Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
DaisyChainsGetBroken · 18/07/2019 14:09

Apparently all the hormones stay in your uterus. Hmm really? Really?! Is that not connected to the rest of my body then?

Crinkle77 · 18/07/2019 14:12

I've never been pushed to go on the coil. It was suggested to me that I come off the pill cos of my age and the fact that I smoke. The implant was actually suggested to me but it wasn't pushed.

JacquesHammer · 18/07/2019 14:14

BeautyGoesToBenidorm

Thank you! Much appreciated Smile

notjustanexpat · 18/07/2019 14:14

That is the user-PI and includes women who, for example, frequently forget to take the pill or intentionally not take it.

Same with condoms. The reason they are considered unreliable according to the PI is because they count "forgot to use one", "couldn't be arsed", or "didn't have one and chanced it" as a method error.

Thisis a pretty good comparison: qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-1933c5491cda94f9f995a2d7726ab447.webp

notjustanexpat · 18/07/2019 14:15

The hormones go to your brain...otherwise there is no way to supress ovulation...

bigKiteFlying · 18/07/2019 14:22

Apparently all the hormones stay in your uterus

I've had that said to me as well - when I expressed some doubt it was because the levels were so low in coil that they’d have no effect - and the subject was changed to how I'd have no more periods though upon questiong that was told it didn't happen for everyone.

Zilla1 · 18/07/2019 14:23

Would need to remind myself but vaguely recall progesterone acts to suppress gonadotrophin (LH and FSH) production from the pituitary which then acts to suppress ovulation so brain/endocrine gland at the base of the brain definitely involved.

Would need to look if effective Mirena dosage lower than oral contraceptive and this gives the reduced disbenefits (cardio event, change in risk profiles of cancer and so on) compared with oral contraceptives hence why Mirena compared with copper coil or oral contraceptive better for some patients.

bellinisurge · 18/07/2019 14:27

Tried to persuade me once. I said that if you think I am letting a medical professional from this region near my uterus, vagina and vulva after the mess you made of them and failed to fix following my daughter's birth, you can think again.
Has never asked me since.

Girlwhowearsglasses · 18/07/2019 14:27

I have one. It is out of date and I’m 45. I haven’t had a period on it for over six years.

I’m so angry about how the medical profession treats women, and it’s been so long since I had babies and was innured to being messed about with gynaecologically - that I absolutely do not want it replaced. I just know having another will be a nightmare I bet my periods would come back. I actually don’t want someone pissing about with my reproductive system, it’s mine.

Before I had kids I had the most horrific period pain. Nobody could do anything. I thought you had to just grin and bear it.

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 18/07/2019 14:32

No, never.

Topseyt · 18/07/2019 14:33

Mine did push the mirena coil briefly for me.

I am 53, perimenopausal and have a large fibroid which causes flooding with every period I have.

Due to my age, weight and other issues I came off hormonal contraception when DD3 was born nearly 17 years ago now. DH had the snip so that I would not need to take the pill again and other contraception would not be necessary.

I made it clear that I did not want a coil. Why is it that at my age they will (correctly IMHO) no longer prescribe the contraceptive pill but will still recommend putting artificial hormones into me via a mirena coil? I just don't understand that at all. I have no need or wish to go back to that at my age.

To be fair, when the GP later got my ultrasound scan results back they did step back a bit from pushing the mirena and admitted that a hysterectomy or maybe ablation could also be valid options.

At 53 it is a dilemma. Do I opt for the major surgery with all attendant risks when I know that each period could be my last ever? Do I continue for now to have floods every month hoping that each is the last? Which way do I jump?

I will not be going for the mirena coil.

Novina · 18/07/2019 14:35

I've had a copper coil for (a bit over) 10 yrs and so it's time to have it removed. (It lasts 10 yrs). Been very happy on it, but don't want it replaced. The hard, persistent persuasion from the practice nurse that I should get another, despite me clearly saying no, was unbelievable. Especially as I was seeing that nurse for a completely different reason, utterly unrelated to contraception.

Stuckforthefourthtime · 18/07/2019 14:46

Thing is, as a group we are a bit crap at taking pills and using condoms and a huge percentage of babies (50% in US studies) are unplanned - not to say all are unwelcome / unwanted, but there is a decent argument away from pills and condoms for people who do not want more babies.

Personally the coil is wrong for me as I have very heavy periods and haven't had good experiences with hormonal contraception, and it would be totally wrong for a doctor to push it for me or anyone else who doesn't want one. However that it doesn't make it unreasonable in and of itself.

TwistyTop · 18/07/2019 14:52

The coil is a more effective contraceptive and it has less health risks attached to it, so of course they would rather you had it. If you don't want it because you've had a bad experience with it in the past then just say no.

Fgs, not everything is a conspiracy against women.

JacquesHammer · 18/07/2019 14:55

If you don't want it because you've had a bad experience with it in the past then just say no

So why does one need to keep saying so?

Fgs, not everything is a conspiracy against women

The NHS is systematically failing women with regards reproductive health.

