Do any of you have......

a coil (IUD) fitted? I am thinking of using this method of contraception as the hormones in the pill/injection don't agree with me!! At the minute we're using condoms but this is very annoying!
What I'd like to know is:-
1-do you get any problems with irregular cycles or bleeding between periods?

2-is it really affective/reliable?

3-have any of you had any problems with it?

Thanks ladies

I was going to get one fitted after George but I get cysts when I ovulate due to extra fluid on my ovaries, so decided against it.

I was told there's a certain IUD which can actually stop periods just like the injection but just like the injection, it wasn't in all cases

We are also using condoms at the moment, but hubby has decided to have the snip which will hopefully solve that problem!

My ex had one fitted as she either kept forgetting to take the pill or due to IBS it seemed to become inaffective. Both our kids were conceived while she was taking the pill!

After having the coil fitted there were certainly no more kids, so that obviously worked. I think she was more regular with the coil than she was on the pill as well. She seemed happier.

Hope my simple observations as a "mere man" help.

Haha thanks you two. My hubby was going to have the snip but we've decided to put that off for now and I am still thinking I may get the coil fitted. I am pretty certain that I don't want any more children but if I can get the coil fitted and have no problems with it that seems the best solution for now. I have a friend who has the one that can totally stop periods which she has only just had fitted, but prior to this she had the other kind and had no problems with it so I am going to make an appointment soon. It's hard to find time though-lame I know but our local family planning slinic isn't open all the time only certain sessions each week. We are using the delightful rubbers at the moment too as the pill really doesn't agree with me and I've suffered on it for years.

NOTE TO SELF-get it sorted!

For a lot of people the coil works by expelling fertilised eggs (abortion), you don't need to go to a family planning clinic for contraception, you just need to see your GP.

Maybe I'll go there then, although seeing my own doctor is wishful thinking unless you wait about 3 or 4 weeks!! I'll give them a ring anyway. Ooh is it really like an abortion? I thought it blocked the sperm from getting through to the egg. All stuff I'll find out when I make my appointment I guess.

My GP can prescribe the pill and administer the injection and recently started to do the implant but coils (in our area anyway) you have to go to the nearest family planning or larger clinic.

I wasn't aware that the coil caused an abortion, I thought it just prevented the eggs travelling any further down the fallopian tube, I would have thought if there was a chance it could still be fertilised it could carry a high risk of ectopic pregnancy? Although I have heard of it failing, my MIL became pregnant twice on the coil! My SIL is a standing joke '2 coil' baby because when my MIL got pregnant the first time on the coil it was 'lost' when she gave birth to my SIL (the second time she became pregnant on the coil) both were found lol!

I found these on the NHS website, it's quite descriptive IUD
IUS

By the looks of that it may have been the IUS I was going to get

So I finally went for an appointment today about having a coil fitted. The doctor just asked questions about my medical history, sexual history and previous pregnancies etc. Then I got to ask questions and getall the information I wanted to know. So now I'm waiting for my appointment to come through to go and have it done. Although it doesn't seem like the most pleasant of experiences, after the initial settling down process it sounds like the method of contraception best suited to me PLUS after the first 2-3 months of bleeding and spotting I will then no longer have periods-that's a little bonus I didn't know about So hopefully it will go well and I wont be one of the few whose body rejects it one way or another. Fingers crossed......

Well I had my mirena coil fitted tuesday. I was anxious about having it, but actually the fitting itself took about 5 minutes and although not pleasant was bearable and not as bad as I thought it would be. I felt very tender for 2 days, a little like you feel in very early labour or a few days after you have given birth and I felt a bit sick. By day 3 the discomfort had mostly gone but I had a headache for that day. Yesterday (4 days after)all aches, pains, tenderness etc had gone and I was able to comfortably and confidently have sex last night. I had some bleeding for the first 48 hours which trailed off into spotting, but that seems to have stopped now too. I know it's early days and there will be more spotting and tenderness on and off while it settles down but so far so good really. I am having some mood changes, but I expected that and my doctor told me to give it 3-6 months to settle and only to worry after that if I was still having problems. I'll keep you all posted but at this point I can say I would recommend the coil (as long as I don't get pregnant!!! )