To think that the surgery should tell me that Mirena has run out?

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

Just went for a smear test. Inquired about how long I’d had the Mirena as it felt like ages. Obviously it’s not the most pleasant experience so had put it to the back of my mind.
It’s been 6.5 YEARS! No one told me when I had it put in that it was my responsibility to check the dates. I’ve had no periods. Thank goodness I haven’t become pregnant in that time- would have had no idea.
I’ve been to dr for various bits and pieces over last year and a half. They’ve sent letters and texts for other different things.
AIBU to ask that they could have mentioned it? So annoyed.

What if during the 5 years you had it removed at a gum clinic? Or pulled it yourself (grim but I know some who have).. moved practice etc. Just set a reminder on your phone (friends has a birthday so it tells her every year that Mrs Rod is x this month)

Apparently mirena may be effective for up to 7 years according to some studies

I would assume it would be something addressed at an annual check-up

You don't get an "annual check up"!

I got a card with the start and end date on that I slipped in my bedside drawer. But it's not hard to just remember a year fgs! My current one, my third, was put in early 2016, so 2021 to be removed.

They don't 'last' ten years, not the Merina anyway.

Deary me. Take some responsibility for your own health. Give your head a wobble! And if you have another Mirena fitted make a note of when you need to have it checked/replaced.

@dementedpixie I just read that as well thank goodness.
I’ve booked to get it sorted now but they definitely didn’t give me a card and at my surgery there is absolutely no yearly check on the strings.
Can all of you definitely tell me when your last smear test was if it wasn’t in the last year? Doubt it.

My GP surgery reminds me. I've forgotten when I had mine put in. I'm not using it as a contraceptive though - it's to help with endometriosis.

We use condoms as well.

And I’ll stick the date in phone this time!

I would probably be referred to family planning where I live so wouldn’t expect my GP to know. GPs May also not know if you’ve been to family planning to have it removed/changed/swapped contraception.

As with anything medical it is the patients responsibility and the text reminders are a courtesy not a duty

You don't get an "annual check up"!

Why not? I get an annual check-up with my physician and one with my gynecologist.

@steff13 do you live in the uk and use the nhs?

Can all of you definitely tell me when your last smear test was if it wasn’t in the last year?

October 2017

Yes sorry it’s a copper coil lasting 10 years

I doubt it says Croker.

There is no annual check up in the UK

Passthecherrycone

It does have a flagging feature as it does so for smears. I've seen it on the screen.

I live in Ohio, and I use Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. It's rather beside the point, though. If the NHS is so cash-strapped, annual check-ups would save money in the long run, by catching medical issues when they're small and easier/least costly to address.

What in every GP surgery? They all use different systems!

So you're 'why not, I get an annual check up' wasn't a real question then was it

A uh huh

I was too lazy to get my (arm) implant out for 2 years after it wasn't effective any more. I still knew it was my responsibility, it never occurred to be that it should be my GP's

This is like that thread yesterday about somebody getting annoyed she got told off for missing an appointment that she didn't write down and replied on the GP reminder texts. It was her responsibility to remember her appointment.

I agree with OP. I think if GP surgeries could sent text/ email/ letter reminders to patients with implant/ coil as to the correct removal date, it would potentially prevent slot of unwanted pregnancies and ultimately reduce cost 😀

Sorry about that

GPs aren’t gynaes and often don’t know much about it so there wouldn’t be a huge amount of use of an annual check up I wouldn’t imagine.

Of course in a privatised system they’ll do whatever you pay them for, doesn’t matter if it’s shown to be useful or not

If you can’t remember to keep an eye on when your contraception might be due for replacement I’m really, really surprised you can definitely remember that they didn’t give you any paperwork when the coil was fitted.

I’ve had several Mirenas and while I’m not entirely sure when it should be replace, yes, I’ve always been given the information and yes, it’s up to me to remember.

steff13 That sounds great in theory but not in practice. What you end up doing is lots and lots of checks on perfectly healthy people - you might have to spend time screening 1000 healthy people to pick up a problem in 1 - that’s generally not cost effective.

Put that together with the observations that (a) the people at least risk of ill health are most likely to engage with screening programmes (the worried well) and (B) this approach means that you’re more likely to pick up slight aberrations that would never have caused harm and yet require invasive/potentially harmful/expensive testing to confirm that - and it’s just not a great population health strategy. It’s great for physicians and insurance companies though.

I can see both sides tbh. If they can send letters out when your smear is due surely they can send letters/texts out for coils.
It's a bit different to pills which contain on the pack the date you had them etc.

On the other hand you should of been given a credit card sized expiry card.
I was told they last about 6 months over their date. I struggled to get an appointment till 3 months after mine expired to have mine changed so I asked if it would still work until my appointment. They told me 6 months.