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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

210 replies

AVirginLitTheCandle · 15/11/2016 15:41

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! Angry Sad

OP posts:
Meadows76 · 15/11/2016 19:51

According to that it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to have a coil fitted. none of mine have taken anything more than 2 minutes, and I think that was just because my stupid muscles pushed the speculum out while she was picking up coil. The appointment for a coil fit are double appointments so 20 mins in total, it's not all fitting time though,

OllyBJolly · 15/11/2016 19:55

I would agree with going to the Family Planning Clinic. they are specialists with in-depth knowledge of the latest research.

I had a cap after years on the pill. I was moved on to Cerazette which really didn't agree with me - just constant bleeding.

The cap was great. (So retro me!) The doctor said it was hardly used as perceived as too fiddly and restrictive but I just found it dead easy.

jacks11 · 15/11/2016 19:58

Don't feel stupid OP! I have a leaflet I give out which covers the risks/benefits of each method and it's nearly the length of my desk when unfolded!

KarmaNoMore · 15/11/2016 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ratbagratty · 15/11/2016 20:05

What about the patch? New one once a week for 3 weeks then off for one. Is lower dosage than the pill.

kerryob · 15/11/2016 20:12

My coil took a few minutes to fit not 15-20 minutes!

If you are looking at the coil go to a women's clinic, they are much more experienced in fitting them and they do it pretty much every day so should put you at ease. I had some pain when they opened my cervix but I wasn't anaesthetised when I had it done as I wasn't fussed as I knew what to expect. I had the mirena originally but swapped for copper. I got super hormonal on the mirena I cried at randoms dying in casualty!

My DH has had lots of blood clots & ended up with several PEs. It was terrifying , if you can find something for contraception that reduces that risk take instead of your old pill. It's not worth it as you do have other choices

Crazycatladyloz82 · 15/11/2016 20:32

I had an awful reaction to ceravette as has everyone I know who has taken it. I bleed constantly, was bloated all the time, packed on the pounds and developed huge cysts on my face. Friends had the continual bleeding and bloating to. I am facing a similar decision now on contraception as due to pregnancy complications I can't have yasmin anymore

changedname26 · 15/11/2016 20:41

You can have an anaesthetic for the coil in think in some cases? I had mine with a spinal anaesthetic and stayed one night in hospital. I have vaginimsis which means i find a speculum incredibly hard to tolerate so clinic wasnt an option at all.. admittedly mine was put in for suspected endometriosis but there were 3 other ladies having them fitted too, all under anaesthetic.

Stitchfusion · 15/11/2016 20:46

What a strange thread, and some very strange responses, with fortunately a few bits of sanity thrown in.
OP, your risk of having a blood clot is high because of your father having had blood clots. The pill increases the risk of blood clots. Put them both together, and your risk of a stroke becomes very very high. Too high for a responsible health professional to recommend it.

claraschu · 15/11/2016 20:47

The cap doesn't hurt at all. You don't feel it once it is in, and putting it in was not hard for me. Perhaps a very squeamish person who is not comfortable with her own body might feel uncomfortable putting something over the cervix. I got my cervical cap when I had only had sex once, so I was not very used to anything except tampons in that area...

I managed just fine.

Vanillagirl00 · 15/11/2016 20:50

The ring is so good! Nuvaring- google it! The same hormones as the pill but less likely to have side effects/risks due to 'localised' effect. Just have to change it every 3 weeks rather than remembering every day also. There's an app that can remind you when to take it etc also

mummyto2monkeys · 15/11/2016 21:16

I haven't read the whole thread (I have a stinking cold/ chest infection) but wanted to reply as I was in the exact same situation ten years ago. My Mum has had multiple spontaneous blood clots as well as several near fatal pulmonary embolisms. Three of her brothers have had blood clots, two were fatal having turned to PE's. My grandfather (Mums father) also had several blood clots. I was being investigated by gynae and they found I had polycystic ovaries and wanted to tricycle my contraceptive pill. The gynae took a full history and panicked when she realised that I was on the pill, she contacted the haemotology clinic who insisted that I come off hormonal contraceptive.

At this point my husband and I had been married for over a year and made the decision to start our family instead. Three months later, I fell pregnant. Because of my family history I was classed as high risk and referred to consultant led care. My consultant contacted haematology and the head of haematology along with his team met with my antenatal team. It was decided that because of the risk, I would have to take twice daily dalteparin (heparin/ blood thinning) injections throughout my entire pregnancy and for six weeks after. (This was for any subsequent pregnancies too).

I breastfed my son and was offered the mini pill as contraception. My gp said that it was only the estrogen hormones that increased the risk of blood clots. So I successfully used the mini pill between the birth of my son and my second pregnancy and after. I would urge you to take the risk to your health very seriously. When I was pregnant with my son, I read about a young woman who's Mother had died in pregnancy due to a blood clot. When the young woman became pregnant she begged her g.p to refer her to consultant care to discuss the risk of blood clots. This young woman and her families concerns were ignored and she too died after a blood clot travelled from her leg to her lungs at twenty weeks pregnant. Your g.p is on the ball and absolutely right to refuse you the combined pill. I would ask about the possibility of using the mini pill, or as I see someone has already suggested contact the family planning clinic. You can use the mini pill with condoms for double protection, it certainly worked alongside breastfeeding after my son and with condoms after my daughter was born (unable to breastfeed).

