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Original poster

And anyone got a scapel please? Will removing the implant stop the bleeding?

43 replies

OhWhyDidTheyDoIt · 16/07/2021 20:44

Had the contraceptive implant put in late January.

5 weeks period free...was bliss...then.....

Started bleeding mid March and have been bleeding ever since. So 4 months. No break. I am drained. (Literally)

It is clearly not working for me. I want it out.

Spoke to GP in May (about HRT). She agreed implant needed to go and she'd put me on the list for the clinic. Called up the surgery today and found out I wasn't bloody put on it. No idea of wait. Low priority,, blahdeblahdeblah

So lovely vipers

  1. Has anyone else had this issue - and did removal of the implant help/stop the bleeding?
  2. Anyone know how to get the fucking thing out of me. Is there a contraceptive nurse anywhere I can pay to wield a scalpel and forceps at my arm? Anyone else fancy a go? Anyone paid BUPA to remove it (not joking - I will pay to get this fucker out of me).

I am so fucking tired of this. This is not light bleeding/spotting. This is continual with massive flooding/clots thrown in every 2 weeks as well.

OP posts:
stayingaliveisawayoflife · 16/07/2021 20:45

I went private to have mine removed and go back on the injection. Both cost £150 and it was so worth it. I stopped bleeding straight away.

Original poster
OhWhyDidTheyDoIt · 16/07/2021 20:49

@stayingaliveisawayoflife I think I may have to go down that route - I really cannot take it anymore. It is literally making me sob.

Who did you contact re getting it taken out? I called our local BUPA hospital this afternoon and the receptionist couldn't find out who to ask. She has emailed a few medical secretaries and hopefully getting back to me on Monday.

OP posts:
Capricornandproud · 16/07/2021 20:53

I was you!!! It changed me completely - I was more than happy to take a scalpel to it but I had to create merry hell at my GP to get it out. I’d say a Sexual Health nurse or clinic may well be the faster option…

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Women's health
Original poster
OhWhyDidTheyDoIt · 16/07/2021 20:56

@capricornandproud did your bleeding stop?

I cannot see it is anything else to be honest (but the implant) but I am peri-menopausal so the irregular periods could be that. The timing suggests implant. I think I just don't want to expect the bleeding to stop if it goes and and then be utterly distraught if it doesn't......

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 16/07/2021 21:02

I've known people to remove them by themselves just showed up at the hospital later for a stitch or two the nurse was appalled that they had deliberately cut themselves to remove it was full on explaining what a totally shite life choice this was getting pissed and cutting out her implant the girl replied after two FUCKING YEARS EITHER THE IMPLANT WENT OR I DID........well I will be having a word with that fucking doctor in the morning then was the nurses final word 😂

It really doesn't suit some people

Leah2005 · 16/07/2021 21:03

I had one put in after a coil removal - also peri menopausal. Also bled for a couple of months, much worse than any period I had ever had. Got it taken out, bleeding stopped.

SinkGirl · 16/07/2021 21:04

Try family planning clinic or look up private GPs in your local area. I sympathise as it took me a year and a lot of trauma (long story) to get my mirena coil out despite the fact I was having about 8 hours of severe contractions every single day.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 16/07/2021 21:07

This is going to sound bad but I literally googled private doctors near me! It turned out to be one who did NHS and private work out of the same health centre. They booked me in for a couple of days after my call but this was pre Covid.

beckyyl · 16/07/2021 21:10

I had exactly this!!! I got mine took out and my cycles went back to normal. I would never ever ever go anywhere near that implant again!

Simonthecatsservant · 16/07/2021 21:13

My dd was in exactly the same situation as you. Gp was utterly useless. I genuinely feared she was going to something stupid. I’m so sorry your going though this to. It’s disgraceful.

I found the local gum clinics excellent ( I pretended to be my dd on the phone because I wasn’t prepared to take no for a answer)
They sent her some progesterone pills to stop the bleeding via post which came the next day and put her on the wait list which I was told was 4 weeks however less than 2 weeks it was out.

I was prepared to take her and threaten to cut it out my self in the GP waiting room. She was that desperate. It’s awful you have to be that forceful.

IgnoranceIsStrength · 16/07/2021 21:15

Same, 6 months solid bleeding before I could get it out. I had mine out at a GUM clinic for free

Original poster
OhWhyDidTheyDoIt · 16/07/2021 21:30

It feels kind of better to know I am not alone. But fuck this is unfair. Why does it have to be a specific "clinic" at the surgery. Really? Just take it out FFS.

