Pain After Coil Fitting: What’s Normal and When to Get Checked
Medically reviewed by Mr Amer Raza MBBS MRCOG, GMC 5205372 | Last reviewed: 11 September 2026
Pain after a coil fitting is normal and expected. Most women have cramping similar to period pain for the first 24-48 hours, then occasional twinges that ease off over the following 1-2 weeks. The NHS says mild cramping is a normal part of the uterus adjusting to the device and usually settles on its own within a few days. What’s not expected is pain that’s severe, gets worse instead of better, or lasts beyond 2 weeks. Pain with fever, unusual discharge or heavy bleeding also needs checking. Those patterns call for assessment rather than waiting it out.
Key Facts: Cramping after a coil fitting is normal for the first 24-48 hours and usually eases within 1-2 weeks. Pain is typically mild to moderate and similar to period pain. Get checked if pain is severe, worsens over time, lasts beyond 2 weeks or comes with fever or heavy bleeding.
“Most of the pain I see in clinic after a coil fitting is completely normal, cramping that peaks in the first day or two and then fades as the uterus settles around the device.
What I ask women to watch is the trend, not the day to day. Pain that’s gradually easing is doing exactly what it should, even if it comes and goes. Pain that’s getting worse, or still sharp after a week or two, is the one I want to see.
We check the coil’s position with a quick ultrasound whenever pain doesn’t follow that settling pattern, because it’s a fast way to rule out the coil having moved.”
Mr Amer Raza, Consultant Gynaecologist and Robotic Surgeon, Ovara Health
Is Pain After Coil Fitting Normal?
Yes. Cramping and mild to moderate discomfort are among the most common things women feel after a coil fitting and on their own they’re not a sign that anything has gone wrong.
Two things are happening at once. The fitting itself involves passing a device through the cervix, which irritates the cervical canal and causes cramping similar to period pain in the hours afterwards. The uterus then has to adjust to having something inside it – a shorter process than the bleeding takes to settle, usually resolving within 1-2 weeks rather than months.
The type of coil doesn’t change this pattern much. Both the copper coil and the hormonal coil are held in place the same way, so the mechanical cause of cramping – the uterus adjusting to a foreign object – is identical. Some women find the copper coil causes slightly sharper cramping around a period once things have settled, in the same way it tends to make periods themselves heavier, but that’s a longer term pattern rather than something that shows up in the first 2 weeks.
Women who haven’t given birth vaginally sometimes find the cramping more noticeable, since the cervix is tighter and the fitting itself involves slightly more resistance. This doesn’t mean the coil is any less suitable, simply that the first day or two may feel a little more intense.
How Long Does Pain After Coil Fitting Last?
For most women, cramping is strongest on the day of fitting and eases significantly within 24-48 hours. Milder twinges can continue on and off for up to 2 weeks while the uterus finishes settling around the device.
NHS patient advice puts the outside edge of normal at about 2 weeks. Pain that’s still significant beyond that point, or that starts increasing rather than decreasing, is the point at which it’s worth getting checked rather than waiting longer.
What Should Pain Feel Like, Day by Day?
Pain after a coil fitting tends to follow a predictable pattern and knowing what’s expected at each stage makes it easier to judge your own experience.
Is Pain on One Side After Coil Fitting Normal?
Yes, mild one-sided twinges are common and usually harmless. They tend to happen as the uterus settles unevenly or as the coil beds into its final position and typically ease within a few days.
It’s a similar story to bleeding on one side, where the explanation is usually mechanical rather than anything more serious. The uterus isn’t a perfectly symmetrical space and the coil settling slightly off-centre for a few days before it beds in fully is common.
However, persistent or sharp one-sided pain is different and should be assessed, since it can point to the coil sitting slightly off-centre rather than straightforward settling.
Pain getting worse instead of better? You do not need a GP referral to be seen at Ovara Health. Call us on 0207 751 4488 or book a consultation for an assessment in Chelsea, including an ultrasound to check the coil’s position.
Not ready to book? Send us an enquiry instead
What Can Help With Pain After Coil Fitting?
There’s no way to skip the settling-in period, but a few things make it more manageable.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen, taken as directed and if suitable for you, work well because they target the cramping directly rather than just numbing it. A hot water bottle or heat pad against the lower abdomen helps in the same way many women use one for period pain.
