In early June, I got a copper IUD (or as they say here in the UK, “the coil"). I didn’t expect to post about it, but when I did, the response was overwhelming. You shared horror stories, advice, solidarity, and a whole lot of “are you okay??” DMs.
A few people asked for an update, so here it is. The messy, bloody, painfully honest truth about what it’s been like living with a copper IUD for the last 22 days.
Why I Chose the Copper IUD
I’ve been off hormonal birth control for a while now, after being on the pill for 9 years. Getting off it felt like lifting a haze I didn’t even know I was in, I felt clearer, calmer, and more in tune with my body.
So when I found out I could get a copper IUD for free through the NHS while traveling in the UK, I thought... why not? It’s non-hormonal, long-lasting, and seemed like a great option.
The Insertion: A Lesson in Pain Tolerance 😭
The nurse was sooo grea: honest, informative, and very clear that it would be painful. She told me to eat something, take some ibuprofen, and come back.
So I did. Four ibuprofen and a sandwich later, I returned and asked if they could use any kind of numbing. They used numbing gel (which helped a little) but y’all… that insertion hurt. Like, truly. I nearly asked her to stop midway through. I’m not sure if my overactive pelvic floor made it worse, but wow. Believe everyone when they say it hurts.
Post-Insertion: 22 Days of Bleeding 😵💫
The first few days were crampy and intense. I bled a lot. I figured it would taper off… but now I’m on day 22 and still bleeding. Every day. Sometimes it feels like it’s stopping, but then surprise! She’s back.
Silver lining? I’ve gotten to really test my monthly period underwear (a nice perk of being the founder). But I’d love to stop bleeding at some point. Please.
What’s Next?
Right now, I’m trying to tough it out. I want to love the copper IUD... the idea of non-hormonal birth control is super appealing. But if this daily bleeding keeps going for months like some of you warned me… I don’t know. I might have to break up with her.
She’s giving red flags. I’m ignoring them. Classic.
Have You Had an IUD?
If you’ve had one, I’d love to hear about your experience — good, bad, somewhere in between. Feel free to drop a comment or DM me. Especially if you found ways to manage the bleeding/cramps, or if it did get better with time.
xoxo
Aiko
