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.

Your joking aren’t you? OMG what a pathetic way of thinking! Haven’t you heard of the pill, condoms? Some people need serious help! I really don’t think you should be responsible for a child!!! 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈

FermatsTheorem A 7 month wait for a coil fitting isn't ok. However, not having a coil doesn't mean the NHS is responsible for two adults choosing not to use any of the other forms of contraception. At the end of the day if adults choose to have unprotected sex then they are open to pregnancy. If they arent open to pregnancy then they should use contraception or abstain.

Yabu!

My gp surgery doesn't fit coils so I had to go to a family planning clinic. I waited 6 weeks for the initial appointment (where they do the test for STIs) then waited a further 5/6 weeks for the actual fitting.

Yes it was a long time to wait but they gave me two months worth of pills to get me through to the fitting appointment.

The weeks leading up to my first appointment meant dp and I didn't have intercourses (and it was a fairly knew relationship!) We both hate condoms but didn't want to risk pregnancy so we spent those 6 weeks with foreplay and giving each other orgasms other ways.

Looking back two years later it seems like a short blip of time now and tbh we did enjoy those weeks of getting to know each other's bodies without intercourse.

Why on earth would anyone who doesn't want a pregnancy risk getting pregnant for the sake of a few weeks/months of no intercourse or not just use condoms? In the grand scheme of things, although it doesn't feel like it at the time, it's really no time at all.

You don't have to stay sexually frustrating because there are other ways of giving each other pleasure!

Local family planning clinic fitted mine without much of a wait. You don’t have to wait for a GP appointment.

Lots of assumption that people have access to a family planning clinic. Ours is under 25s only.

Lots of not reading, too, Jacques. People! The OP used condoms while she was waiting for her coil appointment.

You’re being unreasonable !

It took ages to the implant done. I just didn't have sex

I haven't RTFT but wanted to know, have I missed in the news that there's a shortage or Mirenas? Mine is good for a few years yet but perfect for me so I'd be sad to not be able to have another when this one is taken out.

I couldn't get on with contraception. The pill gave me side effects as did the mirena coil. I had a copper coil for a while but the bleeding made me anaemic. DH doesn't like condoms so he had a vasectomy. If you don't want more children then something has to give. Just for your info, my DH found the vasectomy virtually painless and has never had any problems or pain.

MaisyPops - the OP explains in some later posts that they are unable to use the pill and that they were using condoms but that one failed. Which is, of course, why LARCs are pushed instead of short term contraception.

OP is talking about a link between poor access to contraceptives and an increase in unwanted conceptions. She is not blaming the NHS for her own pregnancy! I think it’s terrible women face such long delays but that’s just the state of the NHS and ultimately due to austerity. There’s been a lot of misunderstanding here- the OP DID act responsibly in trying not to get pregnant. The nonsense some people have written about PIV and her husband is ridiculous! The OP sounds like she’s in a good position but other women won’t be - and it wouldn’t always be their fault despite what the judging posters claim (failed contraception, sexual coercion, rape in relationships all happen in the real world). I feel a bit sad reading these comments. So unsupportive of the shit women have to deal with.

RTFT please people! So many stupid comments about taking the pill and using condoms!

Sorry if someones said this but women in abusive relationships are likely to be at risk. My ex repeatedly raped me, refused condoms, would throw my pills out, wouldn't have let me go to 3 monthly appts for the injection as I was terrified he would work out what it was for etc. The coil saved an innocent baby being brought into abuse.

NacreousOne condom failure = straight to pharmacy to get the morning after pill (available either for free or at a cost depending on local service) If someone doesn't want to be pregnant then there's a number of options available. At the end of the day the NHS is not responsible for 2 adults having sex and not making decisions surrounding contraception.

Not at all. Don't have sex or use other methods of contraception while you wait. blaming the NHS for you deciding to have unprotected sex which led to a pregnancy? Doesn't sound right, does it?

maisypops the OP was on holiday in a country where the morning after pill is not legal when the accident happened. Like I said RTFT!!

Meanwhile lots of money went into the fact that Viagra can now be bought over the counter!!!!

YY Ducks Pills can be found. An injection site or wound from an implant can be spotted.,

Of course anyone consenting to sex has a responsibility for contraception. At the same time, choices are made on a background - there are many women in abusive relationships who do not have the luxury of saying no. Rape in marriage was only made illegal twenty odd years ago - well within the lifetime of most of us on this board. Women’s rights have gone hand in hand with contraceptive access. To reduce contraceptive access (for both sexes actually, but particularly for women because the burden falls in us) is to set is back. The basis of female oppression is that we arecthe reproductive sex. The ability to control that has been probablyvthe single biggest factor in women’s liberation. ANYTHING that sets that back is to be resisted, regardless of the individual and their contraceptive and shagging choices.

Meanwhile lots of money went into the fact that Viagra can now be bought over the counter!!! Of course. For men? Sex is a right. For women? Just abstain until we get around to it.

@WaterOffADucksCrack thanks for sharing- this is the sort of situation I was talking about- plenty of other women who are going through the same thing unfortunately Glad you got out of the relationship and without an unwanted pregnancy @abilouise the OP did use condoms. It failed once. Lowering access to LARCs will lead to unwanted pregnancies for this reason and others as explained in the thread.

Don't understand the huge waiting list. The mirena coil is one of the most vile things they can put in a woman's body . They are god awful things and really wish they would stop pushing them on women instead of allowing us to have a hysterectomy . It's because of doctor / pharma politics I now have pretty severe post ablation sterilisation syndrome because no fucker listened and would give me a hysterectomy (now on the waiting list 4 years and a surprise child later)

Meanwhile lots of money went into the fact that Viagra can now be bought over the counter!!!!

Sure. By the makers of Viagra.