NHS waiting lists for coil fitting causing unplanned pregnancies

[BlueKittens]

AIBU to think that the long waiting lists to fit the (Mirena) coil are causing unplanned pregnancies? Obviously sex and failed alternative contraception is a big factor too, but don’t women have the right to timely contraception provision?

I’m currently a few months pregnant after twice being unable to secure an appointment for a coil fitting at my surgery. There wasn’t even a waiting list for appointments, I was told to come back to check if any appointments were opening up for three months time- and both times was told to come back again. GP won’t put me on pill due to risk and depot caused a reaction. DH refusing vasectomy as he knows someone who suffers chronic ball ache.

Lucky for me it’s a happy little accident, but I can’t help feeling this might be quite devastating for some women.

It’s not just my surgery. Two friends at different surgeries have just told me they have had difficulties getting an appointment too. One is waiting 5 weeks for hers and the other is on a waiting list for when an appointment becomes available, has been told a 3+ month wait. The problem is with the high level of demand and the fact that only one person in each of our surgeries can fit it.

Nevermind the personal costs of unwanted pregnancies- they cost the NHS too in terms of abortions, care etc. It just seems crazy to me, but I guess it’s not a priority in the overstretched NHS.

Op you come across as whiny and very woe-is-me because of your "limited" contraception options. My options are even more limited than yours. I am unable to use any form of hormonal contraception. This includes the mirena coil. Still never had an unplanned pregnancy. Dh and I use condoms and if we run out we don't have piv sex until we get a chance to buy some more. This does not limit our intimacy in any way and frankly, your assumption that intimacy = piv shows how lacking and substandard your relationship is. Two people are responsible for your unplanned pregnancy: you and your partner. The nhs have no responsibility for this. Get over yourself

jd and you come across as insular and incapable of critical thinking. The cuts as a WHOLE are a problem because of what it means for women GENERALLY including women in abusive relationships.

Wow JD that’s quite an assumption about the OP’s relationship and views on PIV! Perhaps it’s important for THEM not you. Different strokes for different folks hey. Also they used condoms - it failed. I don’t think the OP is at whiny and she actually states she is happy about the pregnancy now. I think she’s just pointing out the impact that these cuts can have on women and pregnancy outcomes. Sounds to me that you have issues you’re projecting onto the OP

I've found GP and family planning round my way really push the long term contraceptives so no wonder there's waiting times to get them. I had to be quite adamant I would only accept the pill!

I waited 3 months for an appointment with a gynaecologist in a private system in the EU.

Cut the NHS some slack.

HelenaDove Very well said. Totally agree with everything you've written. I am shocked by how many posters refuse to see this as a public health issue.

This is crazy. No of course waiting lists can't be blamed for unplanned pregnancies! You are presumably an adult. Accept some responsibility for your own decisions and behaviour!

I am shocked by how many posters refuse to see this as a public health issue.

Waiting times is a public health issue. It's not a good situation. It still doesn't mean that the NHS is responsible for pregnancy when adults choose to have unprotected sex / choose not to get the morning after pill in the event of a contraception failure.

Waiting times is a public health issue. It's not a good situation. It still doesn't mean that the NHS is responsible for pregnancy when adults choose to have unprotected sex / choose not to get the morning after pill in the event of a contraception failure. Yes.

Public information announcement: the morning after pill is not 100% effective. I wish people would stop acting as if it would have been. For example, its primary mechanism is delaying ovulation, so if the woman happens to have already ovulated at the time of the sexual encounter, it has very limited effectiveness.

This thread it pretty funny. We are forever declaring that people do have self control when it comes to sexual urges yet it's the NHSs fault that people get pregnant because they apparently can't cope without PIV sex for a number of weeks.
I fell pregnant on the pill, shall I complain that they didn't make it strong enough?

Sexual health is being starved of funding - we have closed clinics due to massive cuts. GPs in our area have stopped fitting coils and implants as it isn’t financially worthwhile for them. If you want efficient services (and in reality less unplanned pregnancy) it has to be paid for

Bianca Well I don’t think it’s very funny that women are having to wait for months to get access to appropriate contraception due to government cuts The OP did use alternative contraception and it failed. She couldn’t access the MAP - and anyway as another poster said it’s not very effective.

Just a little anecdote on waiting times, I’m currently on a mini-pill for reasons other than contraception (although I do also use it for contraception). I first suspected at the end of July it wasn’t working properly. I made an appointment. I’m seeing the GP next Monday...

For those saying the OP couldn't access the MAP - surely then she should have avoided PIV sex given that she knows how ineffective condoms are and that she couldn't actually access the MAP. The lack of condom success is largely due to human error. If used correctly it's highly unlikely to result in unplanned pregnancy. Who are all these people who are incapable of using them properly? OP you can't absolve yourself of responsibility just because you chose to have PIV somewhere you couldn't access the MAP.

Ffs Poesy do you think everyone does a risk assessment before having sex? bet most people don’t. You just trust the contraceptive to work. She probably didn’t know the country she was in didn’t sell the MAP. We’re human and make errors. Cut the OP some slack you horrid judgy person. Bet you’re bloody perfect aren’t you- risk assess your whole life do you? Whatever- if you want to blame the OP fine, BUT it still doesn’t make it ok to wait months for appropriate contraception due to government cuts when its government policy to offer free timely access to contraception.

Oh and also maybe she DIDN’T know how ineffective condoms are until she had an accident. It’s only in hindsight she knows that!

All these stupid comments about the OPs situation when we as women should be outraged that government cuts to sexual health services are curtailing our rights to access family planning. Women have become emancipated by getting access to decent contraception- now that right is being eroded through restricted access and you’re all ok with that? Emmeline Pankhurst & Marie Stopes will be turning in their graves.

The NHS may not be responsibility for a pregnancy, clearly, but they do end up paying out lots for it.

Waiting times, as someone said, are the responsibility of the NHS. Considering the first point, they need to sort out the second point.

The NHS would have no issue with providing contraceptive services - the problem comes when the government provides inadequate funding. In order to make the savings forced upon us we have had to close a day a week and have skeleton staffing numbers. We then fail our unrealistic KPIs and get farmed out to a private company. All while being on the receiving end of vitriol from patients who can’t see it isn’t our choice. The NHS is failing but I think that’s the plan

I had a baby in June, I can't get an appointment at my surgery for a coil fitting as only one Dr is trained and she's on mat leave, there's no appointment for a coil fitting available at the sexual health clinics and no waiting list meaning I have to try and get a walk in appointment and hope someone trained is on shift.
Can't take hormonal contraception because I have awful side effects.

I bought condoms.

It's mine and dh responsibility if we don't want another child yet.
It sucks not to have my preferred choice of contraception but I know the NHS is doing thebest it can in bad circumstances. I just have to adapt.

So yes yabu to blame the NHS for unwanted pregnancies

But the OP did use condoms. The point is that longer waits to get the coil or other LARC methods mean more accidental pregnancies in the meantime because people are relying on less effective contraception. And that will end up costing the NHS, and all of us as taxpayers, more in the long run.

Now 53rdWay, do you really think people want to understand the point the OP was making without getting the chance to dig in a few knives and give them a twist while releasing their pent up frustrations through the medium of indignant and outraged posting?

You’re being too sensible here. Nobody wants that.

HideandGo

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45447488?platform=hootsuite