To think this might be why we have unwanted pregnancies???

[boschy]

I need a mirena coil removed (TMI?). The only place I can go (according to local gp surgery) is our local FPC, which is about 5 miles away. Luckily for me, I can drive there.

The ONLY time you can call for an appointment is after 5.30pm on a Monday night. I have tried approx 40 times in the last 70 minutes and it is permanently engaged.

It's a good thing I'm not a hormone driven teenager isnt it?!! Dear god, this is bloody ridiculous.

we ring a central number and they check all the local family planning clinics for spaces so you arent restricted to just one e.g. ours says this on the website:

To make an appointment, please call 0845 618 7191 or 01236 712908 (Line open Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.) All Clinics are by appointment only (unless otherwise stated)

I just searched for my local authority family planning service.

The IUD can be inserted as emergency contraception up to 5 days after unprotected sex.

The IUS (Mirena) isn't used for emergency contraception. It's not more 'medical' than a regular copper coil, it's just different. Because it contains progesterone it can be used for gynae reasons as well as contraception.

I think some people have unrealistic expectations about contraception and access to it; most contraceptive services aren't like Tesco, open 24/7. Emergency contraception is available from many outlets (out of hours, GP, CASH clinics, GUM, pharmacies and many minor injury units and A&E depts) but regular contraception can be organised on a more routine basis.

I appreciate it can be difficult to get appointments at times that are always convenient (and I can't quite understand why you can only phone at a certain time to make an appt; that should be addressed) but it's rather a stretch to say that women are getting pregnant because you can't get your coil removed at a time that suits you.

YANBU Op. my GP services doesn't do anything other than the pill. It is worse than yours though. No appointments at the local clinic, it is open every week for 2.5 hours and works on a first come first served basis. The clinic starts at 5. You are very unlikely to be seen if you arrive after 4.

There is also an appointment based clinic in the next town. It involves 3 changes of bus from the town centre and at least an hour's travel each way and closes at 5.30.

I was at school in the next town and knew a fair few of my school friends didn't bother with contraception because they were too lazy to go to the enormous amount of effort you had to put in or they didn't want to explain to their parents/ school etc where they were.

My eyes are watering at the thought of removing a coil myself.

Took me weeks to get an appointment, too, as our surgery didn't offer the service at all so it was FPC. But in and out in minutes.

Ditto getting it fitted. A doc came over from hospital and did nothing but fit them on Tuesdays. I'd had a couple of kids vaginally so it all went smoothly.

Surely it's not difficult to see that every minor barrier could create a big barrier for teenagers and young people getting contraception? I lived my teens in fear of following my sisters footsteps into teenage motherhood so I never took any chances and had no hesitation saying no, but other young girls are not always that strong minded.

I think sidge has it spot on.

If young adults are not muture enough to sort out contraception and have sex without condoms then the question I ask myself is are they mature enough to be having sex.

I actually CAN'T access my FPC at all. I have no childcare in the evening, other than one Saturday night every 8 weeks. The clinic is 1hr25mins each way by bus. And it is one of those 'drop in, first come, first served' that run from 6pm-8pm, and you never get seen if you don't turn up by 5pm.

Which is a lot of help when the GP's only offered contraception is the pill, and you've fallen pg on two different brands of the pill (DESPITE taking them properly, using condoms for 7 days after D&V, and during a course of AB's and 7 days after...).

It is actually easier for me to get sterilised at the hospital 5 mins up the road from me than it is to be seen at the FPC.

Oh - and the only FPC in our town (the aforementioned drop in, first come first served one) ONLY runs for over 25's one Thursday a month.

Which is helpful if you need to time a coil fitting or removal...

Over 25's only what happens to younger one who need anything other than the pill as it seems that's all a gp can give you

Took 6 months for me to get the coil fitted from when i first started trying to get an appointment...they cancelled my appointment twice and gave me another about 6-8 weeks ahead both times...they tried to cancel the 3rd one, so i had to point out that would be the third time and more than 6 months trying to get the coil fitted!

stuntgirl and couthy - that's exactly what I mean, difficulty of access - limited opening times, geographical/transport issues all create barriers which some people may not overcome.

mchappy as for whether they are mature enough to have sex if they cant sort the contraception - maybe not, but thousands of young people still do.

I suppose it depends where you live, I found it easy to get the pill from my local fpc. I think most teenagers would go for the pill and /or condoms rather than the coil.

If a GP can only offer the contraceptive pill then I would suggest they aren't offering a very good service and would encourage you to register with another practice. Whilst not all practices can offer ALL types of contraception they should at least be able to offer pills and depo as well as general contraceptive advice, and offer referral elsewhere for implants and coils and advise re lesser used methods such as patches, sponges, caps and natural family planning.

Whoever mentioned removing it yourself - I think that is quite dangerous as you risk going into cervical shock I think?