Rest matters more on the day of fitting than afterwards. Most women don’t need to take time off work beyond the appointment itself, though it’s worth keeping the rest of that day light if you can.
It’s also worth avoiding strenuous exercise or heavy lifting on the day of fitting itself, since it can make cramping feel worse without adding any benefit. Staying hydrated helps too, in the same way it helps with period cramps generally. If ibuprofen and a hot water bottle aren’t touching the pain at all, that’s more useful information than it might seem – it suggests the discomfort may be more than straightforward settling in and it’s worth getting it looked at rather than just taking more painkillers.
Can I Exercise, Work or Have Sex With Pain After Coil Fitting?
Most women don’t need to take time off work beyond the appointment itself. If cramping is manageable, going back to normal activities the same day or the next is fine, though it’s sensible to keep the first day lighter if you can.
Light exercise such as walking is generally fine straight away. It’s worth holding off on high-impact exercise, heavy lifting or swimming for the first 24-48 hours, mainly because cramping tends to feel more noticeable during exertion rather than because of any real risk. Once cramping has settled to occasional twinges, there’s no reason to hold back.
Sex is usually best left until initial soreness and any bleeding from the fitting have settled, which for most women is a few days to a week. There’s no fixed rule, and the pain itself is a reasonable guide – if it’s uncomfortable, it’s a sign to wait a little longer. Using condoms in the first month is also sensible practice generally, since the coil takes a short time to become fully effective depending on when in your cycle it was fitted.
When Is Pain After Coil Fitting a Concern?
Most pain after a coil fitting is normal. These are the patterns that aren’t, and each has a specific reason behind it.
- Severe pain that doesn’t ease with paracetamol or ibuprofen. This is beyond typical cramping and needs assessment
- Pain that’s getting worse rather than better, at any point after the first 48 hours
- Pain lasting beyond 2 weeks, even if mild
- Pain with fever or offensive smelling discharge. This combination suggests infection
- Pain with heavy bleeding, soaking through a pad or tampon every hour
- Sharp, sudden pain rather than cramping, particularly with dizziness or feeling faint
- You cannot feel the threads, or you feel the hard stem of the device. This suggests the coil has moved
Could Pain Mean the Coil Has Moved?
It’s uncommon but it happens, most often in the first 3 months and often during a period, when cramping can push the device downwards.
The signs are pain that doesn’t follow the usual settling pattern, cramping that restarts after things had improved, threads that feel longer or shorter than before, being unable to feel the threads at all, or feeling something firm at the cervix.
An ultrasound settles this quickly. It shows exactly where the device is sitting and whether it needs repositioning or removing. If you cannot feel your threads, use condoms until you’ve been checked, since a displaced coil may not be preventing pregnancy.
There’s a difference between the coil shifting slightly, which an ultrasound can often confirm is still within a safe range, and the coil being expelled completely, which is rarer but does happen, most often in the first few months or during a particularly heavy period. Full expulsion usually comes with a noticeable gush or the sensation of something coming away, though it can also go unnoticed until the threads can’t be found at all. Either way, the coil isn’t providing contraceptive protection until it’s checked and either repositioned or refitted.
Could Pain Mean an Infection?
There’s a small increased risk of pelvic infection in the first few weeks after a coil is fitted, and pain can be part of how it presents. Infection rarely shows up as pain alone.
The pattern that matters is pain together with other signs: a temperature, discharge that smells offensive or has changed colour, or pain that’s worsening rather than easing day on day. Infection treated early is straightforward. Left for weeks, it can affect the fallopian tubes and future fertility, which is why the advice is to be seen promptly rather than wait it out.
Seek urgent medical help by calling 999 or going to A&E if you have severe abdominal pain that doesn’t ease, feel faint, dizzy or feverish, or notice heavy bleeding alongside the pain. These need same day assessment.
What Happens at a Coil Check at Ovara Health?
You don’t need a GP referral to be seen. A coil check at our Chelsea clinic usually takes one appointment and answers the question women actually want answered: is this pain normal, or does something need attention.
You’re seen by a consultant gynaecologist rather than a nurse or trainee. The appointment covers a discussion of your pain pattern since fitting, an examination to check the threads and the cervix, and an ultrasound to confirm the exact position of the device.
If everything’s normal, you leave with a clear idea of what to expect over the coming days. If the coil has moved or there’s an infection, we deal with it there rather than sending you away to wait.
