to think that doctors should be able to give accurate contraceptive advice?

[peanutbutter38]

I went for a coil fitting this afternoon. It was fine (Mirena) and didn't hurt much at all, and very little pain afterwards.

I had it mid cycle because I'm very irregular and have really been struggling to get a triple GP appointment. The doctor agreed to do it today if I brought along a negative pregnancy test, which I did. After he fit it, I asked him when I'd be protected. He said, 'as of 5 minutes ago, when I fit it, you're protected straightaway'.
I've checked online (reliable medical websites) since I got home and it seems that this instant protection only applies if you have it fitted during or 7 days after a period. If you have it later than 7 days post period, you need to use condoms for 7 days. This is the same GP practice which prescribed me a mini pill which isn't suitable for anyone over 11 stones (I was just over this) and if you're over 11 stones you need to take 2 pills a day, not one! The result of which is currently snoozing in her Moses basket upstairs (we love her to bits and are very happy we had her, as it happens)
So AIBU to expect accurate contraceptive advice from an older, experienced GP? If I hadn't checked around online, I wouldn't know about this 7 day rule and might have got pregnant (not that I'd be up for it anyway, bleeding lightly post fitting!)

YANBU, but what about the mini pill over 11st???????? I have been taking that for ages. Under 11 stone right now, but 12st 9lb when I started, and being short, I definitely looked overweight.

Sorry, Hijack, but that gave me a fright!

WTF is this about the mini pill????

YANBU. When I first moved in with DP and went to the Dr here he gave me 4 options. The coil, the pill, the implant and condoms. That was it. I had to tell him about the patch. When I book an appointment now I make sure it's not with him.

over 11stones, many mini pills effectiveness reduces a great deal:

from net doctor:
Also, if you?re significantly overweight (and particularly if you?re over 11 stone ? that?s 70 kg), the POP may not be effective enough for you.

If you?re determined to try the POP, then Cerazette would probably be your best choice. Alternatively, a few doctors are willing to prescribe two mini-Pills per day for larger women. But very big people (over, say, 16-and-a-half stone ? that?s 105 kg) really shouldn?t try the mini-Pill at all in my view, because the risks of falling pregnant are probably too great.

I took cerezzette for about two years and I'm over 16 and a half stone. Does that mean I wasn't protected? That's worrying cos I was thinking about going back on it! I can't take the combined pill cos of migraines so seems I can't take any pill! Can't believe the doctor and unit just prescribed it to me'

Never trust the GP on contraceptives, or anything that isn't a smear when it comes to speculums and torches ;) not after I had a skin tag misdiagnosed as a genital wart and was then treated like a total dirty disgusting slut - really really out of order regardless of my sexual history.

I now only trust the GUM clinic - I think there is a reason women in America have a gynecologist tbh to deal with this stuff - doing it on a daily basis stops you being incompetant, and I've found on the whole they tend to be much more gentle!

I've always been some where between 11 and 12.5 stone, have taken the mini pill for 11 years. The nurse has never complained, except that I'm a short arse so always a bit to a big bit over weight and totally unrepentant.

It's weird that net doctor thinks being over 11 stone is significantly over weight cos if I were 11 stone I'd be a healthy weight according to bmi.

My GP's are also hopeless on advice about contraception, to the point where I have wondered if they are secretly against its use. Agree with the advice to go to an FPC.

Well that might explain the DS currently screaming in his cot...

Is Microgynon a mini pill??

I am considerably more than 11 stone and got pregnant on it in Feb 9sadly mced though)

Microgynon is a combined pill.

I'm a GP and I fit coils. In fact, the coil is technically reliable from the moment it's fitted as it has a mechanical contraceptive effect. It's possible that the hormone component of the mirena takes a week to become fully functional. However, you shouldn't rely on it until you've had your 6 week check, because coils sometimes fall out and that happens most commonly in the first 6 weeks.

Also, given that you're mid cycle, I assume you were told to abstain or use condoms since your last period, otherwise you could already be pregnant but too early for the test to show.

ah ok, so the same doesn't apply with the two tabs then? Phew!

no, microgynon is a combined pill. I used cerazette at over 15 stone with no pregnancies

p.s. I got the mirena fitted at the FPC and was told to keep taking my mini-pill for 7 days after fitting it as that was how long it would take to be effective

yes, we used condoms before the fitting. The GP asked me to come back in 4 weeks for a check up, but said that I'm protected immediately- which is not true, so I'm a bit annoyed about that, because I get pregnant very very easily.