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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Groovee · 18/07/2019 15:20

Not the GP but the Gynaecologist department went in and on about it. I refused to give in. Lost 3st 10lb and the gave me an ablation instead.

As dh had the snip I didn't need a contraceptive, I wanted help for my heavy and daily bleeding.

NightWakings · 18/07/2019 15:22

I felt mine were a bit pushy about it. I visited a few times (and saw several GPs in the practice) over the course of 18 months with perimenopausal symptoms, including very heavy periods and anaemia. I was adamant that I didn’t want a mirena coil - I am very nervous of hormonal contraception and didn’t like the pill when I took it years ago. Eventually I agreed to have one fitted when nothing else worked. I love it. It has completely sorted out the 3 weekly flooding. I wish I’d listened to my GP, rather than internet horror stories, earlier.

nopixelsfound · 18/07/2019 15:24

My previous GP used to endlessly try to recommend the coil to me because she just couldn't seem to get why I didn't want to be on contraception despite knowing I was a lesbian and thus the chance of accidental pregnancy was slim to none. She also seemed to want to suggest pregnancy as the cause for anything I went with and never seemed convinced by my assertion that I definitely knew I wasn't pregnant.

Luckily my current GP seems to have rather more sense!

PerfectPeony2 · 18/07/2019 15:26

Never experienced this although I don’t use a GP I just use a drop in clinic.

Actually though, I’d recommend the Mirena to all of my friends. It’s very low hormones compared to the pill and has been an absolute dream with stopping my periods. It’s the only contraceptive I’ve ever had that hasn’t given me side effects. I think the pill is horrendous, and caused me depression for years from the age of just 15!!

Even though it’s quite uncomfortable having it put in- it’s nice to know I don’t have to worry about it for a few years.

Bubbletrouble43 · 18/07/2019 15:26

slight tangent but I was talked into the mirena a few years ago and it sent me ABSOLUTELY BATSHIT

hsegfiugseskufh · 18/07/2019 15:33

yep. apparently I am getting too old for the pill. I am 23 ffs!

Youngandfree · 18/07/2019 15:36

No! Confused my gp couldn’t care less tbh. I’m not on any contraception anyway. Dh has the snip a year ago so we’re all good!!

RubberTreePlant · 18/07/2019 15:39

It's because they get paid an amount for every patient on long-acting contraception.

Booboo66 · 18/07/2019 15:44

I noticed this when I went to ask for the mini pill, I'd researched first and knew what I wanted but gp was determined what I actually wanted was the coil. Then again when I went back for the new prescription after I'd got on really well with pill. The cynical side of me suspects some form of incentive from the drug company

clucky3 · 18/07/2019 15:46

With a long history of heavy, painful periods and fibroids, my GP literally never mentioned the coil to me. It took a referral to secondary care for a potential uterine cancer for anyone to suggest the mirena coil to me. I went with the consultant's recommendation and have never looked back. It's amazing.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 18/07/2019 15:48

@daffodil03
The heated balloon device you mentioned sounds like ablation and you mustn't get pregnant after it is done. You can as it doesn't stop ovulation but burns away the womb lining to lighten the bleeding. It can be extremely dangerous if you do get pregnant. Not a contraceptive. I've had it done and only when i said my DH had had a vasectomy were they happy contraception was adequately taken care of!
As for the coil. Had it pushed at me as I was too fat for the normal pill. Had it, bled for 9 months. Asked several tomes for it to be removed. If I hear "lets see how you go" in a doctors office now I get very angry.
Pushed at me for continued and worsening pain

bluebury · 18/07/2019 15:48

Mine always pushed for the implant or coil when I went for my injection appointment, finally talked me into it, booked me in to have it done the next week.

Ended up with constant spotting and recurrent UTIs after it was fitted. Persisted for 6 months cos they said it would get better before asking them to remove it.

Surprisingly straight away as I wanted it taken out there was a 6week wait for a consultation about it and then another 4week wait to actually have it removed.