If pain keeps recurring even once the coil is confirmed to be correctly placed, that’s worth a conversation about whether this particular coil suits you. Not every method suits every body, and switching to a different size, type or form of contraception is a reasonable outcome rather than a failure. We talk through the options at the same appointment if that’s where things are heading.
For related reading, see our guides to bleeding after coil fitting, pain during coil fitting and coil advice and aftercare.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pain After Coil Fitting
How long does pain last after coil fitting?
Cramping is usually strongest on the day of fitting and eases significantly within 24-48 hours. Milder twinges can continue on and off for up to 2 weeks. Pain that’s still significant beyond 2 weeks, or that’s getting worse rather than better, should be assessed.
Is it normal to have cramps for days after coil fitting?
Yes, mild cramping for several days is common while the uterus settles around the device. It should be gradually easing rather than staying the same or worsening. Cramping that’s constant or intensifying is worth getting checked.
What does coil fitting pain actually feel like?
Most women describe it as period-like cramping, sometimes with brief sharper twinges as the uterus responds to the device. It’s usually felt low in the abdomen rather than anywhere else.
Is severe pain after coil fitting normal?
No. Severe pain isn’t typical and shouldn’t be something you push through. Persistent or intense discomfort should be assessed rather than managed with painkillers alone.
Why is the pain on one side after my coil fitting?
One-sided discomfort can happen as the uterus settles unevenly or as the coil beds into position, and mild versions usually ease within a few days. Persistent or sharp one-sided pain should be reviewed, as it can point to the coil sitting off-centre.
What can I take for pain after coil fitting?
Ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory, taken as directed and if suitable for you, usually works well for cramping. A hot water bottle against the lower abdomen also helps many women.
Can pain after coil fitting mean the coil has moved?
It’s possible, particularly if pain restarts after things had settled, or if it comes with threads that feel different or can’t be found at all. An ultrasound confirms the coil’s position quickly.
Does pain after coil fitting mean an infection?
Not usually on its own. Infection is more likely when pain comes with a temperature, offensive smelling discharge or pain that’s steadily worsening rather than easing. That combination needs prompt assessment.
Is pain during sex normal after a coil fitting?
Some discomfort in the first few weeks is common while the cervix and uterus are still settling. Pain during sex that persists beyond that, or that’s sharp rather than a dull ache, is worth having checked.
Does the copper coil or hormonal coil cause more pain?
Both cause similar cramping in the days after fitting, since it’s largely a response to the fitting procedure itself rather than the coil type. Some women find the copper coil causes slightly more cramping during periods afterwards, in the same way it can increase bleeding.
Can pain after coil fitting mean I’m pregnant?
It’s very unlikely, as the coil is more than 99% effective from the moment it’s fitted correctly. If pain comes with other signs the coil may have moved, take a pregnancy test and get assessed promptly.
When should I see a doctor about pain after coil fitting?
See a doctor if pain is severe, getting worse rather than better, lasts beyond 2 weeks, or comes with fever, offensive discharge or heavy bleeding. Also get checked if you cannot feel the threads or can feel the hard stem of the device.
Is it normal to still feel the coil after fitting?
You shouldn’t be able to feel the coil itself during everyday activity. Feeling something firm at the cervix, rather than just the soft threads, is one of the signs worth having checked rather than something to expect as normal.
What happens at a coil check if I’m in pain?
You’ll be seen by a consultant gynaecologist who discusses your pain pattern, examines the threads and cervix, and arranges an ultrasound to confirm the coil’s position. Most checks find everything is in the right place and if it isn’t, we deal with it at the same visit.
Sources
- NHS. Side effects of an IUD (intrauterine device) or copper coil. nhs.uk
- NHS. Side effects and risks of an IUS (intrauterine system) or hormonal coil. nhs.uk
- NHS. What happens: Intrauterine device (IUD). nhs.uk
- Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. Intrauterine contraception guidance. fsrh.org
This article is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. If you’re concerned about pain after a coil fitting, please speak to a doctor. If you need urgent help, contact your GP, call 111, or call 999 in an emergency.
Speak to a Consultant Gynaecologist in Chelsea
If pain since your coil was fitted is concerning you, a single appointment with a scan can confirm the coil is correctly positioned and tell you whether what you’re feeling is normal. No GP referral is needed.