AIBU to think that Family Planning Clinics in our area are not doing contraceptive injections for the foreseeable future?

[singingsoprano]

My dd (mid-twenties) tried to get her regular 3 monthly depot injection sorted for next week, only to be told FPC in this area are no longer doing them and to take the contraceptive pill instead (given 6 months supply).
She can only take 1 type of pill, hence moving to injections. Am I unreasonable to think that there may be a rise in unwanted pregnancies in the next year due to this change?

could she/someone else administer the injection?
I did mine myself, as making a nurse appointment around work was a faff.
I do think it's bad they can't offer the injection though. I used depot for really heavy periods, so not" just" as a contraceptive.

That is bad but can she use condoms meanwhile?

She will be fine with this pill, it is younger girls I am thinking of, e.g. if they forget to take it one day etc. It just seems a little short-sighted.

It's a bit shit, tbh, but sexual health services are under so much pressure at the moment. I work in sexual health, and our clinics are seeing very few people face-to-face. So many clinicians are needing to self-isolate or are off sick with COVID, and there are desperate emails going around to all of us now begging sexual health doctors and nurses to support acute care services and also palliative care. Obviously if there aren't enough staff to run face to face clinics, contraceptive services are usually the first to go because the really complex symptomatic people need to be seen first (people who have, say, developed neurosyphilis, etc.). But even then, I think some clinics will just have to close as our doctors and nurses are going to be needed in ICU in the next few weeks.

That said, I have just had my coil removed. I live in a different trust quite a long way from where I technically work. I had no trouble getting an appointment. I had a phone consultation within about 2 days and an appointment for removal 7 days later (they would have done it sooner, but you have to wait 7 days since the last time you have sex). She might call around and see if there are other clinics who might have availability.

It sucks. The depo is the only form of contraceptive that hasn't made me seriously unwell. I am not on it right now and using condoms instead but this would have been a big shame for me. Obviously people can use condoms but the depo is much safer!

I was able to get mine via my GP, is that an option?

There is a contraceptive injection that you self administer.

I think that stopping family planning services is crazy.

Mindutopia, I know , all services are under pressure and it's not great for anyone. DD will be fine but I do think there will be a rise in unplanned pregnancies due to this and this may only be an issue in the county we live in. However, the pill and condoms don't suit everyone.

DueBabyMummy2Be, I didn't know that and dd certainly wasn't informed it was an options. If it was, I could give it to her as I am a b nurse.

I've been worrying about this my implant I'd due to be changed at the end of the month but but I phoned the clinic I was told I need to go on a waiting list. I'm rubbish at taking the pill so was a bit worried but the nurse called me today with an appointment for next week thankfully. I also think there will be a rise in unwanted pregnancies for people who aren't good at taking the pill especially at such a stressful time so even more likely to forget to take it.

I have the depo through the practice nurse at the gp. Just made an appointment this week and normally it's so hard to get one but there were loads of options.

As nobody is meant to be socialising, only those in committed relationships living together need contraception! The pill or condoms both do the same job. If depo if for another medical reason your gp practice can arrange. My gp is still fitting iud's so long term is available

Her GP can prescribe 4 batches (so a years worth) and she or a partner can administer (as you’re a nurse that’s even better!).

“ As nobody is meant to be socialising, only those in committed relationships living together need contraception” covid thread police are here early.

It's pretty annoying tbh, I'm on the implant and it "expired" start of December 2020, however when I rang the clinic they told me its valid for 4 years in extenuating circumstances with only a small increased risk of pregnancy..... Not what I want to hear tbh but not much I can do as I can't take the pill and don't want to be on 2 forms of hormonal birth control at the same time. I think it's a ridiculous decision and I'm worried the amount of people who will be effected by their birth control running out, or having to switch methods suddenly. It's not just pregnancy people take it for either.

Also to respond to movingonup20 - contraceptives are used for a whole load of medical reasons not just preventing pregnancy, some people can't take the pill or use condoms, some get very bad side effects from certain types. Many friends use it for skin problems, hormone problems, to manage conditions or painful periods etc. It's not just committed people in a relationship who need to worry.

It seems to be a postcode lottery... I've not been able to get depo injection at GP since late march..

@movingonup20 some people will have hormonal contraception for other reasons than just preventing pregnancy like controlling bleeding, cramps for example. So it wouldn't just be those in relationships who should have this available to them.

It’s concerning for women who require LARC due to an abusive relationship

A quick injection every few months gives some control that a man need not know about or can find

I do mine myself, always have done. The GP pretends she doesn't know. I couldn't be doing with the faff of getting the script and then making an apt for the practice nurse to do it.

I don't have it for contraceptive reasons though, it was the only thing the hospital could.offer after a six month course of injections to induce the menopause to stop constant bleeding. It was 9 very long months by the time the first injection actually kicked in.

I have tried since September to have my implant removed due to not getting on well with it, severe weight gain, mood swings, pains etc and my gp can't do anything currently which is so frustrating, I have been tempted to remove it myself (kidding...kind of) I think they need to continue to provide contraceptive services as a lot of us do not use it for just pregnancy prevention.

Mally2020 My dd had to have her implant removed after 8 weeks due to horrendous side effects including feeling suicidal and expressing suicidal ideation. The change in her personality in those 8 weeks was so frightening and within a few days after the implant was removed , she was back to her usual self. push to have it removed as soon as you can.
Take care [Flowers]

I've just had the same problem today - was told I can't get a coil replacement at the moment and it's already 3 months overdue. Can't use the pill because it makes me suicidal, and while we can obviously use condoms my partner's allergic to latex and latex-free condoms seem to break if you so much as look at them.

There is an option called the Sayana Press which is very similar to the depo - BUT is a subcutaneous injection which you do to yourself (in your abdomen every 3 months) - may be worth asking them for it

BTW as a midwife we are having a LOT of new pregnancies - more than usual, now some will be planned pregnancies (I think some people held off trying to conceive at the start of the pandemic and have reached the point of thinking it's not going to change so go for it now) but many will be unplanned