If this is your first coil
Please call the Nordhaven Clinic and ask for a counseling appointment. This can be done over the telephone if this is more convenient for you.
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If this is a coil change
If you already have a coil in place and you are happy with this form of contraception please call the Nordhaven Clinic to book a counselling appointment and an appointment for your coil change. There are some factors to consider.
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When To Come
You should have a card with the expiry date of your coil. If you are unsure when your coil is due for a change, please ask your GP.
Usually we will see women in the month before the expiry date and then replace the coil then. Normally a Mirena Coil will give 5 years contraception. If you are over 45 years old at the time of insertion it can remain in place for up to 7 years. However, if you are using your Mirena Coil to control heavy bleeding then your periods may become heavier again in the 6th and 7th years.
Copper coils will last for either 5 or 10 years. Copper coils which are inserted after the age of 40 years can remain in place till after the menopause.
If you are unsure please call the clinic and ask for advice.
If your coil has expired then it may not be effective to prevent pregnancy. You should not rely on an out of date coil for contraception. The doctor will need to be reasonably sure you are not pregnant before inserting another coil. This means either that you have been using another form of contraception, or that you have not had sex since your last period or you haven’t had sex for 3 weeks and a pregnancy test is negative at the fitting appointment.
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Sex
Occasionally it is not possible to place a new coil after the old one has been removed. If you have had sex in the week before the appointment you may be at risk of pregnancy. For this reason, we recommend you do not have sex in the week before the coil change appointment.
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Infection Risk
If you are under 25, have had a new partner in the last 12 months, or believe you are at risk for any other reason, we would recommend a chlamydia test before the coil is changed.
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Painkillers
It is often recommend women take 400mg ibuprofen 1 hour prior to insertion of the coil. The evidence that this helps is limited and many women are not able to take these types of drugs (e.g. if you have a allergy, stomach problems or asthma).
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Driving
You should not drive for 1 hour after the procedure.
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