What having a coil fitted is actually like

It is normal to be nervous about having a coil fitted. Here is what to expect.

The appointment

The fitting itself takes about 5 to 10 minutes. A doctor passes a speculum, much like a smear, checks the position and size of your womb, and places the coil through the neck of the womb. The threads are trimmed so a short length sits in the top of the vagina, which lets you check the coil is in place and lets us remove it easily later.

Does it hurt

Honestly, it can. Most people feel cramping, like strong period pain, for a minute or two as the coil goes in, and some feel it more than that. You should never be told to just put up with it. Guidance is clear that everyone should be offered pain relief and told what their options are.

Pain relief

There are real options, and we will go through them with you: taking ibuprofen or paracetamol an hour beforehand, a local anaesthetic gel or spray on the neck of the womb, and a local anaesthetic injection (a block) for those who want it. You choose what you want, and we plan the appointment around it.

Afterwards

Expect some cramping and spotting for a few days, and irregular bleeding for the first few weeks to months while your body settles. Simple painkillers help. We check you are comfortable, show you how to feel for the threads, and arrange a check a few weeks later.

Coming soon. We are bringing coil fitting to our clinic, with pain relief offered as standard. It is not bookable yet. For now, the NHS fits coils free. Our women's health lead, Dr Ferhat Uddin, will fit them.