Pill versus Coil

[Nosha123]

Hi all

Just been to the Quacks this morning to discuss coming off the Pill (after being on it for 20 yrs) and switching to the coil (not mirena.. with the hormones. the other one.. copper???.. and smaller)

Doctor said that yes I can switch over - and made appt to have it fitted... he said my periods would revert to normal (as opposed to being very light on the pill) and that they may be slightly heavier too due to the coil.

My cousin has the coil (Mirena I think) and raves about it and thinks its fab.

Has anyone had good or bad experiences? Side effects?

Thanks all

[albaqwerty]

periods heavier but what the hey... no other side effects.
You need to check the string is still "feelable" but I prefer it to the pill.

[jackthehat]

The pill is easier to swallow.............

I'll get me coat.............:o(

[albaqwerty]

that's where I was going wrong, the pill is supposed to be swallowed lol

[China Doll]

The best contraception I ever used was without a doubt the implant and I'd recommend it to anyone.. (good for scaring small children too)... Unfortunately it didn't love my PCOS so I had have it taken out.

[sophie_1003]

China- my friend has the implant but it freaks me out a bit, what are the advantages to it? I'm on the pill and quite like it apart from the fact that it made me put on weight.

[China Doll]

The implant didn't make me put on weight, you don't have to remember to take anything on a daily basis, as far as I recall you're covered from day one, it's painless, you're covered for a year and it stopped my periods completely more or less! (The latter I can see is something that I preferred and not really a good thing).

[sophie_1003]

thats the thing I wouldn't like I think, the docotrs keep asking me if i wan to change to something else though but not sure if i want to atm

[China Doll]

Well if you're happy with what you're on and there's no good medical reason to change then don't worry about it.

[daffy654]

Both my sister and my niece had the implant and had non-stop periods. It seems to affect different women in different ways. I would hate to have a year long period!!!

[madmaggot]

I had a coil (can't remember which one) and got pregnant but miscarried at 7 weeks. I have 3 friends who also got pregnant with the coil but they all carried to full term.
I had very heavy periods, bad cramps and never felt safe with it. I then chose to be sterilised, much better! No worries.
I would say, if your family is complete don't risk the coil but if you wouldn't mind a further child, try it.

[joannie10]

hi there

I dont have experience of this - yet but the doc has taken me off the pill and wants me to consider the coil. My friend is using the mirena coil and says her periods are pretty non existent. The doc told me this would most likely be the case but I am sorry I don't know which coil it is. My friend said that she wishes she had been on it sooner.

I am still undecided!

[mandimoo]

similar to you, i switched to the copper (non hormonal) iud after taking the pill for about 20 years. have you had kids? they will still do it if you havent (i havent) but i think its easier if you have (more room perhaps?!) anyway, im sorry, but i may put you right off! i found it quite traumatic, im sure they scratched or poked my ovary or summat inside me when they put it it and the PAIN afterwards lasted for weeks (on a scale of 1-10 about a 7). i went from having reasonably pain free periods, to excruciating agony every month. im sure it was embedded in me walls or something. i put up with it for about 18 months, being scared to have it out in case my insides came out with it i think i was very unlucky, but i couldnt recommend it to anyone.

[Nannyjill]

I had a coil fitted after having one of my children - fine no pain - but my husband could feel it and everytime we had sex it hurt when I went back to the dr he said it was because the coil it had migrated (not sure what he meant) he removed it and replaced it with another - it was really painful as in I found it hard to walk out of the surgery afterwards I feel pregnant on it so wasn't too sure how reliable it was.

Also found I had very heavy periods but as I can't take the pill it was something I thought worth trying.

[BagPussAA]

I was on the pill for many years and had loads of side effects such as weight gain and headaches. My doctor recommended the Mirena coil for me and I really wish that I had known about it 10 years ago! It is brilliant. It lasts 5 years, I don\'t need to remember to take anything every day, it does not get affected if I am ill and it has stopped my periods completely. Absolutely Fab!!

[sophie_1003]

If you have put on weight with the pill and then switch to a different contraception, is it then easier to lose that weight?

[happy_face]

I had the standard coil about 10 years ago and didn't get on with it. My periods were incredibly heavy and lasted well over a week. Then went on the pill for some years and then 2 yrs ago I got the Mirena coil. Absolutely fantastic, my periods are almost non existing, bleed perhaps 2 drops. I don't have any pains and don't have to remember taking pills. I also have endometriosis and the mirena keeps that under control too.