Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if my GP can refuse to prescribe the pill for me?

65 replies

SoAnnoyedRightNow · 22/09/2014 12:37

I went to get a repeat prescription for the pill this morning. Usually when I get my repeat prescription he will ask me if I'm aware of the other contraceptive methods like the implant and injection and if I will consider them. I always say that I'm happy on the pill and don't want to change and that's usually the end of that.

However today he was really pushing the other methods and I mean really pushing them. He kept going on about how they're more reliable than the pill, quoting the failure rate of the pill, etc which tbh I already knew about. Even when I said I was happy on the pill and knew all those things he still kept going on about the injection in particular.

In the end he didn't give me my prescription as I still have a few weeks left and he wants me to make an appointment with the nurse before then to talk about other methods in depth. Even though I told him I'd already researched other methods but didn't really like the idea of them.

Now I'm getting worried that he won't prescribe me the pill at all. Can he do that? I have no problems with the pill, am only 26, am not overweight, have low blood pressure and no other risk factors that would make taking the pill risky.

A friend just told me that I should go down to the family planning clinic for more pills but I worry they'll be even pushier when it comes to LARC.

OP posts:
Chippednailvarnish · 22/09/2014 19:32

Love this thread - it's very timely for me.

My GP has been very persistent about me having a coil fitted (sorry I can't remember the name, but it also releases hormones). I did some reading about it and it isn't recommended for women with a history of certain medical conditions, which I have Confused.
Historically I have also struggled to get repeat prescriptions of Dianette as Yasmin was preferred by my GP's, even though I suffered a lot of side effects on Yasmin. I'm now considering the vaginal ring...

Original poster
SoAnnoyedRightNow · 22/09/2014 20:06

I'm on Microgynon 30. I know lots of people have problems with this pill but I have been on it for ten years with no problems. That was one of his arguments actually - "well a lot of women have problems with this particular pill" - um well I don't doc Hmm.

I haven't actually made an appointment with the nurse as I have a feeling she'll really give the hard sell for depo/implant/coil.

I have found out though that the family planning clinic actually has a walk in clinic all day tomorrow so I might pop along.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoAnnoyedRightNow · 22/09/2014 20:08

SaucyJack that maybe true in the case of the implant/coil but not really for the depo injection which you would need an appointment every three months for (so more often than the pill). And he seemed to be pushing the injection more than the implant/coil.

OP posts:
Bugsylugs · 22/09/2014 20:21

I don't think it has to do with appointments as repeat pill you can be seen just once every 6 months or even once a year. Injections 4 times yr..

No money for injections they should only be used for upto 2 years.
Yasmin there was a safety alert for them and should not be prescribed unless no alternatives.
You can decline to prescribe all contraceptives on religious grounds it is not a pick and mix service though.
You can refuse for clinical reasons, seems a hard sell.
Good luck

Bugsylugs · 22/09/2014 20:23

chipped diabetes is not licensed for contraception only for acne for 6 months.

Bugsylugs · 22/09/2014 20:28

Dianette not diabetes

rainbowinmyroom · 22/09/2014 20:31

Go to the FPC and I would complain in writing about this GP to the practice manager. Not on to do this. You said you were happy with what you use. You are aware of other methods. You have no risk factors or health reasons.

Tell the FPC, too, about this hard sell.

I think it's awful and bullying.

Fairylea · 22/09/2014 20:33

Very odd. Definitely complain.

I'm 34 and been on the pill since I was 15 (yasmin) with just a short gap twice in 10 years to have babies and then straight back on it again. Never had the doctor even suggest anything else! (Not that I would want anything else).

thereinmadnesslies · 22/09/2014 20:36

Chipped I can't get Dianette any more, which is a shame because it's the only pill I've ever really got on with and it controlled my acne.

aermingers · 22/09/2014 20:38

Stick to your guns. I regret ever having the injection, I know I could get pregnant before I had it but I never got pregnant naturally again after I had it and developed polycystic ovaries. I'm absolutely convinced this was because of the injection, I did not suffer from any of the other symptoms such as a excess weight, acne or irregular periods before I had the injection so I'm almost certain that it was the injection that brought it on.

I really worry that enough is not known about potential side effects. The drug research into the development of the injection was unethical too. Women in South America were given the injection without being informed that it would have a contraceptive effect or that it was a trial drug, the side effects of which were unknown.