This whole thing has had me randomly sobbing - on runs, at work. I am so fucked off with it. Packing for a weekend away and having to take extra clothes just in case my body starts to flood again (not much rhyme or reason to it all).

I have sent an enquiry to another local-ish hospital who has a private GP service. £120 will be well spent if I can get it done.

I am just sooooo cross with the GP surgery though. 4 drs e-consult/phone calls about it...and nothing. Nada.

OP posts:
Original poster
OhWhyDidTheyDoIt · 16/07/2021 21:31

Oh and now also asking for a referallto Gynae or an ablation - maybe the cost of that will make them actually remove the cause of the bleeding!

OP posts:
stayingaliveisawayoflife · 16/07/2021 21:35

My doctor said you have had it in for two years you only have one more to go! I know I didn't have periods with my injection but I didn't need to catch up on the bloody things and pay a fortune in sanitary products!!!

Oh and don't get me started on PMT!!! My husband paid for my treatment so he could get the relatively human me back!

Tee20x · 16/07/2021 21:39

Got mine taken out at the GP. All of them are mine are trained/able to remove. Got my second removed at a sexual health clinic - have you any locally??

StillCounting123 · 16/07/2021 21:45

I had this issue with bleeding on the implant. Stupidly I waited close to 1 year before contacting GP.

I bleed the same on the mini pill, GP said they are the same thing in different format.

Awful stuff for me, but I know some women love it.

DecorChange · 16/07/2021 21:52

My gp can't remove these. I went to a serial health clinic and it was out very quick. Stopped bleeding almost straight away. They are nasty fuckers if they don't work for you.

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 16/07/2021 22:00

9 months of solid bleeding for me. Regularly passing out from the anaemia, I couldn't drive and could barely walk without fainting. The poster above who said "either it goes or I do" was right - it was so bad!

After the 3rd appointment to ask for it out, when they told me to wait and see for another month, because my husband would want condom-free sex, I tried a DIY self-surgery job.

I failed and made a mess, but called the sexual health clinic and tearfully explained the situation I was in, they had a same day appointment and fixed me up.

It was really difficult to decline the mental health follow-ups they recommended though. (They saw the "self harm" self-surgery attempt, and all my tears and emotion) In fact, my mental health was the best it had been for 9 months, once they finally removed the bugger, and I could function again.

GoldenBlue · 16/07/2021 22:00

Apparently if you say you have decided to TTC then they'll take it out without all the shit. Someone else in another Mumsnet entry said it worked for her

Original poster
OhWhyDidTheyDoIt · 16/07/2021 22:03

@GoldenBlue

Apparently if you say you have decided to TTC then they'll take it out without all the shit. Someone else in another Mumsnet entry said it worked for her
I'm 48... don't think they'd believe that 🤣🤣
OP posts:
goddessofmischief · 16/07/2021 22:32

I took mine out. Razor blade and a pair of pliers. I was young and wouldn't recommend it. I have a kind of bulging cross shaped (thankfully gone white) scar where it was. There have been threads on this before, if you very seriously threaten to remove it yourself they might listen.

RubyGoat · 16/07/2021 22:40

Speak to the practice manager & ask why you weren't put on the list to have it removed. If they won't sort it, speak to PALS.

Do you have a local sexual health clinic? They may help.

Also, tell them you are considering removing it yourself. As it's seriously affecting your health.

Original poster
OhWhyDidTheyDoIt · 17/07/2021 09:25

@goddessofmischief

I took mine out. Razor blade and a pair of pliers. I was young and wouldn't recommend it. I have a kind of bulging cross shaped (thankfully gone white) scar where it was. There have been threads on this before, if you very seriously threaten to remove it yourself they might listen.
Ouch. I will be honest, I have googled how to do it. The instructions are on line....but this has made me think again. And the lack of local..
OP posts:
eccecc · 17/07/2021 09:28

It'll stop. 9 months non-stop for me then another 5 month wait for an appointment after they finally agreed to remove it.
Horrible thing. Hope you get it out soon!

BarryTheKestrel · 17/07/2021 09:39

I had to beg to get mine taken out for 18 months as I was constantly bleeding and my mental health was really suffering , by which time it had migrated (which I think was half the issue anyway) and had to wait another 3 months for a referral so someone could ultrasound me and find it and someone else could wield the scalpel and tweezers to get it out. Took them 35 minutes to locate and remove. But I finally stopped bleeding after almost 2 years of stop and start, entirely unpredictable, almost constant bleeding.

Get it out. Any means necessary.