After having our second child and after lots of discussion with my husband and visits to the Family Planning Clinic, I decided to have a coil fitted.

There are currently two different types of coil available. The IUD and the IUS.

The Intrauterine Device (IUD) can be left in for three to ten years, and is a plastic and copper device which is inserted into your womb. It has a thread which hangs from it, and you need to check it on a regular basis to ensure the coil is still in the correct place.

The Intrauterine System (IUS) can be left in for up to five years. Instead of being made of copper, this one is made from plastic and is T shaped. It again is inserted into your womb with threads for you to check. The big difference with this one compared to IUD is that it slowly releases a Progestogen hormone into your body.

To be honest, when I first decided to have a coil fitted, I didn't realise there were two different types available. When the Doctor at the Family Planning Clinic asked me which one I was considering, I was a bit shocked because I thought there was only one. I took the leaflets that the Doctor gave me home to have a read.

SO WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM

I read through both leaflets and discovered that they can both be fitted at any time of the month, but the big and very important difference is that the IUD works straight away, regardless of when it is fitted. The IUS only works straight away if it is fitted on the first few days of your period. It if is fitted at any other time of the month, then you have to use an additional form of contraception.

The other big difference between these and what made the decision for me is what it does to your periods. With an IUS your periods become lighter, shorter and less painful. If you are very lucky they may even stop. With and IUD your periods can become heavier, longer or more painful.

I always suffered with heavy periods but after having the children, I found that my periods become heavier. To me, this made having the IUD fitted no longer an option.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING AN IUS FITTED?

The IUS that I have fitted is called Mirena, and there are a few advantages that I have listed below;
1) It works for five years - you don't have to worry about contraception for quite a while.
2) Doesn't interrupt love making - you don't have to stop to put on a condom etc.
3) It can make periods lighter - can be a godsend if you suffer with heavy periods.
4) Can use if you are breastfeeding - wonderful if you have just had a baby.
5) If you decide that you want to start trying for a baby, you can have it removed and your fertility will come back quickly.
6) It's good if you cannot take the combined pill due of the hormones in it, as none of these hormones are in the IUS.
7) Unlike the combined pill, where if you have to take antibiotics its stops working - the IUS isn't affected by other medicines.

Ok it sounds wonderful I know, but to be fair there are some disadvantages and these have to be included to allow you to make a fair judgement.

THE DISADVANTAGES OF HAVING AN IUS FITTED.

1) You can end up with some irregular bleeding.
2) You could possibly suffer with headaches, spots or breast tenderness.
3) Some people have suffered with cysts on their ovaries, which are not dangerous and can disappear after a while.
4) It does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, so its fine to use if you have a regular partner, but if not you would also need to use a condom.

Before having it fitted the Doctor warned me that there was a small chance of catching an infection in the first few weeks of having the coil fitted. There are also other risks such as it moving out of place or perforating your womb, but with both of these you would know straightaway as you would be in pain.

After weighing up the pro's and con's of having one fitted, I decided to go ahead and have the IUS. The actual procedure of having it fitted did not hurt, but it was slightly uncomfortable, but not much different than having a smear.

MY OPINION OF MIRENA

After having the coil fitted I did experience some abdominal pain for a few days, but it was nothing severe, it just felt like period pains.

I also suffered with irregular bleeding, but the Doctor told me before I had it fitted that this is a common side effect. I was given a booklet to take home which included all the advantages and disadvantages, plus a little chart to fill in so you can monitor how often you are bleeding. I also have a little card to remind me when I need to have it taken out.

I kept making a note of when I was bleeding and to be honest it seemed that I was bleeding all the time. Before having it fitted, I would have a period which lasted a week and then nothing for three weeks. Now it seemed that I had nothing for a week and bleeding for three weeks. I must admit though that the bleeding was very light compared to my normal periods - I suppose you could call it more of a 'show'.

I mentioned it a few times to my GP when I had an appointment about my back - I just wanted to check that the bleeding was nothing unusual. MY GP told me that some people have irregular bleeding for at least six months after having a coil fitted.

I also mentioned it at a later stage to my Practice Nurse at my smear appointment. She told me that it could mean I had an infection, so she would do a swab to check for that as well as my smear. She advised me to make an appointment with my GP to discuss it again.

I went back for another appointment with my GP and both swabs had come back all clear. She advised me to go back in a few months if I was still bleeding.

SO ……… EIGHT MONTHS AFTER HAVING MIRENA FITTED - HOW AM I?

I must admit that I feel fine. I haven't had any abdominal pains. The headaches and spots have stayed the same as before I had it fitted. And good news - the bleeding seems to be settling down. I am not noticing it as much as I used to. There are a few days where I get a noticeable bleed, but I just class this as a period. I only lasts for about three to four days and is a heck of a lot lighter than I used to get before I had the coil fitted. I still get the occasional spotting, but nothing like it was when I first had it done.

WOULD I RECOMMEND?

Yes.

I think that it is the best form of contraception available at the moment. Admittedly I had the bleeding problem, but that might not affect everyone. That has settled down now and I feel fine. I am having no problems whatsoever.

The one thing I would advise if you did decide to have one fitted is that you tell whoever does your smear, so they are a bit gentler doing it. This is the advice the Doctor who fitted mine told me. She said that if they know when doing the smear, they are gentler so that it doesn't get moved.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review, Cath. xx