Chippednailvarnish · 22/09/2014 20:39

I have acne, hence I was given Dianette and I took dianette for over ten years with no problems. Liver disease was a side effect that was checked for through blood tests periodically. I've never heard that there was a limit to it's use.

Chippednailvarnish · 22/09/2014 20:41

I originally had Dianette prescribed by a consultant, so that might explain why I could have it.

whatever5 · 22/09/2014 20:43

It's very odd that he is pressurising you so much without a good medical reason. I'm sure that he won't refuse to prescribe the pill in the end but it is not at all good that he is making you feel as if it's not your choice.

LetticeKnollys · 22/09/2014 20:44

I have only ever used family planning clinics, and have used three different ones in different towns/cities. None of them have ever tried to pressure me to change.

I started on the injection in one clinic (first non-barrier contraceptive ever) but it caused some bad side effects for me. It made me very hormonal to the point where I would cry over every little thing in the days following the jab! Then when I came off it I had a break for about a year from hormonal contraception because I wanted reassurance that my periods would come back and they never did. Eventually I went on the pill which brought them back for a couple of years until I came off it to conceive (which happened very quickly).

trinity0097 · 22/09/2014 20:45

I went to get a repeat for cerazette and some co-codamol on Friday, was in and out in a minute, no hard sell of any possible other contraceptives. In fact I have never been offered any other form on contraception, in 3 different GP surgeries!

AnnaBegins · 22/09/2014 20:48

They used to just push LARC for teens, I went to renew my microgynon prescription the day before my 20th birthday and the nurse told me if I'd come the next day she wouldn't have had to ask! Now they seem to have extended it, but if it was due to cost they could suggest the generic version of microgynon, levest, which I don't get on with but is much cheaper for NHS.

I would write a letter as suggested above, it's bad enough finding time for a doc appointment once let alone twice! And women should be allowed to make their own well informed choices about their bodies.

moxon · 22/09/2014 21:00

trinity Oh how I love thee, cerazette, thee of the no periods!

thereinmadnesslies · 22/09/2014 21:07

Chipped I had Dianette prescribed by consultant too, as one of the stages of treatment before having roaccatane for acne. Then after I had DS1 I was told that my local health authority will no longer authorise Dianette. Apparently it's both an old-style pill and v expensive. Annoyingly after I came off Dianette I was prescribed Yasmin which triggered the acne again. I don't want another course of roaccatane as I would like another baby, and every other pill I've tried hasn't agreed with me. So frustrating.

Chippednailvarnish · 22/09/2014 21:16

There maybe you should ask to see a consultant? I went on Yasmin and it gave me panic attacks, not to mention my skin was terrible.

rainbowinmyroom · 22/09/2014 21:19

That's just it. I have to take time off work to see doctors. I would have had some very sharp words with him and asked to see the practice manager straight after about how to make a complaint in writing.

Pishedorf · 22/09/2014 21:27

The dianette thing isn't because of Price. It's because the risk of a thrombotic event is pretty much double what it is for most of the other pills (Yasmin and Marvelon are the other two that have high stroke factors).

If it's used just purely for contraception then it is unlicensed now because of this. If it's used for skin/PCOS it's another kettle of fish.

trinity0097 · 22/09/2014 21:27

Moxon, it's fab, not had one for about 8 years!

TheJourney22 · 22/09/2014 21:29

Do NOT have the depo injection!

angeltulips · 22/09/2014 21:34

Ugh. When I went to pick up my latest repeat of microgynon they had switched it with levest. Which is apparently "exactly the same". Um, no it's not! After 3 months of constant bleeding and depressive moods I finally twigged and went back to the doctor and demanded to change back. I can't believe they prescribe a different pill without making you see a doctor or nurse - I picked it up from reception! (Esp because I've been dragging myself in twice a year to have my - always perfect - blood pressure measured by a nurse for no reason). The doctor was apologetic but a bit flappy about why they'd unilaterally changed it.

So maybe he's got the wrong end of the stick about microgynon? Apparently it's being phased out on the NHS. I'll pay for it privately if that's the case.

Darkesteyes · 22/09/2014 21:43

Im alarmed to see you should only have depo for two years I had it for FIVE.