What type of coils are there

For the first three to six months after the IUD is inserted, your periods will likely be unpredictable. Skyla and Liletta continue to work for up to three years. Mirena can prevent pregnancy for up to five years. You may experience heavier bleeding and more cramps during your periods when using ParaGard. Your periods should lighten after a few months of having the IUD. Both copper and hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy by affecting sperm movement.

They stop sperm from meeting up with the egg. The two types of IUD are about equally effective. Fewer than one out of every women using either the copper or hormonal IUD will get pregnant in any given year. Read more: Mirena vs. ParaGard vs. Although each type of IUD protects against pregnancy for a different amount of time, they can each be removed at any time. Removal is always an option if you decide you want to get pregnant or are unhappy with the side effects.

In addition to blocking sperm from reaching the egg, hormonal IUDs thicken cervical mucus, thin the uterine lining, and prevent ovulation. Each type of IUD works for a different length of time. Skyla and Liletta work for three years, Mirena for five years, and ParaGard for up to 10 years.

ParaGard starts to work immediately after you have it inserted. It can take Mirena, Skyla, and Liletta a week to start working. You may need to use a backup birth control method during that time.

Hormonal IUDs should make your periods lighter and accompanied by fewer cramps. It can be removed at any time by a trained doctor or nurse, but you must use condoms as well or abstain from sex for 7 days prior to removal.

The IUD does not contain a hormone, but instead slowly releases copper, which prevents sperm from surviving in your cervix, uterus or fallopian tubes. It may also stop fertilised eggs from implanting in the womb. You should use a condom as well if you think you are at risk of an STI. An IUD has two thin threads that hang down a little way from your womb into the top of your vagina.

You will be taught how to feel for the threads and check the IUD is still in place. If you can't feel the threads or if you think the IUD has moved, you may not be fully protected against pregnancy. See your doctor or nurse straight away and use extra contraception, such as condoms, until your IUD has been checked.

It is unlikely that your IUD will come out. This is most common in the first three months after insertion and happens in 1 out of 20 cases. Most women can use the IUD, but your clinician will ask about your family and medical history to determine whether or not it is the best method for you. Before you have a coil fitted, you may be tested for any existing infections, such as STIs, so that any infections can be treated beforehand.

The coil can be fitted at any time during your monthly menstrual cycle, as long as you're definitely not pregnant. Having a coil fitted can be uncomfortable and painful but the pain shouldn't last long and is described as quite similar to period pains. A fitting is likely to be less painful if you have had natural birth vaginal delivery as your cervix will have previously been stretched.

Whilst you lie down, with your knees bent, a speculum will be used to hold your vagina open the same instrument is used when having a smear test done.

Local anaesthetic gel is applied to the cervix and this feels cold. The clinician will then use forceps to hold the cervix steady in order to determine the size and position of your womb with a sterile probe.

The coil comes with its arms folded down packed inside a narrow tube. The clinician will insert the tube into the vagina, through the cervix and into your uterus womb.

Then they will pull the plastic tube out, leaving the coil in place allowing the arms of the coil to fold open. Before the speculum is removed, the strings of the coil are cut, leaving 1 to 2 cm hanging down at the top of your vagina so that you can feel to make sure it is still in place. People normally have some cramping pain afterwards so it is recommended you take some pain killers just before your appointment.

The clinician doing the fitting will use a speculum to hold your vagina open the same instrument is used when having a smear test done. Occasionally people feel nauseous or faint afterwards. They may need to lie down for minutes but are usually fine after a short while. The clinician will always make sure you are recovered and happy to make your way home before letting you leave. Some people prefer to have no plans after their appointment so that they can be relax at be comfortable at home afterwards.

You will be asked to make an appointment after 6 weeks where the clinician will check your coil is in place and to see how you are getting on. Once an IUD is fitted, it will need to be checked by a doctor after three to six weeks to make sure everything is fine. Speak to your GP or clinician if you have any problems after this initial check or if you want the IUD removed. If you're not going to have another coil put in and you don't want to get pregnant, use another method such as condoms for seven days before, as sperm can live for up to seven days inside the body.

Removal of a coil is a very quick procedure about 30 seconds. It may be a little uncomfortable but is much less uncomfortable than the fitting procedure. Yes, the IUD is suitable for women who are breastfeeding, though you will need to wait four to six weeks after giving birth before you have it fitted.

You may be tested for any existing infections, such as STIs and for pregnancy. The appointment takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and fitting the IUD should take no longer than 5 minutes:. Having an IUD fitted can be uncomfortable, but you can have a local anaesthetic to help. Discuss this with your GP or nurse beforehand. You may get period-type cramps afterwards, but painkillers can ease the cramps. You may also bleed for a few days after having an IUD fitted.

How soon does it work? They can be taken out very easily by a doctor or nurse whenever you decide you no longer want the device, or wish to conceive. Some men do notice the threads during sex, but the threads can be trimmed so they are out of the way. Check out this blog post for more information. Many women these days are very concerned about the effect of taking extrinsic hormones for contraception over long periods of time.

If you would rather avoid hormones then the copper IUD is a fantastic option as a very reliable form of contraception. As it contains no hormones, it wont have any beneficial effects for your periods. You may also experience spotting during your cycle but most women find these side effects all improve after the first 6 months of use.

The IUD is made of plastic and copper. The copper alters the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg and survive. It can also stop a fertilised egg from being able to implant itself.

When the IUD is removed, a woman can get pregnant immediately as it should not have any lasting impact on her fertility. The IUS is something we as gynaecologists recommend on an almost daily basis. The key benefits are that they usually make periods lighter, shorter and less painful. Some women will have no periods at all, especially if they have been using it for a while. The IUS releases a small amount of progestogen hormone which thickens the fluid around the cervix and prevents sperm getting to an egg.

The IUS has the lowest level of hormone of all the hormonal methods of contraception. The hormones are focused in the womb rather than having generalised effects around your whole body. This can mean less side effects than other forms of contraception such as bloating or weight gain. Fertility returns to normal after having the IUS taken out. It may take some time for periods to return, and to become regular, especially if they stopped whilst the coil was in place.

If your periods are not regular again by 6 months of trying to conceive then you should see your GP to discuss further. As mentioned above, in the way that the mirena works it keeps the lining of the womb thin so there is no need for a period. This can have the additional benefit of protecting the womb from endometrial cancer which can arise when the lining of the womb becomes excessively thick.