Myshoesarenew · 18/07/2019 14:56

My GP favours the implant over the coil, presumably as the latter isn’t done at the surgery here. I have a mirena and get on reasonably well with it, but I’m beginning to think that the whole coil thing is some surreptitious forced/reversible sterilisation programme. It was so so easy to get it put in, but seems near impossible to get it checked or removed

rivierliedje · 18/07/2019 14:58

topseyt the reason for not giving oral combined contraceptives to older women (in certain circumstances) is because of the oestrogen. A mirena coil doesn't have any oestrogen in it, only progesteron.

Obviously forcing someone to have a coil is not good. But a mirena coil (or an implant or a copper coil) really is a better contraceptive than sterilisation. It works better, it has a lower failure rate (by a long way) and it is much less invasive. A vasectomy is also better contraception than sterilisation. It has a lower failure rate and is less invasive.
Obviously this is not true in some cases. For some it really is the best option, but this is not true for most. I found it hard to get my head around at first that something permanent could be less effective than something reversible, but it is. There is a 1 in 200 chance of getting pregnant post sterilisation. Plus it is major surgery which needs recovering from.
So I don't find it surprising at all that sterilisation is discouraged and LARC encouraged. It makes medical sense

bigKiteFlying · 18/07/2019 15:01

The coil is a more effective contraceptive and it has less health risks attached to it, so of course they would rather you had it. If you don't want it because you've had a bad experience with it in the past then just say no.

I understand it being offered.

I don't get why me saying no isn't enough - I say no get hard sell still say no - then it comes up again.

I also don't understand why they won't go though other options - I'd expect them to point out limitation of them but to not give them at all doesn't seem very good to me.

jacks11 · 18/07/2019 15:02

I’m a HCP and whilst I appreciate some people have clearly not had good experiences and hCP’s haven’t listened, I think that some of the myths on here are a bit odd.

And of course if a woman says she doesn’t want a mirena having listened to the information given, then that’s the end of the matter.

On the other hand, your GP or sexual healthy clinic Dr will have had a quick perusal if your notes. They will not have read every entry (unless very few) so may not see previous discussions you havr had (and especially so if with a previous GP in a different practice). Your GP may not even know why you are there before you sit down and tell them. So if they bring it up, that may be part of the reason.

GP’s do not get incentivised to fit mirena coils. They do get paid for this work, but they also get paid for providing contraceptive services. I doubt any GP would push it for their own financial gain- it’s not a significant amount and the money goes to the practice and not directly to the GP in any case. Drug reps can’t even give Dr’s so much as a pen or pad of paper these days, without us declaring it. Sometimes they might bring sandwiches to meetings..... but seriously, this is not the reason mirena is suggested.

Mirena is statistically more effective than oral hormonal contraception and barrier contraception. It is safe for many women who can’t use oestrogen based contraceptives for a multitude of reasons. It can be used by women who are not suitable for depo provera injections. It is useful for dysfunctional uterine bleeding in many women. It is also one way of providing the safest form of combined HRT (mirena plus oestrogen patch). Added to this it Is cost-effective. And like it or not, that is something that has to be a consideration given the current financial climate in the NHS.

I do recognise It’s not right for everyone though. And before anyone says it- yes, if you want it removed they should be able to do so in a reasonable timescale.

The trust I work for will not fund female sterilisation routinely (only if approved by medical exceptions board). So sometimes GP’s may be refusing to refer you as they know there is no point. You can argue all you like, but if it is not funded there is nothing your GP can do.The reason for this is the cost with a relatively high failure rate and that there are equally effective and more cost effective methods of contraception available. I’m again, not necessarily a stance I support but the financial climate makes it harder to push back against.

JacquesHammer · 18/07/2019 15:07

So sometimes GP’s may be refusing to refer you as they know there is no point. You can argue all you like, but if it is not funded there is nothing your GP can do

Sure. And if that were the reason wouldn’t it be sensible to tell the patient that? Rather than patronising twaddle about changing one’s mind

Stressedout10 · 18/07/2019 15:10

Ha yes me too, even though I'm menopausal and sterilised 😂 and bleed constantly on any form of progesterone.
Why oh why would I want itConfused

progestermoan · 18/07/2019 15:12

All the time
I have to argue to get cerazette and not a generic pill

allyouneedis · 18/07/2019 15:12

Mine keeps trying to convince me to get sterilised. I’m only 36 and although I’m pretty sure our family is complete I just feel that sterilisation is very final.

Lostthepost · 18/07/2019 15:18

I was persuaded to have the mirena - it was awful. Bled for seven months. Begged gp to remove it. They finally did after I threatened to rip it out myself. It was then established I had a hideous infection from the wretched thing and I finished up on industrial strength antibiotics. Never, ever again Angry

Topseyt · 18/07/2019 15:18

Rivierliedje, I get what you are saying, but I neither need nor want contraception. DH had a vasectomy. I am also 53 and extremely perimenopausal.

I also have a fairly big problem fibroid which causes flooding. Nor do I like the thought of having some contraption, however small, inserted permanently into me.

I did very briefly try the POP pill after DD3 was born, just while we waited for DH to get the all-clear after his vasectomy. I bled constantly on it and was glad to stop taking it. That makes me even less convinced that the mirena coil is for me and I don't want it.