm terrified of going back to the alternative of extreme heavy periods that made me anemic.

I had Kyleena for 5 years. For the first 6 months I had painful cramps, but my cycle became very light. I have noticed that I have had increasingly more acne, especially back acne, so be prepared for your skin to be very itchy. Towards the end of having it, I had constant light bleeding through the month and there was no regularity to it (probably because the hormones were wearing off). I have had incredibly bad bloating, water retention, and generic weight gain. I'm a very light build so this weight would normally have been easy to lose. Finally, I had to undergo investigations for ovarian cysts as I was getting all the symptoms for them, and after a bit of research it turns out that Kyleena can be a contributor to the formation of cysts. Overall, I have really liked the Kyleena. The side effects have been fairly insignificant compared to other methods. But just take into account the potential insidious side effects like cysts etc that can happen. I've now switched over to the copper IUD because of these side effects, and I'd prefer to be hormone free.

I've had great success with a Mirena for treating jawline acne, after getting it to prep for going onto Roaccutane it actually cleared my acne up amazingly and now I just get the odd spot every month when I'm due on. I get irregular, yet light periods, and occasionally some spotting, and overall my period cramps have been lessened. My sex drive is not what it is when off hormonal contraception, but as I've been on hormonal contraception my whole adult life, bar a couple of years here and there, this hasn't been an issue overall. I have put weight on gradually, but I've also aged (now 34), so its more likely to be metabolic changes rather than a side effect. The only thing I would say is that the coil itself has moved twice, resulting in removal and replacement (I'm waiting for another removal, and will likely explore pill options again as its just too painful getting it replaced every 2 years!). It should last 8 years, but for whatever reason, maybe my anatomy, mine moves to be too low, and then the long process of getting it checked, ultrasounds, appt waiting times for removal, and everything else, means its not something I want to continue using at the moment. Overall though, it has been a really good method for me, and just because mine hasn't stayed where it should be, doesn't mean someone else won't have a good experience, its probably down to my anatomy only!

I was very worried about trying this method as I’d not used hormonal contraception before but overall it has been positive. The insertion was quite painful but not unbearable. It took about a week for me to recover, with me having to stop exercise for that time and then slowly increase again. Bleeding has been the most annoying part as my periods are very irregular now (previously they were regular as clockwork) and I have light spotting for up to a week before each period. But it’s getting slightly better each month and I’m hoping I’ll be one of the lucky ones who eventually gets to little or no bleeding at all. I’ve suffered no other symptoms of note.

I've had the hormonal mirena for 14 months now to reduce endometriosis symptoms. My periods have reduced in length (used to be 3 weeks) and happen irregularly and the pain has settled during these. I have however noticed continuous weight gain since I went on it, despite very little changing in my diet and exercise. I've always stayed at a very stable weight and now my breast have nearly doubled in size and my weight in general continues to creep up. I have tried upping my exercise with no improvement in my weight. I'm the heaviest I've ever been, except for pregnancy. It's a huge price to pay for a reduction in endo symptoms. It's very frustrating.

The insertion process wasn’t pleasant and I found very painful however I will say it was very quick and the pain didn’t last. After leaving the doctors I felt fine apart from a little light headed but that was due to me stressing. The next day if I didn’t know if had it fitted I would be none the wiser as I felt normal and had no issues. Since then I have really liked not having to think about it, I had no periods at all but have started to get a day or so of spotting once a month at the 18 month mark and some light cramps. The only other negative to me is that it’s meant that I now always have to use lube for sex as it’s definitely affected dryness. The best overall contraception I have tried