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Original poster

Desperately trying to have my Mirena Coil removed

104 replies

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 06/01/2022 13:48

My Mirena has expired, I'm on the GP waiting list to have it removed but that's now been paused again due to Covid, the family planning clinics have no appointments for the foreseeable and are also cancelling clinics and if I want to go private I need to have a GP referral.

So as it stands i'm on the phone to the GP to ask if they'll refer. The private hospital only does the removal if it's for medical reasons, because my strings can't be felt or seen directly and I'm having abdo/pelvic/back pain they said they'll definitely see me.

Cross your fingers all that the GP is able to refer. I'm two minutes short of finding forceps and a miner's helmet!

OP posts:
fulanigirl · 06/01/2022 22:35

@OneGlamMama

I had a 4 month wait to get mine removed when it wasn't agreeing with me.

So I just pulled mine out. Wasn't as bad as I thought.

But yeah... maybe don't do that. Grin

I was so desperate I did the same thing after reading about others on Mumsnet doing the same thing! Was surprisingly easy.
daretodenim · 07/01/2022 00:21

It's crazy, but not surprising, that so many women are stuck. Paying £180 to get a medical device that's causing you pain removed is ridiculous.

However, while the waiting list and reduced appointments are due to covid, pre-C it wasn't always straightforward to get contraception removed.

I wish women were properly informed ahead of time what it means to have contraception in your body. Years ago, way before covid, I had the arm implant. It was causing me a lot of problems, so after about 8 months (during which time I'd had heavy spotting to actual period level bleeding daily) I went back to get it removed. It hadn't occurred to me that they'd refuse! There was no way they'd remove it so early. It should be in for 24 months. It was only removed when I told them I'd go home and do it myself with a kitchen knife if they didn't. I still feel bad for saying that, but I actually would have. It was such a relieve to have it out!

I think it's unethical not to inform women before the insertion appointment that they will be expected to keep it in their body for financial reasons, even if it's causing problems and they want it out.

RavingAnnie · 07/01/2022 01:10

I think it's absolutely appalling that GPs are refusing to take out coils. Completely unacceptable to force contraception or a medical appliance on someone that doesn't want it. If they were for early inserting them there would be uproar. This is no different.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Women's health
Bambooshoot · 07/01/2022 02:09

I’m another one that removed it myself! Just wait till you have a period and gently pull the strings, painless and quick. I guess I was lucky that it hadn’t moved or embedded or anything but it really was easy.

LovedayCL · 07/01/2022 02:22

This is a quite an old article but I’ve been pressured multiple times to have a mirena inserted, when I’ve been to the doctor for non-contraceptive related reasons so found it interesting. I wonder whether there’s still an incentive for them to insert them, and regardless no incentive to remove them. I have no idea on either, but I’ve always found the very hard sell uncomfortable.

www.imperial.ac.uk/news/146546/gp-incentive-scheme-increases-long-term-reversible/amp/

Sparklfairy · 07/01/2022 02:23

This is so disgusting. I've been on the injection for 10 years and for more than half of that they've been pushing me to get the coil or the implant instead. I always refuse as my sister had no trouble getting an appointment to put the thing IN, but getting it out, there were mysteriously no appointments.

The final straw for her, and me, was after being told again there were no appointments for removal, she waited a few hours and called again, pretending she wanted one fitted. Hey presto, appointment available the next day Hmm

I honestly don't know how this isn't more widely known and more of a public fuss isn't made. It wastes more man-hours and costs the NHS more money in complications and self removal and constant phone calls rather than just book the appointment using the same slots they use to fit one, and just get it over with.

Wilburisagirl · 07/01/2022 05:34

@RavingAnnie

I think it's absolutely appalling that GPs are refusing to take out coils. Completely unacceptable to force contraception or a medical appliance on someone that doesn't want it. If they were for early inserting them there would be uproar. This is no different.
Agree totally. It is horrendous to me that this type of healthcare has been effectively cancelled.
Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 07/01/2022 06:19

Its awful that so many women have gone through or are going through this!

The site I used to book for removal with the sexual health clinic didn't work so I called them up, she said the IT dept were working on it but the site is only for booking removal and reinsertion anyway and for removal only you need to call. Only the website doesn't say that and it gives you the option to choose "removal only". I don't know why they're making it so difficult, it's a method that's recommended all the time so I don't understand why it's an absolute mission to have it removed.

Its really is appalling.

