My Copper Coil review

Hi  

I am 24 years old, in a serious relationship, no children, 5ft1 and am overweight. I am writing this as when I was researching what contraception to go for due to feeling like I was running out of options, I saw an overwhelming amount of negative stories about the copper coil and I wanted to clarify that for some it can be extremely effective and positive, maybe even life changing

I had been on the pill since I was 15 years old. Originally I was on jasmine and then a different hormonal one that I cant remember the name of but as I matured, put on weight etc they put me on cerezette. This is where my problems started.. I had an extreme reaction to cerezette and believe that for the six months I was on it, it changed me as a person. It made me reactive, volitile, explosive.. I thought the world was going to end and in the end it just made me very very depressed.

After stopping that I was put on Micronor, two a day due to being overweight. I started taking this when I was 19 years old at the start of my relationship in which i'm currently in. With Micronor you MUST take it within a three hour window or it is inaffective. For a few years micronor worked for me I would have irregular periods and never really know where I was with my cycle. I spent the majority of my first year on it thinking I was pregnant and buying tests but I thought it was worth it as long as my side effects were minimal.

After around three years on it I started to feel like my breasts were really swollen, my sex drive slowed (I was a lot dryer than usual), constapated, my periods were irregular and sometimes non-existant others really heavy and my moods were ALL over the place.. I started to feel like I was loosing grip on myself again similar to what I felt like when on cerezette. At first I thought I might have been pregnant but after multiple tests proved I wasn't I went to the doctors. Due to the nature of my side effects the doctor suggested it may be that my body is disagreeing with the pill that I was on and maybe we should change it up, but afer a talk with my partner we decided that I should try not taking anything for a while and let my body "re-set" to its natural state. I feel like it is programmed into young women these days that they must be pumping hormones into themselves to ensure they dont get pregnant and I had had enough of the side effects for a while. 

After stopping taking that pill within a week I felt like a different person. I was happy, relaxed, less bloated, going to the toilet regularly, I wanted to have sex again and everything felt like it was working again. I felt like a weight had been lifted off me that I didn't even realise was there.. I felt amazing. I went contraception free (used condoms still obviously) for around four months, my periods were normal and regular, my period pains were worse but I didn't mind. My periods actually felt like a release! However, using condoms with my partner was becoming a real mood killer so I knew that I had to look into other methods of contraception but this time HORMONE FREE. 

I read so many horror stories about the copper coil that by the time I went to have my insertion I was terrified, my partner came with me and sat in the waiting room whilst I went in. I told the doctor I was nervous and she laughed and told me it wasnt going to be that bad. You lie on the table and the speculum is inserted, I wasn't given any pain relief or numbing gel but I had taken two paracetamol and an ibruprofen before, the nurse held my hand whilst I clenched my teeth, you feel a bit of messing around down there and a little sharp pain and a few clenches in your stomach and its done! I get a bit fainty anyway so I had to lie down for a while after it was done. For a week after I had stomach cramps and it was quite painful, but nothing a hot water bottle and some tablets couldnt sort out since then NOTHING. Literally no pains, no bleeding, no nothing. My period was absolutely fine, no heavier than when I was on no contraception at all. Sex has been amazing because it has been worry free and I have really just felt relaxed with the process. After six weeks I had my first check up and was told that everything was absolutely fine. I asked about checking my " strings " but I was told that doctors cut them differently. The shorter they are cut the more prickly they can be which sometimes can mean that they can be felt by your partner, When they are left a little longer they will soften to the shape of your  cervix which is why I struggled to feel mine and was told I shouldnt worry about it! So I wont. I'm so excited that I shouldn't have to worry or even think about contraception for at least five years or until I want to have kids. 

On talking about this with other women at work I was actually shocked at how many of them had a coil and have had really positive experiences with it, they just don't talk about it! I feel people are more likely to share if they have had a negative experience with something than a positive. But I thought I should share my experience incase anyone else feels like they are running out of options like I felt. 

Hope this helped somebody!

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