Copper coil (IUD) vs Implant

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’ve had this implant twice now both times had side effects I couldn’t deal with first time I gained nearly 3 stone and this time I’m on the weight loss injection and it seems to be countering the weight gain but honestly I’m so emotional and insecure my partner is struggling to deal with my emotions and so am I

At first, my experience with the implant wasn't too bad as I was still 'wet' and moist, but over time my natural moisture has completely dwindled down to nearly nothing. This severe dryness is driving me absolutely insane because it honestly makes me feel like I have a post-menopausal vagina. Because of this, I am now changing back to the generic Desogestrel mini-pill, as I know from previous use that I at least had a normal, healthy white and milky discharge on that method. I am just stating my own personal experience here, and I still think that other people should definitely try the implant if they fancy a different form of birth control, because everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones. so yeah, thank u, next with the implant.

Been on the implant for 6 years now, initially I was spotting for 6 months before it finally settled. Now much more lighter periods so I can cope better as previously really heavy and needed tranexamic acid to manage, mood is more level now also, very rarely get cramps which is a bonus, have gained a little weight and body hair, overall happy with it

I gain weight and got chronic fatigue. It was awful.

This i my first time, I discovered skin heat rash at the initial stage, presently loosing weight and loosing hair.

I am so far very happy with the nexplanon implant. I had tried iuds prior, first the copper T, which did not work for me at all, and then mirena, which was good, but I did experience some pelvic pain and discomfort during intimacy. With the nexplanon, my periods stopped for the first year and a half, maybe closer to 2 years. And then was just very light spotting for awhile after that. I am at about 2 years and 6 months, and my period has come back fully, and I am starting to have hormonal acne and mood changes, so I opted to have it replaced, just in case these symptoms are due to the hormones tapering off. I just had it replaced today, so I am not sure whether it will fix the issue, but will keep ypu posted.

It cause me to have my period for 145 days straight starting two weeks after getting it. The first month was honestly horrible with severe cramping and lower back pain while passing relatively big clots. It also made my mental health decline significantly during this time but after the five month mark I am feeling great and not pregnant!

I was on it for coming up to 8 years overall obviously great to not get pregnant and I was on contraception before where I had an accident so it was really easy and really quick to not have to think about this. It did really impact my moods and I eventually ended up having PMDD because of the severe mood swings. I would also bleed twice a month instead of just a once And it caused a really bad loss of libido and federal dryness. But these are all things that would probably happen if I was pregnant anyway.

My mood was completely changed on this contraception about 2 weeks in. I started getting really angry at everything/everyone very fast, I had a short temper, I felt sad all the time and like everyone was against me. Overall I felt I was going crazy and could not control my emotions at all. Also I had a constant heavy period for 3 months

Used for 5 years so far. No complaints really. I didnt feel much change to myself till recently. This has been mood swings and irritability but ive been on it 5 years and this only just started. Never fell pregnant. Little to no periods. Would recommend