Copper coil (IUD) vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

I genuinely love my copper coil (IUD) that lasts 10 years, and I wanted to write this review as I used to hear horror stories about it and it almost put me off, but I didn't experience this and I want to reassure others that may be considering this. I got my copper coil in March 2023 after an unwanted pregnancy as a last resort. No hormonal contraception worked for me and I often experienced negative side effects, so I felt my last attempt was the copper coil. What a GREAT choice! Yes, the insertion is uncomfortable, but I asked for cervical numbing cream and it was mildly uncomfortable for two minutes. Definitely bearable with numbing cream. Since then, my periods are still regular a little bit heavier. and I do get a few more cramps. Very easily managed with a menstrual cup and painkillers. I love not having to think about my contraception, and I don't need to think about getting it replaced for TEN years. What a dream! It's a life saver for those of us that struggle with hormonal contraceptives.

As the copper IUD gets so much negative press I wanted to post my genuine positive experience. Initially I was apprehensive to get the coil after hearing so much fear mongering, and so many users saying they had major cramping (perhaps some did), but this wasn't the case for me. I experienced the worst period cramps that I have ever had within the first 7-10 days post-insertion, but it was manageable with ibuprofen + heating pad. Once I got through those initial days it practically subsided (apart from the slight numbness around my cervix from the procedure which healed around the month marker so I recommend taking any kind of sex slowly to avoid worsening it). Between days 10 and my first period I had occasional mild cramps here and there, but after that first period the cramps completely subsided. Fast forward to month 6 I can confidently say that the cramps only occur at normal times of the month (just before or the first days of your period) just slightly more painful but not unbearable. When it came to bleeding side-effects in the first 3 months I never got any spotting between periods and my period came on time but was heavier than usual (more bleeding but the same number of days as without an IUD). However after that 3 month marker I remember the bleeding becoming lighter, to the point now where it is similar if not the same as the amount pre-IUD. In conclusion the IUD has worked great for me, and I barely even notice it now. If you can do visit a sexual health clinic over a GP surgery, as they seem to be more experienced. Please don't let peoples bad experiences put you off, I strongly believe that for 99% of IUD users the bad experiences are based upon people noticing the fine details with their body that perhaps was there before but now that they have the IUD they become a 'worrier'. That every little cramp means something bad. I say that if you have an issue, go and see a professional who's qualified and not ask the internet.

I’ve had no issues since having it put in January 2022. Having it placed was uncomfortable but not painful (I was 22 and not had any children). I was done with the side effects of hormonal contraception and I’m glad I made the switch.

I had a terrible experience with Mirena. It started with severe cramping after insertion. The cramping continued for weeks. I got a UTI from it. Then the other symptoms started - severe depression, sneezing, severe sinus pain, insomnia. I experienced severe vaginal dryness and vulvodynia (shooting pain down there) which ultimately led me to showing up at my gp and begging for it to be removed.

Periods stopped, no noticeable side effects other than toward the end of the 5 years when I had a few side effects (tender breasts, spots, mood swings) which I put down to hormonal change as the coil was coming to expiry date. Now I've had it replaced and I have no side effects. Stable mood, skin clear, no periods, no stomach/back/head pain.

In terms of contraception practically perfect, I react extremely badly to hormonal contraception usually and this didn’t cause any of the negative side effects I usually get from hormonal methods. My periods became lighter and I still have the normal symptoms of my cycle which is exactly what I want. The only negatives (which is quite a big one) is significantly increased pain throughout my cycle, during my bleed and also cramping randomly throughout the month, sometimes when exercising and also two days before my period which I didn’t experience before. I am devastated that this has been discontinued in most places. I think it’s completely inexcusable that there is now no IUS which for most people doesn’t stop their period. One other slight negative at the beginning was my partner took some time to get used to the feeling of the strings when having sex, however this improved after a few months and is no longer an issue.

In terms of contraception practically perfect, I react extremely badly to hormonal contraception usually and this didn’t cause any of the negative side effects I usually get from hormonal methods. My periods because lighter and I still have the normal symptoms of my cycle. The only negative (which is quite a big one) is significantly increased pain throughout my cycle, during my bleed and also cramping randomly throughout the month, sometimes when exercising and also two days before my period which I didn’t experience before. I am devastated that this has been discontinued in most places. I think it’s completely inexcusable that there is now no IUS which for most people doesn’t stop their period.

Got this inserted as a long-acting, reliable method of contraception. I found the insertion process ok, it was uncomfortable but not painful. I was able to easily feel the coil threads when I checked regularly. I had lighter periods but actually found period pains worse with the coil in place - hence the deducted star. I had this removed as we wanted to try to concieve. The removal process was totally painless. We got pregnant in one month of trying.

Overall my experience has been positive in comparison to my previous experience with combined oral contraception. I no longer have mood swings or night sweats however over the 4 years of having my hormonal coil I now have no sex drive which was a big change for me, in addition to this sex became painful.On the other hand my periods stopped after 6 months to a year.

Today I finally had my Mirena coil removed. The insertion and removal went smoothly and were painless. I had the coil for 10 months. During the first 6 weeks, I experienced continuous bleeding. After that, my periods became more regular but were very long up to 10 days and lighter than usual. After a period ended, I had another one a week later for only 3 days, and then the cycle repeated exactly every 28 days. I also had persistent discharge, infections, and cysts, and I even had to have a biopsy due to white spots on my cervix caused by the Mirena. Today, having it removed, I felt immediate relief. I was prescribed desogestrel tablets, so hopefully it will be better, although the pill doesn’t have very good reviews either.

From coil insertion I had issues, it was very painful having it inserted and I had cramps for a weeks. I also got a post coil infection. I would get horrible period pain at that time of the month and my periods would also last longer than before coil. Often had spotting and could always feel there was something there like a pressure (difficult to explain). I also didn’t feel like myself, I didn’t have energy for a long time after the coil insertion. I got thrush and then got a UTI in August which I had for 6 & half weeks and took 5 courses of antibiotics. I finally saw a nurse who said stop the meds and agreed with my decision to have coil removed and said we would monitor it. I had coil removed 29/09 and am still getting the discomfort down there and regularly have a hot bean bag on my lower abdomen. Some days are better than others and this week I have had headaches so I’m not sure if it is linked to coil removal. The nurse will call me for follow up next week and if still getting it she needs to see if it could be pelvic inflammatory disease

I liked that it was minimal effort once inserted. My periods were far lighter and less frequently occurring. Because of the thickening of vaginal fluids being part of the mechanism; I found I because much more prone to UTIs after sex and also had lower sexual drive. I came off the Mirena because I wanted to track my cycle accurately to see if my hormones and cycle were affecting/triggering my seizures (I have drug resistant epilepsy). When I came off the Mirena I found I was less anxious over the months following swapping to the copper coil I.e. non hormonal. This had not been a concern of mine when on it.

While I had my Levosert, I liked it. I had mood changes, and cried a lot more than usual, but mostly just leading up to my period so it was manageable. I had recurrent thrush with it, and actually ended up having a prescription for monthly fluconazole tablets. In the end, after around 2 years, my coil slipped into my cervix, and it was incredibly stressful. I had no symptoms that it had slipped down, except my strings were a bit longer than usual. A doctor mistakenly told me it was fine to keep using, but when I later had it checked at a different clinic with ultrasound, they were alarmed that I'd had no symptoms as it was pretty much almost out of my body. I'd essentially been unprotected for about 8 months, and this led to a big pregnancy scare.