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.

This is a wind up, right?

I’m starting to think it must be.

My DP has ED.

PIV is rarely on the table.

I must get to dumping him.

If you weren't using protection, your current pregnancy wasn't an accident.

Well no one forced you to have sex. I hope anyway.

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.

Like these were your only options?

Condoms, no PIV, morning after pill.

OP here- some interesting responses!

Just to clarify, we didn’t have unprotected sex over the 7 months I was waiting for an appointment actually. One (un)lucky time we had a contraception fail. I can’t go on any other contraception due to health issues so coil, condoms, sterilisation and vasectomy are the only choices.

I can’t make someone have a vasectomy because it is a medical procedure, although I have expressed that I am annoyed.

For me it’s a happy little accident, but for other people it won’t be.

So did you go for the morning after pill if, presumably, the condom broke?

Or call up for an emergency coil fitting at any available clinic if you can't take the MAP.

Oh and the incident happened on holiday in a country where the morning after pill is not legal, so it was not an option for us.

Also why should we abstain from PIV sex while we wait more than 7 months for an appointment to become available? We are in love and enjoy regular intimacy.

So which method of contraception failed you - a condom - as you are waiting for a coil, and not sterilised and no vasectomy for your DP

Sooo MAP ?!

And original point, no, don’t have sex, or do what needs doing - protection and after protection ie MAP if it fails

Popsicales that’s really interesting- once the baby is born I will investigate this option and see if I can bypass the GP. I’ve only ever thought of the GP for contraception advice, so that was my default!

Cross post

Fine, but still you took that risk - anyone who pregnancy would have been a disaster needs to abstain if in another country anyway

Also why should we abstain from PIV sex while we wait more than 7 months for an appointment to become available?

Because you don’t want a child. Ffs it really not difficult to not get pregnant.

I don’t get PIV very often. So you’re saying I’m not getting intimacy with my partner?

Even if he agreed to a vasectomy, you have to wait several months to get the all clear to have unprotected sex. So by your reckoning of 'why should you wait' you'd probably end up pregnant again. Would that also be the NHS's fault?

Long waiting times for contraception are an inconvenience yes but your fertility and family planning is your own responsibility. You could have got a coil elsewhere or even paid if you weren't prepared to wait for a free one.

I can see the point that it's not the NHS fault that you got pregnant. But it shouldn't take that long for an appointment either.

Also interested in the comments which don't allow for any contraceptive failures - but on threads about termination people would (rightly) be flamed for suggesting a woman should take more care not to get pregnant

I can’t go on any other contraception due to health issues so coil, condoms, sterilisation and vasectomy are the only choices

Diaphragm and spermicide?

It's such a long wait though, I can see how an unplanned pregnancy could occur. You can't make an appt at my surgery. They send them to you. I had my consultation in June, the first appt came through for the 2nd week of September followed by another letter 2 days later rearranging it for the next week. I then had to cancel that appt as dc2 fell & cut his head meaning I spent the morning in minor injuries waiting for him to be stitched up & monitored (he has a condition that means head injuries are a bit more worrying than normal). They got very shitty that I had to cancel it (despite the fact it wasn't something I could control). My new date is the last week of November so, in total, 24 weeks from 1st consult to getting it fitted.

Ok so of course I’m not blaming the NHS for getting pregnant!! Of course I take responsibility and know it’s down to our personal choices (which are actually quite limited in our circumstances!). It’s just a bad state of affairs everyone I know is waiting so long for an appointment. At a population level- this will be costing the NHS more due to unwanted pregnancies arising, so it is actually poor economics. Same with diabetes- which costs 10% of the budget- not enough goes on prevention (and of course this is not the NHS’s fault!)

I actually work for the NHS and know full well the pressures it’s under. It has only just occurred to me what an issue this is in my social circle and what the impact is for women. I’m not saying it’s not people’s personal responsibility to prevent pregnancy, but it will happen as it’s human nature. It doesn’t help that sterilisation and vasectomy ops are now being rationed either.

Condoms in the interim. And go to a sexual health clinic to get it fitted, you can usually book an appointment within the week.
Piss poor excuse to get pregnant by 'accident'.

YABU

It's the people having unprotected sex that are causing unwanted pregnancies.

Why couldn’t you use a cap and condoms?

Condoms
Alternatives to PIV sex

Really not hard to work out, OP.

How exactly do you prevent T1 diabetes?

"I think if the NHS want to save money they would be biting the hands off anyone who wanted a coil."
The NHS doesn't pay for contraception, the council does. They're struggling just as much.