OP posts:
Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 07/01/2022 06:20

[quote LovedayCL]This is a quite an old article but I’ve been pressured multiple times to have a mirena inserted, when I’ve been to the doctor for non-contraceptive related reasons so found it interesting. I wonder whether there’s still an incentive for them to insert them, and regardless no incentive to remove them. I have no idea on either, but I’ve always found the very hard sell uncomfortable.

www.imperial.ac.uk/news/146546/gp-incentive-scheme-increases-long-term-reversible/amp/[/quote]
I've heard about this in the past and it does make you wonder if this is why having devices removed is almost impossible.

OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 07/01/2022 06:25

@AColdDuncanGoodhew

Its awful that so many women have gone through or are going through this!

The site I used to book for removal with the sexual health clinic didn't work so I called them up, she said the IT dept were working on it but the site is only for booking removal and reinsertion anyway and for removal only you need to call. Only the website doesn't say that and it gives you the option to choose "removal only". I don't know why they're making it so difficult, it's a method that's recommended all the time so I don't understand why it's an absolute mission to have it removed.

Its really is appalling.

So can you easily get an appointment if you book removal with reinsertion? In which case, book it, and when they take it out, do a runner Grin They're hardly going to pin you down and force you to have it Wink
Policyschmolicy · 07/01/2022 06:41

My appointment was quite easy to get for removal and reinsertion. But you get full counselling and there isn’t any pressure to put one back in.

fillingbilling · 07/01/2022 07:02

I saw a gynaecologist for unrelated reasons earlier this year and asked her to pull the bugger out whilst she was down there anyway. glad I did now I can see how hard it is to get an appointment!

The crazy thing is that she was telling me that my 3.5 year old coil may already be failing causing my irregular bleeding, and symptoms did indeed get better when coil was removed. 6 years my arse, mine didn't even make 4!!

Reastie · 07/01/2022 07:09

Can you speak to how on the phone or do an econsult for referral? Have you got a private gp practice near you? You can pay fir an online gp appointment video call for around £30 upwards, they might be able to do a referral.

Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 07/01/2022 10:02

The doctor from the private clinic has emailed to say there's a cancellation tomorrow, hurrah!

OP posts:
Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 07/01/2022 10:05

Oh no! I'm going to take a break between having this out and going on the mini pill I think. Will see how I feel.

OP posts:
WarmForDecember · 07/01/2022 10:11

Oh that's good news OP!

It's shocking that it's so difficult for women to get removed. That really wasn't the impression they gave me when getting it put in so I'll be very, very unimpressed if I have a similar experience.

Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 07/01/2022 15:44

@WarmForDecember

Oh that's good news OP!

It's shocking that it's so difficult for women to get removed. That really wasn't the impression they gave me when getting it put in so I'll be very, very unimpressed if I have a similar experience.

Exactly, I never thought I'd have such an issue and I understand Covid wasn't a thing then, but we're jumping through hoops here. The fact there are some us on this thread DIYing it is terrible.
OP posts:
coolcahuna · 07/01/2022 21:34

It's awful isn't it. So easy to have it fitted and not remotely easy to have it taken out. It actually worked like a dream for me for ages and then all this drama has been so stressful. I felt so relieved when they took it out.

I would never recommend one to anyone now

The downside is i am now having 7 years worth of period in one go which is fun. Not !

coolcahuna · 07/01/2022 21:34

@AColdDuncanGoodhew

Oh no! I'm going to take a break between having this out and going on the mini pill I think. Will see how I feel.
This is what I'm doing now. Can take 3 months to get back to normal apparently!
Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 07/01/2022 22:00

@coolcahuna

It's awful isn't it. So easy to have it fitted and not remotely easy to have it taken out. It actually worked like a dream for me for ages and then all this drama has been so stressful. I felt so relieved when they took it out.

I would never recommend one to anyone now

The downside is i am now having 7 years worth of period in one go which is fun. Not !

Don't tell me that! I can't wait to get this out now and get things back to normal.

I don't even know if I'll go back on hormonal contraception. I've had enough of it now but I'll give myself some time then revisit the idea of the mini pill.

OP posts:
coolcahuna · 07/01/2022 22:04

Sorry! You might be totally fine but I'm on day 5 of really heavy period at the moment. It's make me feel really tired and worried about leaving the house . Hopefully this is just a one off mega period and I'll get back to normal. But I think I'm going to get on the pill pronto.

Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 08/01/2022 10:35

Oh gosh thats shitty for you, hope it passes quickly and you can get back to some normality. Off to the clinic now, bit nervous but I've taken painkillers and I have a sugary drink and chocolate in my bag just incase.

OP posts:
Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 08/01/2022 12:03

I am coil free!

OP posts:
daretodenim · 08/01/2022 12:14

@AColdDuncanGoodhew

I am coil free!
Brilliant!!!
Original poster
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 08/01/2022 14:18

Chuffed!

OP posts: