To think my doctor should take my mirena out when asked???

[ScienceIsTruth]

Just that really.

Went to see consultant today as still bleeding constantly 2 years after having mirena fitted for heavy periods, although not as heavily.

Asked them to remove it as it's not really helping and the side effects (no libido, etc) are really getting me down, and they've basically refused.

They want to try me on another hormonal medication for 6 months first, whilst keeping the mirena in (because I had trouble when it was put in!).
But there's a waiting list for this medication as it's an injection they have to do, and I'm looking at least an 8 week wait.

Thanks, flamingo, that makes sense. My concern about mental health is still there though - surely medication (including contraceptives) which have depression as a side effect should be among the first causes considered when patients are seeking mental health treatment?

X post - I never had an implant put in or removed/changed by a doctor. It was always use GUM clinics and it has always been a nurse.

Practice nurse will take it out

Even after my spouse had a vasectomy, I was hard sold that fucking coil every time I went in, for whatever reason

After the birth of DC3, DH went to the GP to ask about a vasectomy and was told no. The GP then went on to say that he (DH) should get me to make an appointment for a coil fitting instead! The appointment wasn't even about me, it was about DH making a choice over his body and his fertility yet the attitude was still "dude, you have a wife to take care of that shit".

I refused to get a coil, GP refused vasectomy, we ended up with a surprise DC4. Between hyperemesis (which the GP refused to give me medication for even though she'd gotten a letter from obstetrics telling her I needed it), transverse lie, bed rest, complex caesarean due to excessive adhesions and scarring, sepsis, secondary PPH, and a baby with DDH, jaundice, and failure to thrive I had a fairly shitty eighteen months of constant hospital visits and admissions.

DH went back to the GP and told her what the consultant who delivered DD had said - my body cannot safely support another pregnancy and due to the level of adhesions I have I should not have any abdominal surgeries unless absolutely essential. He asked again for a vasectomy and was again told that I should get a coil, again trying to push treatment on me when the appointment was not about me and I was not present.

He ended up going to see a different GP, took me with him, we were again asked if I would consider a coil and I refused in person. He got his vasectomy.

This isn’t the establishment oppressing women, just the current state of the NHS

I couldn’t disagree more!

Isobel it's tricky - 1/3 of my consultations are for mental health problems, on average. Of those a fair number will obviously be women of childbearing age. A significant number of which are using contraception of one type or another, often predating the mental health symptoms by a long time.
Side effects and risks of contraceptives are highest when first initiated so we don't want to keep chopping and changing unnecessarily.
If someone comes in and says their mental health has deteriorated since starting a new contraceptive I'd always change it. But it's very rarely clear cut like that.
Many women are also quite reluctant to change or stop contraceptives if they feel they're working for them too (which are the majority generally - albeit not the majority on this thread of course!). Fear of pregnancy is very very real and the impact on mental health of an unplanned pregnancy is important to consider and discuss too.
Mental health side effects of contraception are probably under-reported, I'd agree with PPs on that. But it's very difficult to disentangle from other causes in practice!

flamingo, that makes sense. It still relies on the patient recognising the link between contraceptives and mental health though. And, given that 15% of people report experiencing MH side effects perhaps it should at least be mentioned. Especially because it isn't a side effect which has ever been highlighted to me (which is concerning given the prevalence).

Please OP, google 'sexual health services' in your area and ring their central booking line/book online, and get yourself an appointment with them.

There's no need to go private or pull it out yourself.

I hear you Bearfrills, I have four DC. I refused to have a coil. DH and I had to have a joint visit to the GP to discuss a vasectomy. The GP thought DH was too young. He thought DH might have more DC - just not with me. The GP gave us a talk on how sperm worked and what would happen after the operation. I kid you not - the GP said that Sammy Sperm would not be able to meet Ova the Egg after the op and were we OK with that? Words fail. DH had the procedure done privately in the end.

FFS, Bear, why am I not surprised? I saw an episode of 'GPs Behind Closed Doors' filmed in Bristol. A man presented, alone, wanting a vasectomy, only to be told no, that his wife needed to try every form of contraception and have them fail (possibly including another pregnancy) before he could be considered for vasectomy. I was fucking agog. Now even a man is not according autonomy over his own fertility!

Thankfully, my h had no problems accessing the procedure, which was his choice. He went alone to both consultations and even went with a male friend, who'd had the procedure himself years ago, to have it as I had to stay at home with our children, one of whom has autism.

Yet I was still hard sold that Mirena until I had it added to my notes that I was not having it, ever again, due to adverse side effects, am married in a monogamous relationship and my husband had the all-clear from vasectomy.

His vasectomy and my not being on hormones revolutionised our sex life! It's been terrific. Now our children are old and more self-sufficient (our son has high-functioning autism and is doing great, on track to go to uni in a few years), we're like newlyweds again.

Just had our first holiday alone together since our honeymoon. Bliss!

Go to a sexual health clinic.

