“I took my partner with me to help ease the stress”

Jenny, 30

The coil: IUD

“I came off my IUD because I was having lots of health issues. I was also on Roaccutane to treat acne, so that may have also played a role, but I was getting recurring thrush and UTIs. Eventually, I went to see a private gynaecologist and they said the coil might be contributing in some way. They didn’t guarantee it, but offered its removal as an option to see if it relieved any of my symptoms.

“I had a really traumatic insertion so I wanted to make sure I got private healthcare to ensure a longer appointment. My partner also came with me for moral support. I was offered an anaesthetic, which would have meant not being 100% conscious. I was told a lot of women with traumatic insertions go for this but that wasn’t something I wanted. It was a lot easier to get it taken out than to get it in – definitely less painful – but as I was tense and anxious, that contributed towards it still being a negative experience.

“Afterwards, I felt a lot lighter and less anxious. There were anxieties around what to do next in terms of contraception, and now I only use condoms. I’ve considered using the Mirena coil, because I appreciated how easy it was but I would rather not take anything with hormones.”

“I don’t really remember it”

Phillipa, 29

The coil: IUS

“I got my first coil when I was about 22 and had it removed a year later. I was struggling with my skin and had a big flare-up of acne. I tried lots of topical treatments and nothing worked, so I felt like it must be a hormonal issue and my last resort was to remove the coil. I don’t remember much about the experience of having it removed so I think it must have been OK. The speculum isn’t comfy: you cough, they give it a yank. But I don’t think it really hurt.

“After it was out, I was hoping my skin would improve, but it didn’t. It just wasn’t something my body was going to regulate on its own, and after a few years of trying to deal with my skin problems in various ways, I went on Roaccutane.

“A few years later, I ended up getting the copper coil fitted, which I preferred to being on the pill (which I’d been taking in the interim). I hated having to remember to take it every day and when I was at university, I had some issues with how it was affecting my mental health. Some people say the copper coil makes periods heavy and painful, but that’s not something I’ve experienced.”

11 women on what it’s like to have the coil removed (and the contraception they use instead)