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.

Its not always fitted at the gp. Mine was through a sexual health clinic (family planning clinic). Maybe that's why I got the card. I know when my smears are due as I got one a few months after ds was born so I go by his age/birthday. He just turned 13 so I knew it was due so I had one a couple of weeks ago

Does nobody take responsibility for anything nowadays. It's always someone else fault. It's not like it's your actual body or anything!

5 years is a long time - as in no one has a 5 year diary, a lot of people have changed phones by then, practically it's quite hard to remember 5 years since a minor medical procedure. If they can remind for smear tests youd think they could remind for mirena as there will inevitably be things you forget. Plus they remind for things like dentists check up etc so it's not that mad to think they would remind you for this

But smears are easy. You code a flag onto every female between certain ages and an automated letter is sent to each one. They increase in seriousness if the smear isn’t completed

But only a minority of women have coils (necessitating a second flag to their record in addition to their smear, which many systems may not have, as these record systems are designed to keep up with current recommendations) and there is no generic letter for them really. So it’s not the same at all

I’m sure when I had mine fitted they gave me a leaflet and the date 5 years in the future was circled.

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

Yes. April 3 years ago. Not that difficult really.

So you coildnt remember how long it was in but remembered they didnt give you anything with the date on.

Ffs you are a grown adult. That's your contraception be responsible yourself

If they can send letters out when your smear is due surely they can send letters/texts out for coils.

The smear test is a central database, the reminder doesn't come from your GP.

There isn't a central database for coils. Mine was fitted in the hospital plus I've moved GP since then, so there's really no easy way for any reminders to happen.

I don't think it would be hard to flag it on the system

I know it’s surprising in this day and age but honestly, in general, nhs software is awful for reminders/flags. So much still relies on human control you really are better keeping your own records.

I think it's really odd to think this is anyone's responsibility but your own.

What if you'd moved surgery or indeed country?

I used to work in a clinic that fitted mirena coils. In the packaging was a small credit card sized card that I used to fill in with the details of when it was fitted and when it should be removed/renewed.

Did you not get given one of these?

I think they could have text a reminder, they do for when I need a pill check up which is every year or something. If it was only in for a month or so then I'd understand, but over the course of a few years you might change phones or something with the reminder on, or purses and discard the insertion card. I lose track of the years mind, I went for an eye test assuming it had been about 3 years since I last had a test, turns out it was 7, oops. I'm all for self responsibility, but when they have automated systems now I don't see the harm of a reminder.

I think it was their error not to tell you at insertion that you will be responsible for rebooking it.

The problem with the world today... it's always someone else's responsibility

Is this a joke?
Of course it’s your responsibility. You can have it taken out at hospital or GUM clinic and your surgery wouldn’t necessarily be notified.
At insertion the come with little cards as PP said / leaflets with dates on.

I think people suggesting this don’t know how how digital databases work & how behind technologically many industries are. There is no ‘system’ that performs this function currently. It’s often a lot easier to say “they should do that!” And in some industries those changes may be quicker to implement. But the overhauls that would take to the system are massive, so it would need enough people to require that in order for changes to happen. Pap smear screenings we get reminders because it is a whole different system. I don’t know how it works in your country but there is no one central “doctor database”. People change doctors, or move & don’t advise mailing address. Phone numbers change... it would be very risky if it is doc’s responsibility to tell us when birth control is out of date. I imagine that type of thing would lead to some lawsuits wanting them to fund the next 18 years of a child’s life due to some digital stuff up !

OP - YANBU

You have an information leaflet and a card given to you both with insertion dates and the date it needs changing on.

I both have a mirena and work in operating theatres where you cannot for love not money lose those 2 bits of paperwork as they are very important for this reason.

FYI I’ve lost my own but I do know the insertion date lol. Thanks to Aspergers ;)

The NHS has many calls on its time and resources, and contraception is a personal responsibility.

steff my clinics are heaving with poorly people unable to get appointments, I don't have time to be seeing healthy people on an annual basis, patients wait weeks to be seen for more vital things already. And there aren't the nurses to employ to enable this, (practice nurses are retiring in droves), or the money for them even if there was.

Definitely your responsibility. Write the date down in a notebook reserved for important information. I have a little plastic envelope with my optician prescription, birth certificates, immunisations, insurances etc. Now with mobiles it's even easier, just set a reminder in just under 5 years. I don't understand why you would expect someone else to take responsibility for your contraception. Smears are different altogether, this is a screening programme run by the NHS.

steff13
In the UK we don’t have annual check ups. I’m assuming ( maybe wrongly) the op is in the UK.

Fuck me. No, it isn’t the NHS responsibility to remind you of every date something needs to be checked/reordered/looked at/rebooked etc etc etc. Bloody hell.

Flipping heck when I had mine I took the responsibility of knowing when it needed replacing! If you ran out of pills it’s your responsibility to get some more! Don’t need an annual check for it, you can feel your own strings. The NHS doesn’t have a central system to flag when your coil is due, you could get it removed elsewhere, move GP, move house, change number. Your responsibility! I had mine inserted at a family planning clinic I’m not even sure my GP knew I had it in!

Some of these posts drive me to distraction...

Your body, your responsibility - why is it always somebody else's fault and why should a GP surgery act like your mother...

If a practice had to send reminders for everything we would be financially broke - and if you move between practices the reminders may not be there... FFS.

Definitely your responsibility. I have one. Five years came along and I went to get it removed. Turns out it’s stuck - but I have discovered that it really works for at least seven, so I imagine they tell us five years so we do it in ample time but actually we’re ok for a bit longer. It can stay in your body for ten without issues. Thank goodness cos now I need to get it removed under GA.