My contraceptive implant expired 2 years ago

[Lanzarotelady]

I am normally so hot on these things, I went to get it changed tonight, the Nurse couldn't do it as it was out of date by 2 years!
I have been having unprotected sex for 2 years.
I feel sick.
I am 52, so it expired when I was 50, but even so, I feel sick.

I don't even know why I am posting, I feel sick, I could have been caught and not known about it.

Could it be more the realisation you actually can’t get pregnant anymore and the chapter is definitely closed? A reaction to menopause? Because the chances were extremely low so it seems a bit of an over reaction?

The chance of getting pregnant at 50 to 52 is extremely low. So a non issue.

I don't know.

I got pregnant so easily when I was younger, pregnant 7 times, 5 losses, so we were always so vigilant where contraception was concerned as we both knew I would probably end up pregnant.

I can't believe I have been so blasé as to have forgotten about it

I know I know, but then the nurse told me the oldest recorded natural pregnancy is 54!

I am just shocked at my own stupidness and what happened if I had of got pregnant at 50?? And wouldn't have know until it was too late?

Only a problem if you were having unprotected sex with randoms, rather than a long term partner or spouse.

If it's the former, it's a good idea to have a full sexual health check, though, as even a fully functioning implant can't protect against sexually transmitted infections.

I know its is whataboutery but its just knocked me

I don’t understand why the nurse couldn’t do it, I had mine it for at least a year over the expiry date due to Covid and they where able to remove and insert a new one when I could eventually get an appointment.

No married for 30 years, both faithful

Because I have had sex in the last 7 days

I thought that at our age they left them in a bit longer on the understanding that our fertility is fading anyway and the reducing effectiveness of a coil is counter balanced by your reducing fertility. I think that was what I was told when they put mine in. The expectation is that you shouldn’t need another one. Do check though. It’s not information I needed anyway because I’m already sterilised, I just had it to control periods and hopefully avoid a hysterectomy.

I have no idea when mine expires, Easter because of HRT. Apparently they give you a small card with date on, as if I know where that is!

It’s my understanding that they they are expected to carry on working for a while longer, it’s just the reliability gradually decrease rather than one day you are protected and the next you aren’t.

I had one taken out early and they needed to send me to hospital because it had migrated and needed a hunt to dig it out.

Yes she said this, they are licenced for 3 years, but valid for 5 unofficially

It is a contraceptive implant rather than a coil, but yes I think the same logic applies here

Oh Blimey, my reading comprehension skills leave much to be desired this evening! 😂. No idea about the implants. I had the first ever implant very soon after it became available and bled heavily for four or five months straight before having to have it taken out. Never went near it again!

I always thought it odd they didn't just set a letter to auto-send when it is about to run out. I have the little card in my bag and check it every so often but I expect lots of people just miss it. I suppose with the NHS app it will get easier in future but we don't yet have it in Scotland.

This is worrying as I've no idea how long I've had mine. I assumed the doctors let you know when you needed a new one!

Apparently not

Could have but weren’t so ….

i was told (during covid) that they lasted for 5-7 years, so assuming you still in in the 7 years then it’s ok just the reliability drops a little so for younger women it’s too big a chance to take.

But not worth feeling sick, especially at age 50. Have you had menopause symptoms? Have you had periods?

Oh my goodness, I can just imagine the plummeting gut feeling you must have felt , realising you have been gambling with pregnancy without even knowing it!!!!

when you get it changed put a big red reminder in your calendar when it expires… though I doubt you will forget again x

My coil change was really delayed because of one thing and another and my surgery told me they have a longer life in them than stated, and that deadlines were extended over Covid for that very reason.

If you haven’t had periods/PMT or anything else bothersome you’ve probably been fine.

but I do get the shock, hope they can sort it soon.

They don’t let you know. It’s left up to you.

"Had of got pregnant"? Makes no sense. You didn't get pregnant anyway, so no need for drama and the appalling English.