To be annoyed that my GP doesn't want to give me the pill?

[AVirginLitTheCandle]

I realise he's just doing his job and I probably am BU but I just need to vent and hopefully get some advice.

I have taken the pill on and off over the past 11 years with no problems however my dad has suffered two blood clots over the past couple of years. Because of this the GP is now reluctant to prescribe me the pill as he feels it's too risky.

I'm annoyed but now I have no clue what my options are. I have just recently entered a new relationship and I don't want to rely on condoms alone. I had the implant a few years ago and hated it - mood swings, depression, heavy and painful periods, etc. So that's out.

So what does that leave? Mini pill, coil (no thanks!) or injection (which is what GP is pushing me to have). I've read up on the injection previously and it just sounds horrible.

Arrggh, I want my pill, damn it!

sarah both myself and my GP knew about the blood clotting issue last time it was prescribed. We discussed it and he was happy to prescribe it despite the family risks. He's not any more even though nothing has changed since then.

I was going to say ... new partner ? like going back to being a teenager ... how about back to condoms? Then I saw you are 25 (from my ancient age bracket with 2 teenagers seems nearer teenage) ..... why not use condoms for a while ? I did after my first for 3 years - I felt like a needed to give my system a break from chemicals and it worked fine ... then had number 2 and then my husband had a vasectomy....

Yeah it's really annoying isn't it when a health professional, whose services are free to you at the point of need, makes an informed decision based on years of training and experience, in order to fulfill their responsibility to help safeguard your health.

Incidentally OP how old are you because in my experience, that affects your hormonal contraception options

Read up on the risks and decide if they are worth it. If they are find another GP to prescrise, as long as you understand the risks it's your decision to make.

I take yazmin, higher risk of clotting than other combined types, plus I take other medication that carries this risk. But it's my risk to take, and without this pill I am so depressed I feel suicidal for two weeks of the month. It's about weighing up risk and making an informed choice. Family planning clinic is the best source of information so go there and make the choice that carries the least risk under your circimstances.

I had to stop taking the combined pill due to migraines. I wasn't keen on mini pill as I'd heard you had to take it at the same time each day (like within 3 hrs) and I'm pretty forgetful/ keep irregular hours. But doc prescribed Cerazette which has 12 hr window and was frankly MUCH better than combined pill. No periods at all, no PMS, fewer spots etc as lower dose. And it's supposed to be better for you. I came off the pill a while ago and I'm now pregnant but I wouldn't go back to the combined pill later even if they offered it to me. It's definitely worth a try.

It could be that your GP has done some reading/talked to other docs since first prescribing and now feels that on balance the risk is too high for you. Guidance changes over time. It could be worth trying mini pill (progesterone only pill). Personally I find mirena or copper coil fantastic so please don't discount these straight away! So good not to have to remember a pill every day. Fitting really not that painful (had two copper coils before having my baby, now mirena post-baby) though would avoid copper coil if heavier periods would concern you. Getting it fitted at sexual health clinic may help as they fit loads. Definitely worth an appointment with GP or at sexual health clinic to discuss options in more detail.

The mini pill is the best. I haven't had a period in a decade.

Mini pill (eg cerazette) is ok for those with increased blood clot risk
I really like it as you take continously with no breaks, so no fluctuating hormomes, and in my case, no periods :)

Mini pill is your friend here. I had to have that for the same reason.
Unfortunately after little ones, i don't get on with every single type of mini pill there is!
Until a few months ago i was on the injection which i got on really well with, but I've had to stop it as i need a bone scan which the NHS don't do, so i have to pay and i just don't have the money at the moment.
The bone thing does scare the shit out of me, I am 99% sure I'm done with babies but the delay in being able to conceive again is another thing that worries me about it, just in case me and my last egg change my mind in a few years time!

In short (i got carried away there!) go back, get the mini pill. The doctor should have explained it better with you, not just say "no". Even if it was "we will put you on the mini pill for now, heres a leaflet about other ways to protect yourself"

My mum had a blood clot and I'm on Cerelle ( was Cerazette)
No problems and best of all no periods!!

How old was your father when he had the blood clot ?

Ooh that bastard doctor trying to keep you alive whilst not charging you for their services

What's wrong with the mini-pill exactly? Have been on it for 10 years now, no periods (yippee!!) much prefer it to the combined pill. A much better option.

Cap - brilliant. No side effects. OK once you get used to it. If used with condoms - v. safe

You can ask to have the coil fitted at your local gynae. We refer people who can have that in general practice although there may be a much longer wait.
You could speak to the coil fitter about the problems you have had during smears, we occasionally have women who have diazepam before hand to help relax them.
Maybe worth investigating?

Your doctor is being sensible. YABU.

It is the oestrogen in the combined pill that can be a problem re. blood clots. So look for a progesterone only contraception. This is why your doc is talking about the injection - it is progesterone only.

Cerazette was brilliant for me. It is different to combined pill as is progesterone only. Unlike many mini pills, you have a 12 hour window in which to take it. On it, I had no periods, no PMT, and it's my understanding that there is no extra risk of osteoperosis (which I understand is a risk with the injection as you get older).

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception-guide/pages/the-pill-progestogen-only.aspx

Nothing is wrong with the mini pill. I've even said that it looks like the most likely option right now alongside condoms.

I'm going to make an appointment at the FPC anyway to discuss all the options in detail. I know the GP only has ten minutes appointment slot so not really enough every time for me to talk about/ask about everything I want to know so FPC is no doubt better for that.

How old was your father when he had the blood clot ?

I think he was about 45/46?

I've ended up in A + E with a suspected blood clot of the heart or lung thanks to the pill, and it was terrifying. As was my heartbeat indescribably starting skipping beats setting the monitor alarm off. The doctor ignored my attempt to explain my heart does that sometimes and had been impossible to predict to be at the doctors for them to check it when it happened as i was worried what it was, and instead insisted i took the monitor off my finger. I never so much as nudged the bloody thing!
I never did get a diagnosis what caused my extreme chest pains, just told it was "probably" just inflamed lung lining. I continued having that pain, on and off for hours every single day for 10 months, and i wasn't allowed to go on that brand pill again.
I was put on loestrin, a pill with only half the estrogen but thats still as highl effective as a regular dose pill. Could that not be an option?

Anything without oestrogen will be fine.

Have a read of this leaflet (from fpa) and head to gp or gum clinic and try something else. Mini pill like cerezette is often a good place to start.

Vaginal ring is combined hormones so not good in your case even though local admin, same problem with patch. But many still to try!

Your older now. There are lower risks in general until your early 20s so that may have cancelled out the increased risk from your dad, but now it doesn't.

FPC and mini pill sound like a good idea

Help if I Link the link!

www.fpa.org.uk/sites/default/files/your-contraceptive-choices-chart.pdf

Prefacing with not a doctor...is there blood test you can ask for which will determine if you actually have an inherited clotting risk from your father as opposed to it's a possibility ?

You say you don't want to rely on condoms alone - what about observing your cycle /temperature method and only having piv sex on the non-fertile days, with condoms?

If used correctly, condoms are pretty safe, and combined with another method that I think is not very safe (sorry!) you should achieve a satisfying level of protection.

Also, you would probably be able to tell if the condom broke and take the morning after pill - which is probably also a risk, but a one-off thing, and not a permanent risk like the contraception pill.

Be sensible, your GP is only trying to keep you alive.

Your older now.

You make it sound like I'm completely past it

Once I got over the fear of not having a period (and therefore maybe being pregnant without realising - yes, over-anxious) switching to Cerazette was great.