The Podil spiral fires twice when placed: “Shocking”

When I was 19 I decided to get the copper IUD, which I understood would have the fewest side effects. Getting the coil inserted was a horrific process. I had to go to the doctor and it hurt a lot. It was a pain I had never felt before and felt unnatural. After the insertion I had stomach pain, but this pain went away at some point. Although it was replaced by side effects such as severe period pain and heavy bleeding.

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hospital

Bodell’s doctor recommended the Mirena IUD. “I was told that removing the copper coil would cause little to no pain. Just a little coughing and it would come out. That wasn’t the case. It hurt as much as putting it in. Before I could get the new IUD in, I had to have an STD test and a pregnancy test, both of which were negative. Then it was time to get the new IUD in, but things went wrong.

When it was installed, it popped up. As I was lying on the treatment table with a duckbill inside me, the doctor said, “I’m going to the pharmacy for a new one.” There I lay. He also shot for the second time. In fact, such complications only occur during pregnancy. My mother, who was with me, immediately thought that this was the case. The question was whether the pregnancy test I had to take earlier had been done correctly.” But Bodil was not pregnant, and the test result was correct.

She was rushed to hospital to have the coil fitted. The GP said: “They can do a better job there.” This would be her third attempt. At the hospital, they asked if a trainee doctor could put the coil in. I was so shocked now that I didn’t want to. Then the doctor did it himself. Again, I was in a lot of pain, but thankfully it stayed in place. All in all, it was a very painful and traumatic experience.”

eight years

It’s now eight years later and Bodil is still circling the same vortex. That’s no problem, as the NHG extended the useful life of the hormonal IUD from six to eight years in February 2023. However, it’s now time for the 30-year-old to switch her contraceptives. Whether and when she will do so remains unclear.

“The fact that I haven’t made an appointment yet is partly due to the pain. I remember feeling like someone was reaching into my stomach with their entire arm and trying to pull my intestines out. I also vividly remember the abdominal pain I felt afterwards, which was similar to severe menstrual cramps. Since this procedure, I’ve had other painful and unnatural things done, like laser hair removal and tattoo removal. I’ve already been in a lot of pain, but I’d rather put off my IUD removal as long as possible.

“What I would like to see from the medical world is that this procedure should only be done in hospital. They are more specialised than a GP, which means they can deal with complications better and it is a less painful experience. At least, that is how I experienced it.” If additional pain relief had been available, she says, the alternative would have been on Bodell’s agenda much more quickly.

Pregnancy

Another reason not to replace the Mirena with Bodil is related to thoughts about future parenthood. “I’m at an age now where I’m thinking about having children. Do I really want to put in another IUD that could last for almost a decade, including the pain, when I might want to have a baby before the end of its useful life?” There’s a good chance the doctor’s appointment is just to remove the IUD.

Disclaimer: This article is based on personal experience. Do you have physical and/or mental complaints yourself? Always consult your doctor.

Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Just because this method works for some people doesn’t automatically mean it will work for you. Don’t just experiment, do it in consultation with your doctor.

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