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To ask if your GP tries to ‘persuade’ you to have the coil

192 replies

Loveskating135 · 18/07/2019 11:51

Wondering if GPs are trained to push you in the direction of getting the coil. I’ve now found a pill I’m happier on, but the GP seems to still strongly recommend the coil. I haven’t had any unwanted pregnancies or anything but this seems to be what they want you to be on...

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 18/07/2019 15:59

I've had it done and only when i said my DH had had a vasectomy were they happy contraception was adequately taken care of!

An ablation is what I want/need. I can't get one because I don't have long acting contraception. Hence why I want to be sterilised. Except they won't because I won't try Mirena. Which they won't fit because of where my fibroids are.

It truly is a terrible system.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 18/07/2019 15:57

I had no idea this was a "thing".

My GP isn't guilty but when I had a hysteroscopy, my consultant kept trying and trying to persuade me to have one, to the extent that - because i had the procedure under GA - I was terrified I was going to wake up and find out she'd inserted one.

In fact, I'm not sure I'd know whether she had...🤔

Littletabbyocelot · 18/07/2019 15:57

I am and have been for most of the last decade on cerazette. This was prescribed by my gynae consultant to control endo. My GP used to go through a larc check up every six months despite the fact that:

  1. The medication was prescribed by a consultant and not as a contraceptive. They assessed the best option.
  1. I had no fallopian tubes so am my own contraception
  1. I was on the waiting list for ivf as I actively wanted children at that time
  1. It was making me cry because of the reasons above

They had to do the checks for qof points (quality payments).

FrowningFlamingo · 18/07/2019 15:50

@RubberTreePlant that hasn’t been the case for years. And I’m not sure it ever was exactly though it could have been before my time. There used to be extra money for clicking we’d discussed LARC but not related to how many actually got it.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 18/07/2019 15:48

But my lovely doctor said she has told the consulatant no to that after reading my notes.

bluebury · 18/07/2019 15:48

Mine always pushed for the implant or coil when I went for my injection appointment, finally talked me into it, booked me in to have it done the next week.

Ended up with constant spotting and recurrent UTIs after it was fitted. Persisted for 6 months cos they said it would get better before asking them to remove it.

Surprisingly straight away as I wanted it taken out there was a 6week wait for a consultation about it and then another 4week wait to actually have it removed.

They said removing it wouldn't stop the UTIs, but I haven't had one (or constant spotting) since it was removed 5 years ago.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 18/07/2019 15:48

@daffodil03
The heated balloon device you mentioned sounds like ablation and you mustn't get pregnant after it is done. You can as it doesn't stop ovulation but burns away the womb lining to lighten the bleeding. It can be extremely dangerous if you do get pregnant. Not a contraceptive. I've had it done and only when i said my DH had had a vasectomy were they happy contraception was adequately taken care of!
As for the coil. Had it pushed at me as I was too fat for the normal pill. Had it, bled for 9 months. Asked several tomes for it to be removed. If I hear "lets see how you go" in a doctors office now I get very angry.
Pushed at me for continued and worsening pain

clucky3 · 18/07/2019 15:46

With a long history of heavy, painful periods and fibroids, my GP literally never mentioned the coil to me. It took a referral to secondary care for a potential uterine cancer for anyone to suggest the mirena coil to me. I went with the consultant's recommendation and have never looked back. It's amazing.

Booboo66 · 18/07/2019 15:44

I noticed this when I went to ask for the mini pill, I'd researched first and knew what I wanted but gp was determined what I actually wanted was the coil. Then again when I went back for the new prescription after I'd got on really well with pill. The cynical side of me suspects some form of incentive from the drug company

RubberTreePlant · 18/07/2019 15:39

It's because they get paid an amount for every patient on long-acting contraception.

Youngandfree · 18/07/2019 15:36

No! Confused my gp couldn’t care less tbh. I’m not on any contraception anyway. Dh has the snip a year ago so we’re all good!!

hsegfiugseskufh · 18/07/2019 15:33

yep. apparently I am getting too old for the pill. I am 23 ffs!

Bubbletrouble43 · 18/07/2019 15:26

slight tangent but I was talked into the mirena a few years ago and it sent me ABSOLUTELY BATSHIT

PerfectPeony2 · 18/07/2019 15:26

Never experienced this although I don’t use a GP I just use a drop in clinic.

Actually though, I’d recommend the Mirena to all of my friends. It’s very low hormones compared to the pill and has been an absolute dream with stopping my periods. It’s the only contraceptive I’ve ever had that hasn’t given me side effects. I think the pill is horrendous, and caused me depression for years from the age of just 15!!

Even though it’s quite uncomfortable having it put in- it’s nice to know I don’t have to worry about it for a few years.

nopixelsfound · 18/07/2019 15:24

My previous GP used to endlessly try to recommend the coil to me because she just couldn't seem to get why I didn't want to be on contraception despite knowing I was a lesbian and thus the chance of accidental pregnancy was slim to none. She also seemed to want to suggest pregnancy as the cause for anything I went with and never seemed convinced by my assertion that I definitely knew I wasn't pregnant.

