ive had the normal coil now for nearly 3 years, for the first year i did have painful heavy periods but was told by the doctor that this can happen as your body needs to get used to it. Ive been great since and unbelievably it has no calmed down my periods, they are shorter and a lot lighter and i have no pain. The thing with contraception is though that it works different for each person, what might suit one person wouldnt suit the next, its all about trail and error. Having the coil inserted is a little uncomfortable but bearable, not much more than a smear.