If you have been advised by the surgery to do so, please complete one of the following forms:
Implant and Coil Forms
Coil Fitting Information
All women are offered screening for pelvic infections. If you would like to have a swab prior to your coil fitting, please book into the practice nurse clinic for one. If you have received a smear letter, the doctor might be able to take your smear at the time of fitting.
If you do not currently have a coil in place or if your coil is overdue exchange, or you have a copper coil, please make note of the first day of your last period and bring it along to your appointment. Please make sure you do not have unprotected sexual intercourse from this date (i.e either abstain from sex or use condoms). Please do not cancel your appointment if you are on your period because this is the best time to fit your coil.
All women should fully abstain from sex 7 days prior to their coil fitting appointment. A pregnancy test might be performed on the day of fitting to exclude pregnancy, if necessary.
Please consider taking paracetamol or ibuprofen 30-60 minutes prior to your appointment, if you do not have an allergy to either medication. If you would like to find out more about the type of coil you are having please look up either IUD (copper coil- no hormone) or IUS (mirena coil/coil with hormone) on the NHS choices website.
Advice to Patients Before the Fitting of an IUCD
- Have something to eat and drink prior to your fitting. Do not skip a meal – it is best to have eaten prior to the fitting.
- Please write down and bring the start date of your last period to the fitting
- It is sensible to take a “pain-killer” at least half an hour before the fitting, to reduce the possibility of cramps afterwards eg. Ibuprofen (nurofen) 400mg.
- Please allow at least an hour for the appointment. Although the procedure does not take this long, a few women feel faint afterwards and need time to recover. It is recommended that you have someone you can contact by phone, who would be able to collect you, in case you feel unwell.
- Please ensure that you have no major commitments afterwards, as you may need to take it easy and relax for the rest of the day.
- Do not bring small children or babies with you to the fitting, or alternatively please bring a friend with you who could take care of them outside the room.
- Do not drive to the surgery.
- Some sanitary protection may be required afterwards. You may wish to bring your own sanitary towel or panty liner with you. Tampons should not be used for the first three days after the fitting.
- You should abstain from sexual intercourse for three days after the fitting. You should not use tampons for 3 days after the fitting.
- If you have an IUS (Mirena) you should use another contraceptive method as well for the next seven days.
Advice to Patients After Insertion of an IUD
- Intrauterine devices are an extremely effective method of contraception. Please follow the advice below after insertion of a device.
- The pain people feel following insertion varies greatly from nothing to strong period- like cramps. Pain may continue for a day or two following insertion. Simple analgesia such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be taken to control the pain, if you are not allergic to these medications.
- If you experience a severe attack of acute pain, or any continuous, lower abdominal pain, you should seek medical advice.
- It is recommended that you wait three days after fitting before using tampons or having sexual intercourse, to reduce the risk of infection.
- It is safe to resume using tampons with your next period, but you should change them with care.
- You may experience some prolonged bleeding following insertion, and initially you may experience some bleeding in between your periods.
- If you have an IUS (Mirena, or hormone containing coil), you will need to either abstain from sex or use condoms for the first 7 days, after which time you can rely on it solely as your form of contraception.
- If you have an IUD (Copper coil), you can rely on it immediately as your sole form of contraception.
- All coils are able to help prevent pregnancy, but they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections, however using a condom can.
- Please book an nurse appointment for a coil check 6 weeks after your coil has been fitted.
- If you are experiencing any symptoms of infection, you need to be seen as soon as possible, call the surgery number. If we are closed call 111 for the Out of Hours service.
- Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Persistent or worsening lower abdominal pain
- Abnormal vaginal discharge –eg. offensive, green
- A shivering attack or otherwise feeling unwell with fever
- Pain during sexual intercourse