I got a copper coil: here’s what to expect
Antonia Jenkinson
The copper coil
What you need to know.
When I was 20, I got a copper coil fitted after years of trials and tribulations with many different kinds of contraception. I’d tried two different pills, both of which severely impacted my mental health, the patch, which I found inconvenient for someone as forgetful as I am, and tried the implant, which resulted in bleeding for months at a time. I eventually decided to take the plunge and look at getting an IUD fitted.
There is a lot of information floating around online about experiences with getting IUDs and coils fitted. As a young second year at university, this was extremely overwhelming for me. I watched near hundred of tiktoks from women detailing their traumatic and painful experiences getting these devices fitted, and I was terrified. For a little background information, I have had many, many piercings, a tattoo, and have broken enough bones to know my way around a hospital, but the testimonies from these women made me worry there was no way I could handle it…
I have had my copper coil for more than a year now, and I can safely say that I have had a purely positive experience, and rave about it to any of my friends on the hunt for a birth control that suits them. This article aims to objectively inform you about what to expect from your copper coil fitting, or just to provide a little more information for those supporting anyone who has one fitted. Of course I have a very positive outlook on the copper coil, but be assured I will be including all the nitty gritty to be able to give a thoroughly comprehensive guide to the copper coil.
Research
Arguably the most important step to finding a contraceptive that works for you is proper research.
I would strongly discourage doomscrolling forums online, as often they are filled with scaremongering and inaccurate information. It’s important to remember that every country has different procedures for more invasive types of contraception, like the coil, so making sure that the information you are getting about the coil is from a UK source. I first used the NHS contraceptives page to get the basic factual information. After this, I decided to book a telephone consultation with my GP to see if they thought I was an appropriate fit for the copper coil.
During my telephone consultation, a contraceptives nurse asked me about my history with birth control and my period. I would recommend that before looking into trying a new contraception, you keep a detailed log of your menstrual cycle and recent sexual activity. I have been tracking my period and sexual health since 16, so could quickly answer any questions asked of me. After this, I was advised to fill out an online form with my further medical history in order for the GP to make sure I could go through with the fitting and that I was appropriately informed about what to expect. Once I had done all of this, we went ahead and booked a fitting for two weeks after the telephone consultation, making sure to note not to engage in any unprotected sex in between.
The procedure
This section of the blog will be a bit of a ‘day in the life’. Detailing each step as objectively as possible is the best way of explaining the procedure of getting my coil fitted.
At the advice of my GP, I took 2 ibuprofen tablets half an hour before my appointment and headed off to the clinic after a good breakfast. It is really important to make sure you are going into the appointment having had a full meal to avoid any possibility of fainting. Once I was in the appointment, I was diligently walked through each step of the procedure. My doctor told me that first she would insert a speculum into my vagina to look at my cervix to see what size coil I would need. Then she explained she would provide a numbing spray to my cervix, hold it down and slowly insert the coil using a lubricated syringe until it was properly inserted. She noted that it would likely be an uncomfortable procedure, but manageable.
Once I had been walked through what exactly to expect, we began the procedure. I took off my trousers and underwear and led on the table. Remember, doctors see all manner of different vulvas every day, so there is nothing to feel embarrassed about. You will be able to undress behind a curtain and lie with a towel over your waist to avoid walking around the room half naked. Having had a smear test and internal ultrasound done before, I was not surprised by the speculum. It is a little uncomfortable, in the same way that having a tampon in wrong might be, but nothing out of the ordinary at all. Whilst inspecting my cervix, my GP informed me that I have a tilted cervix and that the 5 year coil option would be more appropriate for me because of this, and because I have not previously given birth. In different cases, your GP may offer you a coil that can be left in for up to 10 years. Whilst having my cervix inspected, I also opted to have a chlamydia test done. Regular sexually transmitted infection and disease testing is super important for anyone engaging in any kind of sexual activity. At the time, I had a long term partner but it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when the service is provided free and fast!
After settling on a 5 year coil, I had a numbing spray applied to my cervix. This was quite possibly the most strange part of the procedure, as it kind of feels like having suncream sprayed onto your cervix. Once the numbing spray had sat for 5 minutes, the insertion began. At this point, a second nurse entered the room to help with equipment, and also held my hand while talking about her Christmas shopping with me. However much you want to chat is entirely up to you, but I found it a happy distraction to be able to talk about having to wrap my housemate’s Christmas presents for them while led down.
I won’t sugar coat it – the actual insertion is painful. It is achy and feels like a bruise very quickly, but this is a fleeting discomfort that stops once insertion is complete. The ibuprofen and numbing spray should help to counteract pain. If you feel you have a low tolerance for pain, I would recommend taking a hot water bottle along with you to the appointment to apply to your abdomen for additional pain relief. After insertion, I was instructed to remain led down for 10 minutes to recover. Whilst this was happening, my GP talked me through how to feel inside my vagina to make sure the threads of the coil were properly in place, and how I should go about arranging a removal when I want one.
Once I had been talked through aftercare, my GP advised me that I would probably experience some heavy cramping and general discomfort for the next 24 hours. Knowing this, I would strongly recommend that you make sure you don’t have any plans for the next 2 or 3 days after your appointment to be able to give yourself the time to properly recover. Make sure you also have someone who can drive you home, or that you are able to get a taxi home, as walking home would be uncomfortable. I spent the rest of the day in bed with a hot water bottle, pain relief, a pizza, and Arrested Development on Netflix. The next day I felt entirely back to normal.
Periods, pain, and post-coil life
A year, and the life experience of 2 years of university later, and I am not pregnant, so I can safely attest to the coil’s effectiveness.
Remember, no contraceptive is 100% effective unfortunately, but when used correctly and alongside barrier contraceptives, like condoms and diaphragms, the copper coil is near 99.98% effective in preventing pregnancy. For the first time on any contraception, my period have returned to their regularly scheduled, every 29 days, programming. In some cases, people have found that their periods have increased slightly in amount of blood, and those who did not previously experience menstrual cramps may after having a coil fitted. As someone who has always struggled with period cramps, I did not notice a difference in pain between my periods pre-coil and post-coil. If you find that the coil isn’t working for you, you can get it removed whenever, even if you can leave them in for years at a time.
I have found the coil to be my most successful experience with contraception. It is a blessing not to have to remember to take a pill at the same time every day, or change a patch every week. I have peace of mind for the next 5 years if I continue to use the coil as medically advised. No procedure is going to be pain-free when inserting something into the cervix, but in my opinion the discomfort I experienced for 24 hours was more than worth the difference having an effective contraception which doesn’t impact my hormones.
If you are uncertain about getting a coil fitted, I would strongly recommend contacting your GP for a telephone consultation. Your GP is there to advise you best on your health and wellbeing, and you should use this resource as much as you see fit.