Family Planning Advice

The practice offers a full range of contraceptive options for free in surgery so please book an appointment with the practice nurse or GP/NP to discuss this. We fit coils and implants, and advise you to book an appointment to discuss this first with Dr Menon or Dr McCrone who fit these. If you are booking an implant re-fit you can book this directly with reception. We also offer emergency contraception, please let reception know it is urgent.

assorted contraseptive lot

Coil insertion (copper = non hormonal or hormone releasing such as Mirena)

The procedure requires vaginal examination – similar to when you have a smear or swabs taken. We do use a local anaesthetic, either in a form of gel or spray.

The risks of the actual procedure are:

Infection (typically within the first 3 weeks);
Bleeding – small bleeding after procedure, change to your bleeding pattern;
Perforation (causing a tear inside the womb) – this is rare (2 per 1000 insertions);
Expulsion – meaning that your body will try to push the coil out. In this case, please use another form of contraception such as condom and book an appointment with a clinician;
Ectopic pregnancy – this means pregnancy outside of the womb, which is very rare
as the overall risk of pregnancy is very low;

If you are having a coil inserted for the first time, it is important that there is no chance of you being pregnant. Please, ensure that you do not have an unprotected sexual intercourse from your last period and continue to use your current form of contraception. You might be asked to continue with your current form of contraceptive method until after your coil insertion.

After your coil insertion, it is normal to have some cramping, period like pains, however these should not be severe. Simple pain relief should normally suffice. There could be some bleeding afterwards, but it is unusual for this to be very heavy.

You may be advised to avoid sexual intercourse, swimming, and the use of tampons for one week after your coil insertion. This is to reduce the risk of infection.

You will have plenty of time to ask any questions you may have on the day of your appointment. If you are not sure about which type of coil you would like, please do discuss this with one of the clinicians first.


Coil change – copper or hormone releasing such as Mirena

All above also applies when you already have a coil and you are having this changed. In this case, it is however also important that you do not have unprotected sexual intercourse (without other form of contraception such as condom) for one week before your appointment.

Occasionally, when old coil is removed, it is not always possible to re insert the new one as the neck of the womb does not allow this. If you were sexually active without extra protection, during the week before your change, and new coil cannot be inserted at the same time, there is a theoretical risk of you falling pregnant.