Initial advice
- No lifting for 2 – 3 days
- No intercourse for 2 – 3 days
- No tampons for 2 – 3 days
- You are not contraceptively covered until cramps settle
If cramps continue, use condoms and contact the surgery.
Checking your coil is still in place
Practice feeling your threads and your cervix if possible.
Always check your threads after a period.
If you have expelled or lost a coil before, you should use condoms and contact the surgery.
If at any time you experience any unusual cramps, you should presume your coil might be being expelled. You should use condoms and contact the surgery.
Some women experience period pans (cramps) for a day or two after fitting. If this is uncomfortable, take some pain relieving medication (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen). The use of local heat such as a hot water bottle or heat pad may be beneficial.
Please make a follow up appointment in 6 weeks time for post-fitting check up.
Possible coil problems
Infection
Watch out for troublesome pain, bleeding or vaginal discharge infections can occur at any time, but are most likely in the first 3 weeks after the coil is fitted.
Expulsion (loss of the coil)
Regularly check your cervix (neck of the womb) for the coil threads, especially after a period. If you cannot find the threads, or they feel unusually long, or you think you can feel the end of the coil itself, you could be at risk of pregnancy. If so, avoid sex or start using condoms immediately and ring the surgery for an appointment.
Pregnancy
It is very important that you contact the surgery as soon as possible if you miss a period (copper coils) or feel as though you are pregnant.
Replacement of coils
Your coil needs to be replaced on the suggested date. If you wish to continue using this method of contraception. Contraceptive cover cannot be guaranteed to provide good protection against pregnancy if it is left in beyond the recommended replacement date.
You will need to contact us to arrange refitting of your coil when it is due.
Coil removal
Avoid sex or use condoms for 7 days before having coil removed. Better still avoid sex or use condoms from the start of your late period. Sperm remain active and can fertilise an egg for up to 7 days, so there is a risk that you may become pregnant if your coil is removed within that time.
If you want to change to a different method of contraception, it is best to delay removal of your coil until after you are fully protected by your new method.
If you want to have your coil removed in order to try for a baby, it is suggested that you continue to use other contraception (such as condom) until after your next period.
Removal and refitting a coil
Avoid sex or use condoms for 7 days before appointment to avoid risk of accidental pregnancy. If having a copper coil replaced with a Mirena, avoid sex or use condoms for the first seven days after the Mirena has been fitted.