Copper coil (IUD) vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

Seriously heavy periods (wearing nightime pads and a tampon and still bleeding through my clothes in like an hour) and sometimes extruciating cramping. A lot of spotting between periods also which I've never experienced before. Nurse has told me that the coil should not affect my bleeding and I've gone straight from the mini pill to this so it may have been that the pill was improving my regular symptoms more than I realised.

I chose to have the copper IUD inserted in January 2023 because I'd had a bad experience previously with the mini pill (mood swings, decreased libido, and vaginal dryness) and I wanted to try a non-hormonal contraception. The process of getting it inserted was one of the most painful things I've ever experienced with severe pain, cramps, and dizziness. The doctor and nurse I had were wonderful and very reassuring, which made the process slightly easier. I would however, highly recommend anyone thinking of getting it to ask for pain relief if it's available. I'm certain it would have made the process much better and less traumatic for me. What followed was 6 months of intense cramping and spotting at random times of the month and extremely painful, heavy, and long (between 10-12 days) periods (I was lucky to have very light periods before going on any contraception which is one of the reasons I opted for the copper IUD). After 6 months or so my periods settled down to become shorter (5-6 days) and more regular but remained extremely heavy with lots of dark blood clots and severe cramping/back pain - to the point where I would have to take days off work and couldn't exercise normally because I felt sick/dizzy from the pain. The severe cramps started like clockwork on the 7th day before my period was due and continued until the end of my period meaning I was having up to two weeks a month of severe cramping. I also experienced cramps and thick, brownish discharge/spotting around ovulation. Other than the heavy, painful periods, I experienced none of the mood swings, weight gain, or loss of libido that I'd experienced on hormonal contraception, so the copper IUD was great for that. If anything, I experienced a notable increase in my libido! I chose to have the IUD removed about two weeks ago, after just over two years, because I was finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the intensely painful cramps and heavy bleeding and I developed severe iron deficiency anemia, likely due to my heavier periods. I was nervous about the removal process after finding the insertion process so difficult but it was significantly less painful and super quick. I had some light spotting afterward and some minor cramps but nothing too bad. I'm yet to have a period after removal and I'm, so far, two days late (confirmed not pregnant). I would normally have had at least a week of intensely painful cramps by now but so far, nothing. Overall, the copper IUD was great at the times of the month I wasn't bleeding or ovulating and I liked not having any of the side effects that come with hormonal birth control, but it ultimately wasn't worth the heavy and painful periods/iron deficiency anemia for me!

This post is for those considering the copper IUD. I know it is scary and you can find many horror stories online, so I thought I make the effort and share my IUD journey with you which has been very positive. Insertion: Got the IUD on the 4th February Insertion was uncomfortable and for a few seconds very painful but it did go away very quickly. I did bleed a little bit as well but I always do when they are examining my cervix. I’m very sensitive down there. Note:I have never given birth and my GP said that it can be more painful for those who never given birth vaginally. The GP who did the insertion was absolutely brilliant. She talked me through what she was doing and she prepared me for the most painful part. There was also a nurse present who was literally holding my hand through the whole procedure. It was such a positive experience. I’m grateful for both of them for making this experience so manageable. Right after insertion: I wasn’t in pain afterwards - I only had a mild sense of discomfort like you would have after a smear test. I even went for an hour walk right after the procedure, so it was really not bad at all. Please note that I’m a physically active person, so walking for an hour doesn’t tax me much. Others might have different experiences and it’s absolutely fine if you just go home and rest in bad for the rest of the day. That’s what i was told to do to be fair. Days After insertion: The cramping was moderately bad after the next 4-5 days, spotting was light After the 4-5 days cramping intensified especially after exercise and at some point the pain made it difficult to walk. Never felt cramping like that before. It made me very irritated as well. Normal painkillers didn’t work, I had to take cocodamol to get some relief but it was short term. Later it turned out that it coincided with my PMS. I was bleeding everyday after insertion, so it was hard to determine what was menstrual bleeding or bleeding because of the IUD insertion. Around day 11 cramping settled significantly. I only had occasional cramps which don’t require pain killers. I think I got my period on day 12 (16th Feb or 15th Feb) because the bleeding intensified around that time. It is the 17th February today. Moderate bleeding (more than usual but moderate) very light cramping. Fast forward March. After my period in February, I did not experience anymore unusual cramping - even after exercise. I got my period on the 9th of March. I did have some light cramping and mood changes as PMS but nothing unusual. The cramping was very moderate and did not require painkillers. Bleeding lasted 6 days with 3 days of heavier bleeding -3 pads a day- which for me is heavy bleeding. I have had sex a few times since insertion and my partner couldn’t feel the strings, so no problem there. Did not experience any dryness and my sex drive during ovulation is definitely higher than when I was on the pill. Overall very happy with my wee copper coil. 😊 Just a reminder that negative stories often get more attention than they deserve—people are more likely to vent about bad experiences than take the time to share positive ones Will keep you updated!

