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

I got pushed heavily into the implant which was the biggest mistake of my life (not being dramatic, I nearly killed myself) I cannot take any form of hormonal contraceptive well but I use the least worst which is Cerazette, even that's causing real issues now. I hate family planning appointments.

Yes!
I rang to book into have it fitted in June, have been told soonest appt (which I haven’t been able to make yet) is September!

Yes. Every time and it fucks me off.

WitsEnding

Same here. The actual line they used was “well you might meet someone who wants children and change your mind”.

I’m infertile and can’t access other treatment unless I’m sterilised. They now have a rule they won’t refer for sterilisation unless you’ve tried Mirena. I can’t have Mirena due to position/size of fibroids 🙄

I've never really understood the appeal of the coil vs. the implant. I love my implant and it lasts 3 years...personally I don't have any side effects but I know this isn't the case for everyone. I think it's NHS policy to encourage long term contraception as it is a lot cheaper for the NHS and reduces the number of unwanted pregnancies through human error.

It's because (according to GP and Ob/Gyn friends) - it works, and for the overwhelming majority of women, it has zero unpleasant side effects. Everyone knows someone who HAS had side effects, but most women have no side effects, no further appointments or prescriptions and no pregnancies for 5 years. What's not to love from a GP perspective?

Someone upthread said they found it patronising to be offered it at the 6 week appointment, but LOTS of intelligent, on it women get pregnant by mistake immediately after having a baby. There are many many threads on here about just that.

I wasn't allowed sterilisation in case I changed my mind ( at 37). I did get on well with Mirena though, and the bonus was it stopped my periods completely.

Never changed my mind.

No, I asked about it and they gave me the info, decided to stick with the pill for a bit though as still a bit fragile down there. The only thing they have said no to is the injection

@OhBcereus They just have a blanket policy of not referring until 40

I’m currently working my way through their complaints procedure.

No the other GP practise is full. Plus recently I’ve had to balance the fact that they are actually good with all of my DD’s issues so moving would be an upheaval whilst she has so many referrals ongoing.

No. I actually asked about the coil.

So glad: I bloody love it

Yes I have offered wondered why this is pushed... no interest in taking synthetic hormones of any description.

If it's so amazing - why so many horror stories? Are the negative impacts recorded as such? Or are we dismissed as moaning women?

@lyralalala how are they not reasons enough for them?! Shocking. Are there any other GP surgeries in your area you could swap to?

I just told them I have one DD, I absolutely don't want anymore, I don't want anymore artificial hormones as I was on the pill for 15 years and I have seen the coils up close and can't think of anything worse. He laughed, said I can't blame you. I'll refer you.

All women should have the right to decide what type of contraception they want. It's their body!
I agree that the thought of the coil goes right through me and definitely makes me feel queasy!

Yes, my GP tried and when I was equally insistent I didn’t want it she told me to research it for my next appointment. I’ll be just as adamant then as well.

@Tuesdaysunshine

'I assume the mirena reps offer lovely incentives'

or perhaps the Mirena coil has better contraceptive effectiveness, reduced health disbenefits and/or cost effectiveness for some patients?

@OhBcereus I’ve had endless battles with them over it, but they won’t refer until 40. Even though I’ve had two unplanned pregnancies (on on pill and one on cool). With the first I went 4 times for termination and couldn’t do it as the cow in the centre showed me the scan screen even though I asked her not too. My last pregnancy was a nightmare from start to finish and my DD has significant health issues.

I haven’t had sex with my husband for 3 years as we just fear it. The consultant at the hospital had said they’d do it if I had a csection, but because DD was born at home (she was quick!) they can’t do anything without referral.

DH’s GP strongly recommended him not to have a vasectomy as he has major clotting issues so they really don’t like doing anything to him that’s not strictly necessary.

Yes .rediculous .stand your ground

I had massively more positive experiences.

Mirena was high on the list of what I was offered by GPs but when I said I had ethical objections and explained them, as well as what I'd tried previously they dropped it without fuss.

When I got my slot for sterilisation and some other minor gynae things, the gynaecologist was actively encouraging me to consider everything to reduce pain and heavy / prolonged bleeding. He had more of a 'you shouldn't expect to just put up with it' view than I did.

I’m not allowed to be sterilised because I’m single and “might meet someone and change my mind”.

Patronising shit.

@lyralalala that's appalling! I'm 32 and being sterilised soon. They just said "ok, I'll refer you". I had a letter from the hospital 2 days later with the first appointment.

fortunately not! but then I've been at the same surgery my whole life, and known my current gp since childhood- though he wasn't my gp at the time- but my friends dad! and saw the hell that me trying various types of pill ended up being- ( everything ive tried so far- of different hormonal types- has turned me into the hotmonal bitch from hell, caused weight gain, acne, and in at least 2 of them, done nothing to actually stop my period anyway- wasn't that a fun trip! and mefanemic(? spelling) acid did sweet FA either)
its on my record that hormonal contraception dosent work, and after my mu, had a rejection of the copper cil and ended up with a severe infection after it was inserted, they've fortunately taken that of the table too!!! I want to be steralised, but the practice wont refer me, though the gp understands why, but I'm not old enough yet.

My GP pushes the mirena coil relentlessly.

My mental health fares badly on synthetic progesterone. I get depressed on the POP and when I had to take norethisterone briefly I started getting paranoid delusions, so I have no wish to try the mirena, especially as everyone says it's a nightmare to get it removed again if you want/need to. I've explained all of this to him and it astonishes me how dismissive he is, when he's a good GP in every other respect, listens properly, respects my autonomy about other decisions even when he disagrees. It comes up regularly, and he's so pushy about it that we actually laugh now about what a complete bore he's being.

I assume the mirena reps offer lovely incentives, either that or put something in everyone's coffee and hypnotise them. It's very odd. I'm starting to wonder if it incorporates a tracking device so that all the difficult women can be rounded up and interned eventually.

Everything has costs and benefits.

It's much, much, much easier for the practice to prescribe oral contraceptives than to fit and refit a coil. For some patients, the risk profile for oral medication is much higher than for the coil, hence in some circumstances, I suspect the advice PPs have mentioned is to better inform the patient's choice.

I imagine the conversation when an older patient has a DVT, other cardio or cancer event 'you Dr should have explained more about the cardio risks, increased risks of cancer.... rather than just letting me have the pill again and again'.

I get it every time even though my last pregnancy happened on the Mirena

Apparently that’s a fluke and won’t happen again. I’m not taking the chance. My body doesn’t deal well with hormones as I also got pregnant on the pill and I’m 99% sure I took it right.

Roll on next year when I’m 40 and deemed old enough to decide (after 5 children) that I want sterilised as I’ve been too young for the last 6 years in their opinion

@MothralovesGojira that's appalling!

Yes, the family planning nurse I used to see was always trying to get me to have a coil. I didn't want the pill or a coil, but she kept on going at me. I started wondering if she had shares in the manufacturing company. She even tried to scare me into having it: 'you're in your 40s now: what if you get pregnant? At your age the chances of your baby having defects greatly increase'. Cheers, love.