I had a mirena in for 18 months, spotted every day, made me feel like shit and tearful. I'm clearly very lucky as I walked into the SHC, spoke to to doctor said I wanted it removed. 10 mins later it was a out. I went back to the same place a year later, again walked in, requested it had the copper coil in fitted within an hour with no issues since.

Urgh that is toe curlingly cringeworthy!

Well I've read a lot of reports/articles that there were financial incentives

gps.camdenccg.nhs.uk/cdn/serve/enhanced-service-specification/1478865303-82d35baeb5628c1500da15315a557a53.pdf?dl=1

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3022358/Why-GPs-keen-push-coil-ruin-women-s-lives-Yes-s-perfect-contraceptive-suffering-terrible-effects.html

"doctors receive a payment of around £70 for each coil they fit, Dr Stokes-Lampard says this is not the reason so many recommend them to their patients"

This article also interestingly points out GP's save by not having to regularly see patients for regular review of the pill. It's also cheaper than the pill.

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/11678916/IUS-hormonal-coil-The-troubling-truth.html

the longer a woman waits to have her IUS removed, the more cost-effective it becomes.

I see ABSOLUTELY No reason why they're being pushed on women who's partners have had vasectomies UNLESS there's a financial incentive.

So no I'm not buying that claim.

Bearfrills that's absolutely fucking ridiculous they shouldn't even be discussing YOUR medical info with your husband without you even being there! Let alone your consent! Wtf is wrong with these Drs? I'd have complained based ok breaching patient confidentiality!

"But it's very difficult to disentangle from other causes in practice!"

While that may be true it doesn't excuse when drs don't listen to patients or dismiss/ignore them altogether.

EVERY single issue with perimenopause and it's 'Get a Mirena' so I had to have it put in my notes

Bloody good point.

Is Mirena actually suitable for women with a history of depression? I thought not, so was surprised to be recommended it by a GP when I was in the dark midst of a period of severe distress (which guess what, was alleviated by the HRT I had to fight for), and I also had a previous history of PND.

I honestly think a Mirena trapped inside my body for six months would have been catastrophic for me - and my family.

I went to a local contraception/sexual health clinic to get my coil removed by a nurse there as the wait was too long for my GP.

When I wanted another one put in after having our last baby, the wait for an appointment was over 2 months Same story for a contraceptive implant at both GP or alternative clinic. Whilst I understand people should take their own responsibility it does seem a little worrying that changes such as the 2 child limit on tax credits have been made and a lot of families are very hard up, yet accessing reliable contraception can be a lengthy process

Just read last post am at doc waiting for appt about peri menopause symptoms!
Forewarned is forewarned.

Why would they push it for that?

So sorry to the OP and everyone else who has suffered.
Just to present a different experience - I had a copper coil for 10 years and it was brilliant. No side effects, no pain, no unwanted pregnancies. Would 100% recommend.
Some LARC is amazing.

Oh, you know us women, Graphista, probably making it up about being in a monogamous relationship for decades with our spouses who've had successful sterlisation!

In your late 40s with still regular, but very light, asymptomatic periods but suffering from debilitating hot flushes and sweats that are effecting your customer-facing job and sleep? Of course you don't need HRT of any sort, you just need a Mirena and anti-depressants, no other option is suitable, despite reporting negative side effects with both in the past.

All I can say is thank fuck for MN perimenopause/menopause board and Menopause Matters.

@NothingOnTellyAgain, because it's cheap and long-lasting? Supposed to sort out heavy bleeding. A GP might also offer anti-depressants. They may also give you a load of out-of-date scare stories about HRT and cancer / strokes / dying of the ague.

I had to read my otherwise excellent the NICE guidelines to get HRT. He still faffed. Sent me to a gynae who rolled her eyes, said, 'I get so fed up of hearing this nonsense', y and wrote a letter requesting him to prescribe HRT and Ovestin asap.

I feel so much better on it.

Just read last post am at doc waiting for appt about peri menopause symptoms!
Forewarned is forewarned.

Get over to the MN menopause/perimenopause boards and Menopause Matters NOW! A poster called QueenoftheNights is especially helpful when it comes to the options available. You can use low-dose HRT in perimenopause excepting with some extreme circumstances.

Best thing I ever did.

I was literally about to have a copper coil in, and they still kept asking if I wanted a mirena. No, and I didn't the other ten times you asked either. Copper coil is fine thanks!

If you are in your late 40s, you will be assumed to be in perimenopause.

I was literally about to have a copper coil in, and they still kept asking if I wanted a mirena. No, and I didn't the other ten times you asked either. Copper coil is fine thanks!

Yeah, that seems to happen a lot, too. 'I want a copper coil as I want no hormones'. 'Oh, don't you want a Mirena?' 'Are you incapable of interpreting language? I am here for a copper coil as I want no hormones.'

It appears to be that when it works, it works great, but when it doesn't, you're disbelieved, fobbed off and denied removal.

Is the copper coil more expensive, by chance? It's more rigid, and associated with heavier periods, but if you know this and still go ahead well, why still ask if the patient wants a Mirena?