Copper coil (IUD) vs Injection

I know people’s experience differ greatly from insertion, to side effects and even removal, but I guess I was one of the unlucky ones… the insertion was extremely painful and also a very odd experience. I felt extremely faint, and nearly passed out during it. I couldn’t get off the bed for an hour afterwards as I felt like my legs were going to give in. After leaving the room, I had to sit in reception for another 30mins to ensure I won’t pass out on public transport. Also I have never heard of cervical shock/vasovagal syncope, nobody has ever told me about this. I think it should be explained before the procedure. I had very bad cramps for 3 days. On the first night I had another episode of feeling like passing out and shaking violently as if in shock. It was terrifying but I was determined to give it a good go. I had some mild cramping on and off for the rest of the time I had it in and a dull ache at the times I wasn’t cramping. I could also definitely feel it was in there… especially during workouts. My period wasn’t heavier but it lasted 7 days straight and kept spotting until it was taken out (my periods usually last 3 days). 3 weeks after insertion I had another episode of ‘shock’ accompanied by extreme pain, so I had to lie on the floor for an hour and then go to A&E to see if it could have got dislodged as the pain was very severe. They couldn’t do a scan even after a 9hr wait as the registrar wasn’t available so hoping for the best I decided to wait until 3 days later when the clinic had availability for removal. The removal hurt just as much as insertion but for a shorter period of time, and only felt slightly faint for a bit afterwards. There were some cramps for the next 48hrs but more bearable (like a light period) and some spotting. I knew I was feeling unwell while it was in, but only once it was taken out did I realise just how much pain I was in constantly. I wish it worked, and it’s great it does for some people but it was not for me. :(

I used this contraception for 4 years from 2019- 2023. Firstly, it made my periods extremely heavy and painful to the point where i was unable to do usual daily activities . Would also bleed during sex consistently. However, i ignored these side effects because it was doing what it needs to do and preventing pregnancy and i was afraid to use hormonal birth control . When i went to the doctors about bleeding issues they would just tell me its a normal side effect from the copper IUD. However this year i found i was pregnant with the IUD still working not expired and in place so essentially it failed for whatever unknown reason. Now apparently this is very rare to happen, but it happened to me and it has happened to other people. No health care professionals would take the coil out because i was pregnant and as a result of this i ended up miscarrying with the coil still in place, which was very painful and i bled heavily for a month after. It was very difficult to get it taken out, as apparently there was a struggle to find the placement. Eventually it was taken out a month after the miscarriage. Since having it taken out i have been using the combined pill for 3 months which has made my periods less heavy and much less painful. My advice would be to anyone who is afraid of using hormonal contraception like i was to just try it. As it turns out that non hormonal contraception can cause just as many issues if not more issues than hormonal contraception can. However it is important to remember that everyone is different. Ultimately, i would definitely not recommend this contraception especially if you haven’t tried hormonal alternatives.

Getting the coil in was fine, obviously wasn’t the most comfortable thing but my nurse was amazing and I didn’t feel much pain. The next day I had period like cramps then they went away with some ibuprofen. Sex drive was so increased and boobs have grown bigger, only down fall is the periods are quite painful but that was outlined to me in my consultation and it was my choice to receive it. Everything else has been perfect.

I was on the sayanna press injection for 3 years. My periods started off a little irregular for the first couple of months and then stopped completely, which was a blessing as they have always been heavy and painful! Would start to get slight cramps in the week before the injection was due but otherwise, it seemed to suit me quite well. I'm a healthcare professional so injecting myself didn't bother me at all! I gained a little weight whilst using it but I am overweight anyway so unsure if I can attribute this to the injection!

