Vaginal ring vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

I suffer with PMDD, making my periods a very awful time for me due to how depressed I feel. I was on the combined pill before, but found this was worsening my emotions and making me feel horrendous. The ring was an idea my GP suggested, thinking that because the ring is a gradual release, that stays in your body for the duration you don’t wish to bleed, it would affect me less. This is absolutely what’s happened and I’m much happier on the ring. I’ve never had any problems with feeling it, I’ve noticed a few reviews stating they bleed through when taking it back to back and from my experience this is the case with most contraception. I wouldn’t recommend if you want to take back to back as you do bleed through.

I was recommended the ring after suffering with irregular and heavy periods. I would describe myself as suffering PMDD before and now my moods are so much better. It's easy to insert, I never feel it, and easy to keep in (or briefly take out) when having sex. The ring is great and I recommend to everyone I meet.

The first few months weren’t awful, had regular side effects like nausea, anxiety & tiredness. The main function of the ring for me was to skip my periods & for the first 3 months it worked great. On my 4th ring a few days later I started to feel incredibly nauseous (I didn’t vomit) & the day after I started bleeding, I spotted every day for over a month & still spot every other day, I also had had a large sack of my uterus wall come out which is apparently a side effect when your hormones are unstable. My hips, pelvis, back and legs were aching to the point I struggled to walk. I removed the ring & had instant relief. The nuvaring has made it so I physically can’t have sex as it feels like my vagina is on fire as soon as anything’s inserted, when I took the ring out for a few days this went away & came back the second I reinserted it (it’s also irritated my partners penis). I don’t know if I’m just very sensitive down there or my body doesn’t agree with having a foreign body inside but this just simply hasn’t worked for me. It’s also difficult to get in the right position. My boobs have gotten bigger tho atleast but so has my tummy from the awful bloating!! Swapping to the patch today & hoping it works.

I swapped to the coil as I started getting migraines on the combined pill and wanted a longer term solution GP advised to give the coil 6 months to settle in but during that time my skin has gradually got worse with bad acne, I still have periods which are lighter granted but lasting 8-9 days, much worse periods cramps than on combined and then for last 2 months spotting almost everyday and bad period like cramping. GP thought these symptoms suggested coil displacement but USS confirmed it was in situ and these must just be the side effects I personally get from mirena. The cramping and constant spotting and acne is affecting my sex life and general mood day to day so trying to get the coil removed and tempted to try the copper coil (although I went for the Mirena as I’d read you can get the symptoms I’m currently having on the copper but only time will tell!)

Had the Mirena coil for 4 years. Insertion wasn’t a fun experience but only cramped for a few days. A bit of spotting for first few months but reduced to nothing for the next 4 years. Very happy with it, only getting removed to get pregnant.

I was told to take painkillers (paracetamol & ibuprofen) before the procedure which I did. For the procedure I had two lovely ladies who were supportive and talked me through all of the steps. I was offered pain relief including gas and air, so all of that was great. What I didn’t realise was the “bad period cramps” you are warned about were actually more like mild contractions, and having had a traumatic miscarriage a few years ago. The coil fitting unfortunately ended up triggering this trauma along with my anxiety, when I spoke to my GP they mentioned it was PTSD and that this can happen after a coil fitting. Afterwards the coil felt really uncomfortable for about 4 weeks where I could feel it inside me all the time and sometime it felt like it was scratching around in there! Also certain exercise & stretches were uncomfortable & often aggravated it leaving me in pain. My hormones were also all over the place on week 3 but that passed fairly quickly. I’ve had great support from the clinic and was referred to have an ultrasound to confirm it was in the correct place. On a more positive note I’ve only had one heavy bleed a week after it’d been fitted and no further bleeds and so far only spotting once. It’s now 11 months later and things have settled, so this is now working for me which is a relief.

Had Mirena fitted to manage endometriosis after a laparoscopy. The period cramps felt worse than when I was on the contraceptive pill before the surgery. Also struggled with depression and low energy. Acne was about the same as before I started the contraceptive pill.

I really like the Mirena Coil, especially as the combined pill was my previous contraception which negatively affected my mood. I had a lot of spotting for the first month and now have the very occasional spotting, but it's great not having a period anymore.

I've had a mirena coil for about 7 months now. Before getting it I had severely heavy periods. Most months I got a bad migraine. My iron was low. The GP didn't suggest anything to help with the heavy periods/monthly migraines/low iron. However when discussing contraception mirena coil was suggested. (I'm 40, have had 2 children). I was wary to mess with my hormones but the doctor said it could calm down my periods too. It was a long wait (almost 12 months). As soon as I got it I haven't had such heavy periods. Migraines haven't been an issue and my iron levels are back to normal. I haven't noticed any mood or weight changes. I've been happier and healthier because I haven't been dealing with the bad periods anymore. My periods are irregular, but very light. The only negative is a couple of times I've had stomach cramps, quite painful ones, they've gone away in under a day. There has been no follow up with a health professional. It would be nice if they did this to reassure everything is normal and ok.

I had it put in at the end of January. Insertion wasn't fun and did hurt but no worse than the period cramps I used to get. Did spend the afternoon in bed. First few months were ok, some period pain but less than before and lighter periods. But as a few more months have passed I've been getting more migraines again. Also my body hair is more noticeable. My mood is mostly stable except now when I'm ovulating or period about to start, I get very irrational and angry. My last period was heavier than I would have had before the coil but hoping that was just a blip. Have also been spotting constantly the last 2-3 months.

Year 1 was a lot of hormonal changes, strong random cramps and spotting (i had to get the position adjusted slightly about 8 months in), but the effect on my periods was almost immediate. Regular lighter periods with reduced cramps(outside of above) that no longer impacted my life negatively. It's a game changer. Once that all settled down, I was abel to start tracking my periods and moods and for the first time in my life knew when something was "outside the norm" and could get things checked out as they came. The positive impact outweighs the negative by far in my opinion. Peace of mind and regular light periods is absolutely worth it for someone who's emotions and hormones and periods have always affected negatively (before jaydess I'd pms what felt like 3 out of 4 weeks, cramp so hard id pass out and bled through so many clothes)

I got the coil fitted to control heavy periods with contraception as a bonus. I’m aware I might be still in the settling down phase, this is my experience so far. Fitting was uncomfortable but I’ve had 3 vaginal birth so nothing touches that! Cramps for a few days but settled down. So far I have been bleeding most of the time since having it fitted, not heavy, light, but constant and irregular patterns. Very annoying. Low self esteem and low mood. Weight gain, despite being more physically active and eating healthily. Increase in headaches and migraines. Generally unimpressed at the lack of connection with healthcare professionals and Mirena coil users. So many women reporting poor experience yet doctors aren’t relaying this information. Will be having it removed. I choose control over my body over convenience.

First 6 months is an adjustment period so I had plenty of headache and feeling sick but after a while my body used to it and I am fine. 100% contraception effectiveness and no heavy period.