No one will remove it!

I actually find this quite shocking. They're effectively removing control you have over your own body. The peak of the pandemic is over and friends I have in the NHS have said a lot of hospitals and clinics are actually pretty quiet. I have a friend who just had a coil fitted the other day so these type of procedures are happening in some places. I'd hassle your GP to find out where you can have it done or go private.

Def don't try taking it out yourself though!

QuarintineQueen indeed. One had the implant put in and changed her mind after about 4 months of side effects and constant bleeding, but they kept telling her to wait and leave it settle. The other was similar to OP wanted to TTC but again health professionals seemed eager for her to keep it in as it hadn't been in long enough. Coil woman side effects nobody would take hers out because again "time to settle"

It's my opinion if a health care professional wants to put something in a women stating "women have a choice", they should be prepared for that person at any point even the next day to say, I've changed my mind I want it out. 🙄

Shouldn't really be in my kitchen having drank a few doubles splaying your arm or fanny out on my kitchen table, but that's the reality of it. I remain sober however, sharp things, people's arms and gin probably not a good mix.

I draw the line at dentistry, can't stand teeth!

@CoachBombay i mean i did a few bedroom piercings on my mates as a kid but blimey haha. I agree its a feminist issue though as women are being denied bodily autonomy and thats not ok.

I can’t believe the amount of posters saying they took their own implants out 🙀🙀!!

@CoachBombay I'm half horrified and half in awe! I'm guessing you didnt do potentially risky minor surgery on friends for fun and it was because HCPs had refused to remove them - that this is what women are STILL coming to in the 21st century in a country with a developed healthcare system is a fucking travesty!

I have also tried removing privately but the private premises have been given over to the NHS so not an option.

My cousin is a GP. Invasive contraception is off the table at the moment due to COVID-19. I know your pain, my coil is due out and I can't get an appointment.

Ryan 😂 aii, I'm "that friend" in the group, strong stomach, will give it a go, not my fault if it goes wrong.

I've had a friend call me because she had a bullet vibrator stuck up her arse and to be fair I did say, I'm not fishing that one out, just squat and bear down, you may need to put a finger up there to see help navigate it out (get it pointing down) 😂

I'm sure its got something to do with invasive procedures being carried out at the moment. I asked my local family planning nurse to be put into the coil from the depo injection and she told me that they can't currently do anything invasive. Hopefully it won't be too long for you before things start opening up again

@coachBombay jeeeze everyone needs you as a friend in an emergency.

I took mine out. An extra hand would have helped. It wasn’t deep though, so I would say that’s a consideration. Didn’t bother with numbing cream.
I can just about see the scar if I squint in a good light.

I had this issue 6 years ago and went to a family planning clinic at the hospital in the end.
My friend had the same issue recently. So frustrating!

I feel for you op, when I wanted mine taken out I had to go to the sexual health walk in clinic, my gps simply wouldn't do it. Now I want a coil fitted after two babies, and I cant find anywhere that will do it. Contraception was supposed to give women control of their bodies and choices.

If you lived by me, I'd say I'd get it out for you.

I'm not qualified too, but I've removed 2 implants and a coil in my friendship group 😂

Surgical scalpel, some boiling water, a steady hand, quick squeeze, pull it out, plaster on job done. Just like a giant splinter really. Coil was a bit more delicate I'd admit, we also had to Amazon prime a speculum and some other bits and bobs.

I'll bring the gin you supply the wooden spoon to bite down on if your squeemish. 😂

Do you think a friend would do it for.you of you can't get a professional to do it?

it's fucking crazy. this could be a disaster for unplanned/unwanted pregnancies. I'm trying to get a coil and a smear test rn.

Also to everyone suggesting removing it yourself please don’t! And for those saying it’s a simple medical procedure yes it is but you still need training and a qualification in it as a nurse or doctor you wouldn’t be insured just doing it for a friend or willy nilly if anything were to go wrong. I’ve had some really difficult implants to remove and I’m quite experienced. You could really do some damage. Just ride out this pandemic like everyone else and wait.

You said upthread that a private clinic within driving distance would do it for £300, and implied that you can afford this. It’d presumably mean no more waiting.

@OlivejuiceU2 as a sexual health nurse that is 100 million % untrue. We do not get paid different amounts depending how long people keep them in for that’s bonkers.

OP I understand and it’s a big personal issue for you but people aren’t having neurosurgery and are sat at home with brain tumours growing bigger and bigger, people not starting chemo etc. I know it’s a pain, I know you want to TTC and do sympathise but at the moment everything is just bare minimum emergency services. Hopefully it will improve soon and you’ll get it out.

Don't remove it yourself! I had the issue with it being too deep and they were rooting around with forceps under my skin for ages it was TRAUMATIC

@FeelinFagin I completely agree. I said this to my husband.. if it was him with the implant it'd be a completely different story.

I am understanding because I know other treatments have stopped but I'm so angry that I'm 'allowed' to go in to work and are exposed to colleagues for 9+ hours per day, yet I can't sit next to a nurse for 30 seconds to get it removed.

Absurd that I no longer consent to this medical procedure but can't get it removed.

Mine has expired and they still won't take it out!! I've rung up my surgery 3 times now and more or less begged. They assure me it will still be effective and I won't end up with another set of twins

I'm no man hater by any means but I honestly do believe that if it were men who were the ones required and expected to take the contraception (and as such, suffer the side effects too), the whole thing would be completely different.
The Male pill study was dropped because the side effects were things like depression, mood swings, acne, weight gain and loss of libido. Something which we women have been expected to put up with as normal. Granted suicidal depression was a factor in the Male pill discontinuation but there have been plenty of women react just as badly to theirs. My friend who had to fight for her implant removal was suicidal too. She was perfectly fine after it was out but she is still being monitored by social services and the mental health team. Even though there was a clear and obvious cause.

From my 20's onwards I have refused contraceptives I didn't have full control over.

As a 17 year old my (Male) GP refused to let me get the pill because he told me that I'd forget to take it. Dick! He told me my only option was longer term options. I was pretty much forced to go with the Depo injection. Along came three solid months of period. So I guess it did work because no way was I going to bed with anyone whilst bleeding. I told the GP it was no good. I didn't want another. He told me the second jab definitely doesn't do that and all bleeding will stop. Bastard bullshitted me. Another 3 months of bleeding. It got to the point I was feeling ill and weak constantly and I was struggling paying for constant supply of sanpro. I went back and said it was no good. I wanted something else and he told me he would not prescribe anything else at all and did I really want to become a teenage mum? He told me that there was no way I would bleed for a third time. It couldn't possibly happen.

It did.

I lived alone from age 16, paid my own rent using my own wages, living my own life and yet I had no say in my healthcare because my male doctor wouldn't allow me too. I asked for a female GP the next time and ended up with the pill in less than five minutes. Oddly enough I managed to remember to take each and every one and didn't get pregnant until DH and I decided to TTC at age 26!

I have quite a few (in fact, a scary amount of) friends who have had to fight to have their implants removed. Each being initially told they have to "wait longer", "let it settle", or even take medications to counteract the terrible side effects their implants were having. One friend was prescribed antidepressants because her implant made her feel depressed and suicidal! Instant mood lift once it was finally out but she had to battle her doctor and depression at the same time.

It wasn't too bad, but I do have high pain tolerance. Messy though.