I started the depo in June of this year, I then started constantly bleeding 3 weeks later up until the end of August. I had a 2 week break from bleeding, and then I started again for a further 3 weeks, and the pain that comes along with it is unbearable, it’s a constant vicious cycle. My moods are horrendous, I’ve had to start up antidepressants again, my skin hasn’t been this bad in literal months, all the lower part of my face has broken out into sore spots. I have tried all methods of contraception now, various pills, 2x coil and neither time worked as my body rejected both times, the implant which didn’t agree with me and now this. So I’m completely coming off contraception once this dose runs out. Never again

I began using the Depo as it was recommended by a nurse in my GP clinic. During the first 6 months the only noticeable side effect was the decreased sex drive. After my 3rd injection, I began having serious pain when trying to have sex. Due to this pain I booked an appointment with my GP to get swabs done to check for any infections. They completed swabs and no infection was found, I was told it was most likely just dryness. Therefore I stopped having the depo and started the pill again as I had no issues with the pill. I was on the pill for a month and has really bad head aches so decided to come off contraception completely. After coming off the depo it took 6 months for me to be able to have sex again due to the dryness.

Stopped periods after 2nd injection… fairly happy with this contraception compared to the pill. Biggest side effect for me is low sex drive

Initially, getting the injection was a bit scary, but it wasn't painful and there was very little residual pain the day after. My periods stopped completely, which I found to be great. I didn't notice any side effects,

I was on it for 9 months and I only started the pill today but the injection had made me bleed nonstop and have really bad back pain and the weight gain was really bad I didn’t feel myself and the sex drive at the start was high but it kept getting lower and lower the cramps are worse than the ones i used to get and my family have a high estrogen level it doesn’t work that well when you have high estrogen levels.

I can not tell you how much I adore this. The injection is a bit intimidating, but it's very quick, I did my first one with the help of a nurse (watch videos on how to do it and ask the nurse any questions you have). The injection is a bit weird in that you squeeze it into you, vs using a plunger, but it is a very short needle, and it didn't even hurt! I have had next to no side effects, my life has become a lot better, I sleep better, and I am able to get up early for uni. I get no PMS or cramps and I don't even get a bleed anymore (I am a bit sad as I had just bought a bunch of sanitary towels on a Prime Day). I switch from POP to this, and Syana is what birth control should be. On POP, I had so many side effects (which you can read about on my profile), this is amazing, my mind is so much clearer and I lack the PMS brain fog. My only complaint is to do with my NHS trust, they can only prescribe one at a time so if the one you get is faulty you need to request a new one which could take a week, also means you can't have one on standby for if you don't have time to contact GP and go to a pharmacy. The nurse who is my point of contact dislikes this rule and has tried to change it.

Except for the cramps, I'm happy with this enjection

It gives pregnancy like symptoms which makes one think they might be pregnant however it is safe.

It was my first time on any contraception and I wanted to take necessary precautions before travelling abroad for two months, so I was advised by my Nurse Practitioner to have the Injection rather than go on the Pill so I wouldn’t have to worry about missing days, losing pills, etc., and was told that she’d received no negative feedback about the Injection and that the side effects would be minimal. Perfect, or so I thought. My overall experience was horrendous, and after discussing methods of contraception with strangers I met abroad and hearing their own negative experiences with the Injection and from friends, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and pretty miffed (to put it politely). I’d missed a period prior to travelling, and my breasts had felt so tender and painful for the first week or so, but then I bleed continuously for my whole trip (yep, two months straight of bleeding in countries where sanitary products are few and far between) and my mood swings absolutely battered me, not to mention my libido dying upon arrival in SE Asia. Now I’ve been home for a few weeks, and yes things are slightly better, but my moods are still all over the place and I’m still spotting everyday. Yes, with the Injection you don’t have to worry about taking pills, but never again will I subject my body to this. I just wish my Nurse Practitioner had offered me more options and have been more upfront regarding the side effects, and instead not dictating what I needed and sending me on my way. I would also like to mention, as a non-binary individual, that this form of contraception did at times make me suffer with body dysphoria, however I appreciate that users may respond differently to the Injection and other methods of contraception.