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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if your GP tries to ‘persuade’ you to have the coil

192 replies

Loveskating135 · 18/07/2019 11:51

Wondering if GPs are trained to push you in the direction of getting the coil. I’ve now found a pill I’m happier on, but the GP seems to still strongly recommend the coil. I haven’t had any unwanted pregnancies or anything but this seems to be what they want you to be on...

OP posts:

Sagradafamiliar · 18/07/2019 13:25

Clicked on this because I was talking about it with a friend the other day. We were wondering why on earth there is such a push. Between us we know instances where women have gone for completely unrelated problems and they were almost talked into having it fitted there then or given an appointment for one. I find it so sinister.

BlingLoving · 18/07/2019 13:26

I completely understand why GPs encourage the coil - it is relatively cost effective, has been proven to be effective in a large majority of women etc.

HOWEVER, it infuriates me that they won't listen to women's arguments. I don't mind them suggesting it. I DO expect them to listen to me when I explain that I am not going to do it because I can't have the Mirena (not allowed hormone contraceptive) and I'm not interested in sticking a piece of copper inside my body that can only be removed after a significant wait for an appointment after I've experienced multiple issues with weird allergic reactions during and after pregnancy.

Also, while I accept that most women are fine, it is one of those things where everyone knows at least one woman who has struggled on it. It's not like the failure rate is so tiny as to be almost unnoticeable.

A friend who has been suffering has really struggled to get hers removed. Her husband is resistant (what the actual fuck?), and the nurse at her GP practice basically told her she was wrong to take it out and her husband's views are important so she must go away and think about it some more (on the day she was scheduled to have it done). Absolutely mind blowing.

Haworthia · 18/07/2019 13:29

Honestly, I find the idea of having a little contraption forced through my cervix and permanently residing in my uterus absolutely horrible. It really grosses me out. I can’t tolerate progesterone either, so my contraceptive options are REALLY limited.

So I picked up a leaflet in my GP surgery called “Thinking of female sterilisation?” Opened it and it basically said “Get a coil!”

Should have opened it straight away and put it back on the shelf

flower8169 · 18/07/2019 13:38

I've never been asked about a coil

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 18/07/2019 13:39

My GP really pushed the Mirena after DS2 was born. I developed a fibroid that was too small for surgery but made me bleed heavily and constantly. I'd tried every other contraceptive to no avail, so grudgingly agreed to the Mirena, on the proviso it was inserted under general anaesthetic, as I was almost phobic about the procedure due to a bad experience at the STD clinic years earlier.

It took 20 minutes for them to insert it, as they found I have a backwards tilting womb. The next 6 months were a nightmare: bleeding heavier than ever, severe depression and paranoia, and psychotic episodes. I already have bipolar disorder, which didn't help in the slightest. I became severely anaemic, and they still wouldn't remove it, despite me begging in floods of tears, because the Mirena costs the NHS a lot of money apparently.

I eventually went to the sexual health clinic in sheer desperation, where it was swiftly removed and I was prescribed a norethisterone-based mini pill. The nurse was appalled that I'd had the Mirena in the first place, due to my well-documented psychiatric history - it should never have been an option.

Now I never go to my GP about anything to do with my reproductive organs. I lost months of my life thanks to that infernal coil and I bitterly resent it.

BlingLoving · 18/07/2019 13:39

@haworthia, I'm currently sitting near my doctor's office and off the back of vague, at-the-back-of-my-head thoughts for a while and this thread, I think I'm going to go in and ask to make an appointment to discuss sterilisation. I hope my GP isn't like this...

JacquesHammer · 18/07/2019 13:43

where it was swiftly removed and I was prescribed a norethisterone-based mini pill

Do you mind me asking which pill you’re on? I imagine I’ll need to swap mine at some point and it would be good to be able to go back having researched a particular brand!

user87382294757 · 18/07/2019 13:47

Like a PP I have a tilted womb and they kept trying to give it to me in spite of this. I guess they think it is very effective. Not sure. I have tried the coper coil in the past prior to the surgery which caused the tilted womb issue, it was Ok but caused very heavy bleeding. Not easy. Mireya seems to be love or hate thing. They told me many health professionals and doctors use it. Maybe why they seem to like it so much.

TheGoogleMum · 18/07/2019 13:49

My old gp used to mention it every time. It was before I had a baby and in my 20s, they always ask how I am with the pill I'm on first and I always say no problems and I always remember to take it so I found it a bit annoying, why change something that's working? (I came off pill to ttc so it definately worked for me!)

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 18/07/2019 13:50

@JacquesHammer, I'm on Noriday. It used to be Micronor. Honestly, it was a revelation.