I mean as a contraceptive it works because I haven’t gotten pregnant. A positive my periods are extremely light and irregular, but as a distant irregular. But my skin has never been so worse in my life, I constantly have big deep spots on my chin. I used to have quite dry skin but now on the oily side.

The mirena coil stopped my periods and worked as a contraceptive, however it stimulated hair growth on my face which was not there before. As a result I have required many courses of laser. I do not have PCOS and have had testing, however I think the hormones in the mirena coil started the changes that are now continuing despite having the coil since removed. The coil was also extremely painful to have inserted.

Had the Mirena Coil in for around 9 months and it's made my periods so much lighter but a bit more irregular. It was really painful upon insertion and I'm still getting stabby cramps around when I should be having my period. Overall, I think it's worth it because my periods are so much lighter.

I had three Mirenas over the course of about 9 years. The first two were perfect, with no side effects and stopping my periods. For me the insertions and removals were fine. Maybe a 3 out of 10 pain wise and some mild cramps afterwards. Unfortunately I know that's not everyone's experience. After about 3.5 years of each Mirena, I got lots of breakthrough bleeding and my GP decided to change it early to prevent this. Unfortunately my third Mirena gave me unpredictable bleeding for months, which was affecting my life as I was always worried I'd bleed through clothes or during sex. I also kept getting recurrent thrush, which I'd not experienced before. For me another negative was that the strings always seemed to be really prominent and my boyfriend could feel them during sex. Overall a mixed experience - after years of hassle-free birth control I eventually changed to the POP due to the unpredictable bleeding I was getting with Mirena.

I found that when I got it inserted I had a light, almost discharge like period for 3 months and then once that finally went, I started having irregular periods and and someone whose always had regular periods this was infuriating. The reason I went on was for period pain and I found the pills, both mini and progesterone only, made my mood drop in terms of I was always angry and anxious and my general body image went on a downward spiral. I had no issues with the mirena up until about 3 months ago when all of this started happening again. I’m hoping this will help for others in my situation

Never having to worry about condoms is such a great plus. I had a lot of pain in the first six months and three 11+ day periods. Afterwards, my periods have stopped totally and I only get the occasional cramp, akin to an ovulation cramp. My libido has decreased slightly and my breast have gotten bigger. Overall it’s been a great help in my sex life

At first all the skin problems I got from it scarred me. But I first started Jaydesss becuse of extremely painfull periods. This absolutely helped, I mostly lost my period which I thought I will never be lucky enough to experience in my life. The skin problems got a bit less annoying and extreme after I lost my periods. But at first I had really painfull pimples all over me - my face, chest, back, especially back on y neck and under my hair - on my head (i never had that before ever). Later I only experienced a few shoulder and face pimples. Since my period is gone, my back pain and cramps are gone completely. I am so happy and I feel like I no longer have to fight a battle with my body every month. I am a happier person, I feel mentally healthier. Before that I was scarred what the month will bring with body pain and how I will hide blood stain that was everywhere, ruining my clothes, bedsheets, even towels. There was so much blood and now there is none and I feel lucky :)

Got on really well for first few years but after year 5 the side effects seem to have become more frequent/worse.

I used an Mirena coil over 12 years, having 3 inserted over that time. The first one was great, I was really pleased with it. Periods basically stopped and no real side effects. With the 2nd one there was sometimes period pain aches after sex but not always. However when it came to have it replaced nearly 6 years later it had moved and took some finding. At the time I just had the new one immediately put in but I was worried about it moving again and didn't relax so have had it taken out after only a year. As I am now 48 I do not know if things like my mood, no sex drive, random spotting, or anything else was linked to the Mirena or peri-menopause, so have not listed them as side effects for this (as more likely peri at this age)

I've always had painful periods and the month before I got my coil, my period hurt so much I actually threw up and that's when I decided I would do something about it. I've been on the pill before (rigevidon/microgynon) but it negatively affected my mood, I had terrible anxiety and generally felt horrible all the time so I stopped. When I got the coil, the sexual health clinic I went to used spray anaesthesia, but it still really hurt. The thing is, it only hurt for about a couple seconds, where it basically felt like your insides are being crushed and you're having the worst possible cramps ever (x10). Afterwards, I had normal (period-like) cramping for the rest of the day but they gave me a heat pack which really helped. I had spotting for about 3 months afterwards (yes, every single day) but it was fine and after a while I got used to just wearing a pantyliner every day. I'm really glad my periods are very light now (I've missed it once only) but it's still there. I don't know whether it will disappear or not, but one of the reasons I chose kyleena over mirena is in hopes my periods won't completely disappear, just for peace of mind that I'm not pregnant lol. I have terrible breast tenderness sometimes, like it hurts to even touch, I can't tell if it's before I get my period or during ovulation, but it definitely appears once every month or so. My breasts didn't grow though so that's a bit of a disappointment compared to the pill.... All in all, I haven't noticed any mood changes, I'm still definitely very attracted to my partner, and he doesn't feel it during sex. There were a few times early on when he thought he did, but I got it checked and it was all good, I think he just had it in his head.