Coil Fitting

Dr Amoyel and Dr Bishop fit coils at Essex House.

How to book an appointment

We currently operate a waiting list so if you would like to have a coil fitted please speak to one of our receptionists who will add you to the list. We offer appointments most days in the week but these are usually at the end of a surgery to allow for the time required.

When booking your appointment, the receptionist will ask you to have a swab test at least a week before your appointment. This is to check for chlamydia, which if present can cause significant infection at or after the fitting of a coil.

If you are able to, we recommend taking a simple painkiller prior to the appointment (paracetamol or if no contra-indication, ibuprofen).

If possible, come without children as it will allow you to relax better.

Dr Amoyel will talk to you about the different types of coils (IUD or copper coil and IUS or Mirena, the progesterone coil). Please read the linked leaflets about these so you can find out more about them. If you wish to have a consultation prior to the fitting, do ask the receptionist who can arrange this.

What to expect

The fitting appointment will last about 30 minutes but if all straight forward, the actual fitting only takes 5 minutes.

Some women can be a little faint or have pain afterwards so we recommend not arranging too many activities that day. It may be that you need time to recover before we allow you to go home.

When having a coil fitted, we need to be absolutely sure you are not pregnant so will try and arrange the fitting during your period or if you do not have periods (for instance breastfeeding), we would ask you to abstain from sexual intercourse for at least 2 weeks prior to the appointment as well as asking you to check a pregnancy test on the morning of your appointment.

If you are on a different form of contraception, please continue with this method until after the fitting.

If we are changing a coil, please abstain from sexual intercourse for a week. It is sometimes the case we cannot refit a coil on the same day despite our best efforts and sperm is able to live in the body for up to 5 days.

Please watch the information videos below prior to your appointment

Video 1- Information about the coil

Video 2- what to expect after your coil fitting