MmmBlowholes · 18/07/2019 13:50

My doctor tried to persuade me to have it after I gave birth. I did no.

scaryteacher · 18/07/2019 13:51

When I reregistered at my GP when I temporarily moved back to the UK I got 20 questions about contraception, as I am not on the pill, and won't have a coil. At the time I was rapidly approaching 48, dh was 52, and had been snipped years earlier. The push to get me to have a coil was immense, as were the intrusive questions about contraception. In the end I said dh had been snipped, so no need. The nurse was most affronted and said that wasn't in his notes. I pointed out that as he had never been registered at their surgery as he was in the RN, and they dealt with all his medical needs, I would be most interested to know how she had got to look at his file. She couldn't get rid of me fast enough after that! The coil was never mentioned again in the time I was in the UK.

wendz86 · 18/07/2019 13:52

Yes although last time when i said no she said 'she always turns it down too'

JellyBaby666 · 18/07/2019 13:52

I had the opposite, at the time I hadn't had children and was asked why I didn't want the pill as it's 'much easier' - I bypassed the GP and went to a sexual health clinic who happily fitted it! And removed it a year later when I had horrendous pain so I got the implant which made me bleed for weeks and weeks on end so I ditched all contraception and got pregnant instead

LARC (long acting reversible contraceptives) are a measured target for CCG's, as they're cheaper long term. Doesn't mean you should be having pressure to get one though!

FlurkenSchnit · 18/07/2019 13:52

I was referred quite readily by my GP for sterilisation when I was 36 after 4 kids - it was the consultant at the hospital that kept going on and on about the mirena coil.
And it was definitely the mirena he was pushing, he was dismissive of the copper coil and also of my reasons for not wanting hormonal contraception (too old and fat for combined pill and bad reactions to POP), declaring that he had never heard of any side effects caused by the mirena EVER....

rosesandcashmere · 18/07/2019 13:57

My consultant was insistent it was a miracle cure for horrific periods. Put in under a general during other treatment... had it out two years later and my cervix went into some weird shock and oh my word the PAIN. I thought she was going to pull my womb out with it.
Never did stop my periods either. Back on cerelle now and although it hasn't stopped them I've lost 1.5 stone...

Purplejay · 18/07/2019 13:57

Mine do. I went about horrific periods and they suggested the coil.

I asked if I could try the mini pill first and they said yes. It’s fantastic. My periods have stopped, no pmt, wonderful.

When I went for a check they asked if I had thought anymore about the coil! I said no because the pill is fantastic and has solved all my problems. To be fair they have now stopped asking :)

HennyPennyHorror · 18/07/2019 14:00

About 20 years ago I asked my female GP if I could have the injection...it was pretty new.

She said "No! I give that to prostitutes in Bradford who are too messed up to remember the pill!"

El0die · 18/07/2019 14:02

Yes- i'm often asked about having one and feel that i have to justify not wanting one and wanting to remain on the mini pill.

septembersunshine · 18/07/2019 14:03

Yes. I was told it could be a game changer for me... ( anemic with heavy periods). I react badly to hormones though so have held off. My doc is very convincing but I don't want it.

CaMePlaitPas · 18/07/2019 14:04

I don't get my contraceptive consultations in the UK - but elsewhere in Europe.

My midwife told me that the most effective contraceptive is the coil or the implant, as you've got a 0.8% chance of pregnancy on it. You have an 8% chance of pregnancy on the pill, even if you take it properly.

I got my contraceptive implant out yesterday and have a prescription for NuvaRing... I'm still a bit "meh" about it because hormones don't agree with me (hence why I took the implant out). She literally wouldn't let me leave the office without some form of contraception!

TheQueef · 18/07/2019 14:05

I was bullied into mirena to try and treat migraine.
I was refused a referral to nueurolagy because we hadn't tried everything (just the coil left to try) so it felt like I had no choice.
It made migraine slightly worse so I have depo as well.
Now the coil is hanging out like some old telly Ariel.
Oh and to get it taken out I will have to ask gyne because my GP doesn't offer removal
I'm celebate so don't need contraception

notjustanexpat · 18/07/2019 14:06

I refuse to use hormonal contraceptives (too many side effects) and had the copper coil. I loved it but after 5 years my period started to last for a full two weeks with it, for no apparent reason.

So I went back to sensiplan. Did that for a while in my early 20s and it worked, so I didn't mind too much. The science behind it is pretty solid, the pearl-index is identical to that of the pill, and it performs a million times better than other NFP methods (and not to mention all those apps with ridiculously dangerous algorithms). Also tried diaphragms but I think we use that once in a blue moon. I can recommend MySize condoms, they made a huge difference for literally any guy I have ever told about them.

Anyway, cue hysterics because a financially secure, married woman going onto 30 isn't on long-term contraception. At other times I get a lecture on "not waiting too long", depends on which GP I get.

DaisyChainsGetBroken · 18/07/2019 14:07

Yes on and on and fucking on. My gp writes articles about patient autonomy etc but will drop in the coil at any chance they get. NOT INTERESTED.

menopause59 · 18/07/2019 14:08

Yep i ended up giving in and having it fitted and i went a bit nuts.
Might work for others but deffo not me x

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