Original poster
AVirginLitTheCandle · 15/11/2016 21:51

I think the patch has the same hormone as the pill.

Well this thread has given me a lot to think about. Thanks everyone for their suggestions/advice Smile

OP posts:
BuggersMuddle · 15/11/2016 22:19

I can understand you GP's reluctance, but do you know if there were any lifestyle factors that contributed to your dad's clots?

I take the mini-pill because I find it agrees with me far better than the combined pill. I am continually nagged about long acting contraceptives actually, which I find bloody odd given my age (mid 30s), relationship status (more than 10 years) and the fact I have no kids. Not trying to make this about me fwiw, but simply that it's bloody obvious they have targets for certain contraceptive options where I live...

Having said that, my DF also had a DVT. He was over 50, a smoker, has high BP and is fond of the vino (not an alcoholic, but certainly doesn't drink within government guidelines). On the basis that I am not a smoker, have a low BP and am slightly less fond of the vino, they have been quite happy to prescribe to me. I guess what I'm wondering is if it's lifestyle or genetics. If it's unclear, I think they are probably right erring on the side of caution and a discussion about the mini-pill or coil might be the way forward.

Having said that, condoms are pretty effective with proper usage and I dunno about you, but having ditched them only twice, we had a full and open STD screen beforehand. It wasn't about distrust, just a natural step.

sj257 · 15/11/2016 22:24

Cerazette is amazing, no periods WOO!

Tippytappytoes · 15/11/2016 22:31

I should imagine your Dr is worried you have Factor 5 Leiden, which usually runs in families. It causes your blood to clot faster/easier. I was sent for genetic testing a few years ago and found to have it. I have the depo injection and it works for me. It's handy to know that I have it, I take precautions on long hall flights etc

havingabadhairday · 15/11/2016 22:38

Cerazette was a nightmare for me, I have read since that it shouldn't be prescribed to anyone with a history of mental health issues.

Other mini pills were ok. I was also offered a low dose oestrogen combined pill despite having migraines with aura, the GP I saw said they would be ok. I turned it down as I'd had other problems with the combined pill and wasn't sorry to stop taking it.

expatinscotland · 15/11/2016 22:44

Cerazette made me bleed non-stop for months. It does this to about 15% of users.

sj257 · 15/11/2016 22:50

That's interesting actually....was on it long term from my youngest (8.5 now) being a baby until about a year ago (now 31 weeks pregnant). I've suffered from depression and anxiety in that time....

Original poster
AVirginLitTheCandle · 16/11/2016 00:05

Think I have decided to triple check they won't prescribe me the pill before making any further decisions.

Someone mentioned up thread (can't remember who) about a blood test to check whether the blood clots are hereditary. Do you think it will look weird if I asked for one? I just really don't see the point in switching contraception unless there really is a very good need and it seems silly to me if it's not hereditary.

We still don't know the cause of the blood clots. There wasn't any trigger for them. I guess that's possibly why the GP is being cautious too. At least if there was a reason for the blood clots we would have a better idea if/how much I'd be at risk.

OP posts:
BuggersMuddle · 16/11/2016 01:24

Cerazette was awful for me, but I know people it works really well for. I take Micronor. It's old school, but as I keep telling the doctors, I've had various horrible side effects and I'm reluctant to put my body on a 4-6 month 'trial programme' unless there's a bloody good reason.

I have other medical conditions and so I stand really firm unless they can give me a concrete benefit beyond 'this is our new standard' or 'this is the cheapest' (which IME they will never say).

butterfliesandzebras · 16/11/2016 02:02

Well, having had both, I have to say that the pain of a blood clot (days of agony, months of discomfort) was far worse than the pain of having a coil fitted (a minute or so of discomfort and a few seconds of pain). And from other responses it seems like you have other contraceptive choices anyway.

I think you would be absolutely mad to push for taking something that might increase your risk of a blood clot (you do realise if you have one you could die?) when there are safe and effective alternatives.

I believe you can get blood tests for a number of 'known' genetic conditions that would increase you odds of having a blood clot, but even if they all came back negative you (and your father) might still have something as yet 'unknown'.

(And I'm dubious about the previous posters saying they are happy take the risk because they are 'healthy' - it's their own choice but my blood clot was despite being perfectly healthy, never smoked, fit, exercised, ate well, etc and having zero family history... that I knew about).

kali110 · 16/11/2016 02:06

You could go on cerezette(mini pill) which you take everyday without a break.
The mini pill is fine to take ( atleast
That's what a few speciAlists and docs have said, as it only contains progestogen.
This is the same ingredients as the injection (however some won't offer this if there's a history of dvt/clots.)
The contraceptive ring is the same ingredients as the pill you were taking so you won't be able to take that.
i love cerazette. Been over 10 years and it's great.
My friends been on it a couple of years and had no problems either.
Different people react to different things.
Take your health seriously.
A clot can easily be missed/passed off as something else.
It is not pleasant. It can be terrifying and fucking painful.
That's if it's caught.
Don't take the risk.
Go back to your gp and go through your options together.

clarabartlett · 16/11/2016 02:34

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indigox · 16/11/2016 02:40

I was 21, not overweight and healthy when I got a huge blood clot with no clotting disorder so yes YABU. Don't follow the ridiculous advice on here to go back and demand you get the pill.