They said removing it wouldn't stop the UTIs, but I haven't had one (or constant spotting) since it was removed 5 years ago.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 18/07/2019 15:48

But my lovely doctor said she has told the consulatant no to that after reading my notes.

FrowningFlamingo · 18/07/2019 15:50

@RubberTreePlant that hasn’t been the case for years. And I’m not sure it ever was exactly though it could have been before my time. There used to be extra money for clicking we’d discussed LARC but not related to how many actually got it.

Littletabbyocelot · 18/07/2019 15:57

I am and have been for most of the last decade on cerazette. This was prescribed by my gynae consultant to control endo. My GP used to go through a larc check up every six months despite the fact that:

  1. The medication was prescribed by a consultant and not as a contraceptive. They assessed the best option.
  1. I had no fallopian tubes so am my own contraception
  1. I was on the waiting list for ivf as I actively wanted children at that time
  1. It was making me cry because of the reasons above

They had to do the checks for qof points (quality payments).

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 18/07/2019 15:57

I had no idea this was a "thing".

My GP isn't guilty but when I had a hysteroscopy, my consultant kept trying and trying to persuade me to have one, to the extent that - because i had the procedure under GA - I was terrified I was going to wake up and find out she'd inserted one.

In fact, I'm not sure I'd know whether she had...🤔

JacquesHammer · 18/07/2019 15:59

I've had it done and only when i said my DH had had a vasectomy were they happy contraception was adequately taken care of!

An ablation is what I want/need. I can't get one because I don't have long acting contraception. Hence why I want to be sterilised. Except they won't because I won't try Mirena. Which they won't fit because of where my fibroids are.

It truly is a terrible system.

BalloonSlayer · 18/07/2019 16:04

I don't need contraception but had such heavy periods I ended up severely anaemic. The GP said "the only thing they could offer me" was the coil, although she did concede that at my age it probably wasn't worth it (well, thanks!).

On a visit to another GP it dawned on me to ask for tranexamic acid, which was prescribed with no issue and worked like a charm so am bemused as to why the merina was the "only" thing on offer.

Melroses · 18/07/2019 16:05

There used to be extra money for clicking we’d discussed LARC but not related to how many actually got it.

Funny - when I changed doctors* and got my notes online, there was more than one discussion of LARC on my notes, even if I hadn't been anywhere near the doctor's Hmm

  • was dumped with 31 days notice - that doesn't happen either.
Rachie1973 · 18/07/2019 16:15

I’m on my 5th Mirena a lnd genuinely been great for me. However mines 7 years old now and long overdue. Getting it replaced here is a nightmare! No one does them locally.

LittleDoritt · 18/07/2019 16:21

Yes. Relentlessly. It drives me mad.

Scratchyfluffface · 18/07/2019 16:31

I would never have it done, because they seem very reluctant to remove it if there are issues - I have had friends begging their GP and getting a flat no until it has been in for a certain length of time. I don't give a shit how convenient it is for them, it is a big fat 0% chance that I am consenting to anything being inserted in my body that I can't get back out if I need to

namechanged2000 · 18/07/2019 16:34

Yes they did. My consultant at hospital also tried to persuade me to have it done.

groundanchochillipowder · 18/07/2019 16:37

Yep! DH had the snip 10 years ago and I don't have problem periods. I did try it years ago, it was a nightmare. I got every side effect going and then got fobbed off for months before they'd take it out.

spingiscomming · 18/07/2019 16:47

I'm against any woman being pushed to have any kind of contraception she does not want - I'm not in the UK - where I am they are still a bit against giving the Mirena or the copper coil to women who haven't have kids - that said -

Maybe I'm part of the lucky few - I have a Mirena for 9 months and it has changed my life for the better.

I used to bleed for 10-12 days a month - the pill made me spotty and fat - I had cramps so bad I was sick - I bled so much I had to have a transfusion more than once - I used to dread my period and wouldn't go anywhere without a hot water bottle in case it started. Cramps would keep me up at night. I was anemic.

I haven't had a period since January. I'm no longer anemic. Had I have known I'd have pushed for a Mirena years ago.