AIBU to consider paying privately for Slynd (mini pill) if NHS will not prescribe it?

[Bucdynovehbkfdg]

Slynd is a new progesterone only pill and the only hormone I haven’t tried. I have migraines with aura so can’t have the combined pill.

Desogestrel makes me crazy and bleed constantly. Noriday was okay but I’m dreadful at taking it at the exact right time, and currently have a 5 month old so the time flexibility of Slynd would be good.

I went to the sexual health clinic this morning to ask for Slynd and they were just like ‘No we don’t do it and there’s nowhere you’ll be able to get it’. I’ve tried to google if it is dangerous but it doesn’t seem it?

I’ve also had bad experiences with the implant and I don’t want the injection or coil. I also have heavy periods so don’t want the copper coil.

Is the pill not available on the NHS because it’s dangerous or is it just too new/expensive? I don’t mind paying for it (£41 for 3 months), but now I’m worried it’s going to hurt me lol

Go through the online pharmacy questionnaire for it and see if it raises any concerns

It wouldn’t have made it to market if it wasn’t safe. It’s just not an NHS one.

I get a mini pill easily prescribed on the NHS but I’ve never had it from my GP, I’ve always paid for it through Lloyds online. Because it’s £30/40 every 6 months. I’m happy to pay that rather than get it on the NHS, just like paracetamol etc.

Just get it from an online pharmacy if they have it as an option - you fill out the questionnaire and can choose your preferred pill, they’ll only change it and offer you a different one if there is a medical reason highlighted by your questionnaire. It’s no big deal.

Thank you both, the way the nurse was talking made it seem unsafe!

I’m currently taking Slynd and I was prescribed it by my GP on the NHS with no problems. I’m also postpartum and It’s the only progesterone only pill I’ve been able to take that doesn’t make me crazy, I also get aura migraines so can’t take the combined pill.
Maybe the sexual health clinic were unable to prescribe it due to cost but your GP might be able to?

Absolutely try it, why not? The NHS only provides quite a limited range of possible medications.

I’d ask GP. There are loads of drugs that are more expensive but available on the nhs if you have tried and ruled out the cheaper alternatives

according to chat GPT
If you want it on the NHS, the strongest case is usually:

• intolerance to other POPs,
• migraines preventing combined pill use,
• PMDD/acne/androgenic side effects,
• unacceptable bleeding on desogestrel,
• contraindications to oestrogen.

I'd try your GP. Unless you have certian medical conditions, there is no reason why you can't have it really. It can have an impact on potassium levels or cause a problem if you have renal issues. It may just be that a sexual health clinic cannot see your full history and can't provide monitoring for potassium, so they are unable to prescribe without that history and the possibility your GP may want to keep check on potassium levels as a new starter.

You can get it on the NHS, it's just not a first line treatment (expensive!). You need to have tried enough other options first, which you may have done already. Make a GP appointment and ask what the next option is as you've already tried x, y and z. Suggest Slynd. If the guidance requires you try something else first, you'll have to do that. But keep going back until something works for you.

I would ask your GP. I used to take a combined pill that was super expensive and not easily available on the NHS, but I could make the case that I’d tried microgynon and some of the others and it was the only one without significant side effects. My GP was happy to prescribe it.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but are all the mini pill brands not essentially the same active "ingredient" (the progesterone) or are there other differences? I'm assuming there are if people take one over the other but hadn't thought about what?

I'm on a p.o.p. and just get whatever they have when I get my prescription.

Many are just the same thing branded differently (like Cerelle and Cezarette are both desogestrel) but Slynd is drospirenone so it is actually different. It's next on my list if I don't decide to give up on the pill entirely.

Thanks! I’ve actually just had a routine full blood test due to long term painkiller use and thankfully my kidneys and liver are fine!

No, there are many different types of progesterones. The most commonly-issued POP is desogestrel, but there are others. We don’t prescribe Slynd in the SH clinic I work at, unfortunately because it is so expensive. Same with some of the combined pills.

Best bet is asking your GP, @Bucdynovehbkfdg

I basically have the first 3, which is why I asked for it! Last time the GP told me to go to the sexual health clinic, so I’ll try my GP or I will just go to an online pharmacy.

I get it on the NHS for peri meno symptoms - no issue at all. Try your GP

Go back to GP - and ask again.