Some women who have the contraceptive coil wish to have it removed, reasons for this can vary. Better2Know now offer a fast coil removal service where our friendly qualified clinicians will do this for you.
What is it and how does it work?
There are two types of contraceptive coils available on the market, the copper coil (IUD) and the hormonal coil (IUS). Both coils are T shaped plastic devices which are inserted into the womb, stopping you from getting pregnant. The copper coil does this by stopping the sperm and egg from surviving, and the hormonal coil does this by releasing a hormone called progesterone which thickens the mucus from the cervix making it difficult for the sperm to fertilise the egg. Coils can also work by stopping the fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus. Coils can stay in the uterus for 3 to 10 years depending on the coil.
Women prefer to have a coil fitted so they don’t need to worry about taking contraception every day.
The coil can be removed at any time of your menstrual cycle and once it is removed, your fertility will return to normal.
The contraceptive coil does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections, so please make sure you are tested regularly. Please see our website for more details, or ask our friendly booking team.
What do you need to do before the coil is removed?
If you wish not to become pregnant then you should not have sexual intercourse 7 day before removing the coil. If you wish to have sex then a barrier method should be used. There is a risk of you becoming pregnant once the coil is removed because the sperm can live for up to 7 days, and can fertilise the egg.
You can take pain killers half an hour before having the coil removed. This helps the womb relax and reduces pain.
How is it removed?
The removal of a coil takes a few minutes. Similar to a smear test, a speculum is inserted into the vagina, and our trained clinician will look for the coil threads that are coming through the opening of the cervix. Our clinician will gently pull on the treads with forceps to remove it. In some cases the threads are not visible because they may have slipped into the cervical canal into the uterus. In this instance, you may require an ultrasound to locate the threads. A narrow instrument will be inserted into the cervix, and once the threads are located, the removal process will continue as above.
Very rarely the coil can get struck in the wall of the uterus or the coil strings may not be visible, which can make it more difficult remove and a hysteroscopy or an ultrasound-guided removal may be required (anesthesia may be required for hysteroscopy). Should a hysteroscopy or ultrasound-guided removal be required a referral and/or additional charges would apply.
What do you need to do after the coil is removed?
If you feel some pain then you can take pain killers to relieve the pain.
Locations
This service is available at the following locations:
- Edinburgh
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Rossendale
How do I book my appointment?
You can call our friendly booking team to book your appointment with one of our specialist clinicians, on the number above. They will advise you on what you need to do before the removal procedure and are here to help you.