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The original was posted on /r/twoxchromosomes by /u/Starmix_23 on 2023-09-06 17:49:28.

I was on the pill for ten years before I realised increasing my risk of various types of cancer and stroke was actually not ‘ok’.

I’m also at a place in my life where if I were to become pregnant, I would not personally be willing to have an abortion. Thus, I need to be really, really careful EDIT - until I’m ready!

The copper coil seemed like the perfect solution. No hormones and a very slim chance of pregnancy.

I’ve had it for around 4 years now and throughout this time my periods have been an utter nightmare. They are SO heavy, I bleed through the most absorbent tampons money can buy within 20 minutes at my periods peak.

I am also utterly incapacitated by cramps for around two days each month, frequently having to phone in sick or come home from work because I just can’t cope with the combination of pain and blood loss.

I’m a student paramedic and this is so, so disruptive to my placement schedule. I can’t go back and forth from the toilet every 5 minutes when I’m out on the road / stuck on an ambulance. Sometimes the cramps are so bad I am unable to attempt learning or attend to patients because I can’t concentrate.

Every single month it’s the same. Even on days off I achieve nothing as I spend hours waiting for pain relief to kick in, or I’m exhausted, or just focusing on trying not to leak.

I really resent the thought of going back to hormonal contraception, but what other choice do I have at this point?

Anyone who made it this far, thank you for letting me vent.