Teen contraception

[Leftrightmiddle]

My young teen 13 has been put on contraception for extreme periods. This has been working well. However, at a recent appointment this was noticed by a different nurse and she made it very clear she didn't think DD was old enough.
She was pretty judgemental and wouldn't accept the reasons.

The surgery have now said we can't renew the prescription as we have been told it isn't suitable.
I have asked for medial reasons and they just say she is too young despite a different Dr there prescribing it previously. She has had no negative side effects and they can't give a medical reason. Only that she is too young and they won't prescribe. They can refer to gynecology but they say the wait will be over a year and in this time they won't prescribe.

My DD is autistic and before we were prescribed the pill she wasn't leaving the house as she couldn't manage the sensory differences during the period or the unknown unpredictable nature of when it could happen. It was also very heavy

Does anyone have any advice? We are really unsure what we can do.

Was the pill the first thing they tried?
My daughter was put on Tranexamic acid which reduces bleeding and couldn't believe the difference.

Autism is not a learning disability. Does she have both?

Yes I know that but I wondered if the surgery would try and say that was the reason.

Then you wrote another complaint to the practice manager pointing out that their staff is poorly trained.

I can’t see anything saying you have to be over 16 on their site. You have to be over 16 to use the online ones but it says under 16 can go to a pharmacy for it. Contraceptives aren’t age restricted items.

The only age limit is that you must be under 54

Update:
They are still not renewing prescription - until the gynecologist has been seen. The GP has taken time to explain their concerns - and I can't fault this but I still don't feel the concerns are strong it was a bit wishy washy. However, they were more professional and less rude than the Nurse. They have prescribed the tranexemnic acid.
Which we will try but I have concerns over as feel the side effects will also restrict life.

I was going to try family planning clinic or a private Gynecologist but waited till the GP appointment as thought things could be resolved. But now I think we will be expected to wait and see what happens without the prescription.

I've been in a state of high stress dealing with this, which is making me quite unwell..which likely seems dramatic but I just feel so concerned that we have only just got to a point where she was functioning and thriving and I can see that all slipping away.

Thank you for all the replies and support.

Update 2.

Had a nightmare with referral. Local gyno don't see under 18s, so they passed it to pediatrics who don't see gyno issues, so passed to a second pediatric team who don't see gyno issues, who passed to a bigger hospital who won't see gyno issues who passed to the gyno team at the hospital who will see her but not for 12 months.

First period was a nightmare she didn't leave the house for over 10 days, next one is due soon so anxiety (and anger at the doctors) is already rising. She started researching other ways to get the medication or stop periods.
She worried she going to be cut from her team if she misses sessions (this has happened to others who miss too many), the activity is something she loves and has helped her confidence and self esteem immensely.

We have found a private gyno that specialises in teens but we can't get an appointment until next month. I'm also worried that they won't prescribe due to surgery refusal.

I'm so sorry you and DD are going through this
What a palaver over the actions of one nurse

Possibly a stupid question @Leftrightmiddle but could you order the contraceptive your DD needs online as if it’s for you? Not particularly ethical I know but it seems that stupid nurse has caused no end of issues with her ridiculous judgement and it might be a way around it in the short term.

DD has asked but I am very concerned that this could be seen as a safeguarding issue and cause other issues if it came to light

Not sure where in Wales you are.

We saw Dr Gail Busby at the Spire Manchester. She has a You Tube channel and is a gynaecologist for adolescent.

Our first appointment was in Manchester and second over the phone. I think she will do all appointments over the phone.

DD was prescribed combination Pill at 14 and takes it for 3 months continuously based on her advice. All documented and GP just asked for BP etc routinely.

Think first appointment was about £240 and second was cheaper, maybe £160.

It was worth it. We've had 3 years now without the stress of heavy periods spoiling her education and teenage years.

Thank you. I will see when she has availability as this may be sooner

Gosh my (autistic) DD got the pill at 12 due to being so distressed by periods she literally cried for days and would not leave my side. She didn’t eat, she didn’t sleep, nothing. I spoke to a GP who was highly sympathetic and said nobody should struggle with these things. DD now takes 6 packs in a row the takes a break for about 2 weeks. Has done for 4 years. The GP hasn’t even seen her as she never leaves the house but they have been amazing. I hope you get this sorted out - I totally understand how hard it is being in this situation for you and your DD.

Is this because she does not meet Gillick Competency, so the GP practice is not sure whether this is what she wants or what you want.
It can be a bit of a minefield to navigate.

If she isn’t deemed gillick competent then it’s up to her mum to decide anyway surely?

No - that hasn't been mentioned by the surgery.

They briefly mentioned bone health possibly being an issue due to age but not specific to DD just in general. There wasn't any reason DD would be more impacted than any other teen.

I would:

• check NICE guidelines so you can go armed with evidence and facts
• complain to the practice and ask for an appointment with the original prescribing doctor again
• look at other reviews for other practices in the area which you could switch to. It is easy and doesn't take long to move to another practice if you're unhappy with that one.

I am in England but I was able to get dd the mini pill (for free!) from our local pharmacy when she was 14.

In her case it was because she struggles with tampons but competes at high level at a sport where periods make things difficult.

The pharmacy won't discuss as the GP has refused to renew so they just said speak to GP.

The gyno secretary said the letter doesn't highlight her struggles and to ask GP to write again with everything included as that would change it to urgent not routine.
Have requested this but they said they can't without an appointment to discuss and they have no appointments available for a couple of weeks. So I think it will need to be a private gyno so we can be seen as soon as possible

DD has a competition coming up so we hope to get sorted before this.

Presumably if your daughter went to a GP and said she was sexually active they would give contraceptives to avoid pregnancy? How frustrating that they won't issue this to manage her periods.

Have you checked online contraception services like Superdrug/ Boots to see what lower age limits they have? Would current GP prescribe period delaying tabs for the event/ competion at least? Is there another GP nearby that you could move to?

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/dysmenorrhoea/management/primary-dysmenorrhoea/

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng88/chapter/Recommendations#management-of-hmb

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/menorrhagia-heavy-menstrual-bleeding/management/management/

Some relevant guidelines that might help you argue her corner with GP. Important to keep stressing the impact on her education and wellbeing

Thank you
I tried some private places today but the Gynaecologist with earlier availability don't see under 18s
I will make some more calls tomorrow as a few places were closed today. Will also try and see the GP again

Not for contraceptive medication.
if it was deemed to not be in her best interest, they won’t give it.

What reasons would it not be in her best interest?

I think there have been cases in the past of women with severe learning disabilities being put on contraception in order to stop periods, for the convenience of carers.
Then male carers / family members realised that they could sexually abuse the woman without the risk of pregnancy bringing it to light (and did so). For safeguarding reasons the routine use of contraception in people with learning disabilities is now discouraged.

Obviously this is completely NOT the case for your daughter though! On so many levels.
I hope you can find a solution soon.