Luckily my current GP seems to have rather more sense!

NightWakings · 18/07/2019 15:22

I felt mine were a bit pushy about it. I visited a few times (and saw several GPs in the practice) over the course of 18 months with perimenopausal symptoms, including very heavy periods and anaemia. I was adamant that I didn’t want a mirena coil - I am very nervous of hormonal contraception and didn’t like the pill when I took it years ago. Eventually I agreed to have one fitted when nothing else worked. I love it. It has completely sorted out the 3 weekly flooding. I wish I’d listened to my GP, rather than internet horror stories, earlier.

Groovee · 18/07/2019 15:20

Not the GP but the Gynaecologist department went in and on about it. I refused to give in. Lost 3st 10lb and the gave me an ablation instead.

As dh had the snip I didn't need a contraceptive, I wanted help for my heavy and daily bleeding.

Topseyt · 18/07/2019 15:18

Rivierliedje, I get what you are saying, but I neither need nor want contraception. DH had a vasectomy. I am also 53 and extremely perimenopausal.

I also have a fairly big problem fibroid which causes flooding. Nor do I like the thought of having some contraption, however small, inserted permanently into me.

I did very briefly try the POP pill after DD3 was born, just while we waited for DH to get the all-clear after his vasectomy. I bled constantly on it and was glad to stop taking it. That makes me even less convinced that the mirena coil is for me and I don't want it.

Lostthepost · 18/07/2019 15:18

I was persuaded to have the mirena - it was awful. Bled for seven months. Begged gp to remove it. They finally did after I threatened to rip it out myself. It was then established I had a hideous infection from the wretched thing and I finished up on industrial strength antibiotics. Never, ever again Angry

progestermoan · 18/07/2019 15:12

All the time
I have to argue to get cerazette and not a generic pill

allyouneedis · 18/07/2019 15:12

Mine keeps trying to convince me to get sterilised. I’m only 36 and although I’m pretty sure our family is complete I just feel that sterilisation is very final.

Stressedout10 · 18/07/2019 15:10

Ha yes me too, even though I'm menopausal and sterilised 😂 and bleed constantly on any form of progesterone.
Why oh why would I want itConfused

JacquesHammer · 18/07/2019 15:07

So sometimes GP’s may be refusing to refer you as they know there is no point. You can argue all you like, but if it is not funded there is nothing your GP can do

Sure. And if that were the reason wouldn’t it be sensible to tell the patient that? Rather than patronising twaddle about changing one’s mind

jacks11 · 18/07/2019 15:02

I’m a HCP and whilst I appreciate some people have clearly not had good experiences and hCP’s haven’t listened, I think that some of the myths on here are a bit odd.

And of course if a woman says she doesn’t want a mirena having listened to the information given, then that’s the end of the matter.

On the other hand, your GP or sexual healthy clinic Dr will have had a quick perusal if your notes. They will not have read every entry (unless very few) so may not see previous discussions you havr had (and especially so if with a previous GP in a different practice). Your GP may not even know why you are there before you sit down and tell them. So if they bring it up, that may be part of the reason.

GP’s do not get incentivised to fit mirena coils. They do get paid for this work, but they also get paid for providing contraceptive services. I doubt any GP would push it for their own financial gain- it’s not a significant amount and the money goes to the practice and not directly to the GP in any case. Drug reps can’t even give Dr’s so much as a pen or pad of paper these days, without us declaring it. Sometimes they might bring sandwiches to meetings..... but seriously, this is not the reason mirena is suggested.

Mirena is statistically more effective than oral hormonal contraception and barrier contraception. It is safe for many women who can’t use oestrogen based contraceptives for a multitude of reasons. It can be used by women who are not suitable for depo provera injections. It is useful for dysfunctional uterine bleeding in many women. It is also one way of providing the safest form of combined HRT (mirena plus oestrogen patch). Added to this it Is cost-effective. And like it or not, that is something that has to be a consideration given the current financial climate in the NHS.

I do recognise It’s not right for everyone though. And before anyone says it- yes, if you want it removed they should be able to do so in a reasonable timescale.

The trust I work for will not fund female sterilisation routinely (only if approved by medical exceptions board). So sometimes GP’s may be refusing to refer you as they know there is no point. You can argue all you like, but if it is not funded there is nothing your GP can do.The reason for this is the cost with a relatively high failure rate and that there are equally effective and more cost effective methods of contraception available. I’m again, not necessarily a stance I support but the financial climate makes it harder to push back against.

bigKiteFlying · 18/07/2019 15:01

The coil is a more effective contraceptive and it has less health risks attached to it, so of course they would rather you had it. If you don't want it because you've had a bad experience with it in the past then just say no.

I understand it being offered.

I don't get why me saying no isn't enough - I say no get hard sell still say no - then it comes up again.

I also don't understand why they won't go though other options - I'd expect them to point out limitation of them but to not give them at all doesn't seem very good to me.

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