Family planning discriminating

[Kathrina]

Is it wrong of me to think i am being discriminated against because my local Family Planning Clinic have an under 25's clinic more often than the over 25's and it has taken me 4 months to get an appointment where as my sister who is under 25 got one in 3 weeks. I am 29!

PS, the fact that a coil has fallen out does not mean it wasn't fitted properly in the first place, for goodness sake! It can happen to anyone. After all, there is a hole in your cervix!

I think that last comment was a bit un called for! jybay. Yes i know dam well i have a bloody hole there but after speaking to health proffesionals the Mirena coil is very unlikely to come out after nearly 3 yrs of being fitted the first few weeks maybe as your body is adjusting to it. I take it your contraception is sorted???

I think that is just awful. Is there some government targeted funding for under 25's contraception? There are masses of posters at our surgery for under 25's sexual health clinic.

I think FPC and GP's must get paid a certain ammount for having the under 25's through the door. That is my theory anyway.

Kathrina, I don't know which HCPs you have been speaking to, but coils CAN come out at any stage, though you are certainly right that it's more common in the first few weeks. It can happen any time though - usually during a period when there may be some uterine contraction as well as the obvious flow through the cervix.

It just riled me that you were criticising the poor doctor who put it in originally completely unfairly. If it had been badly fitted (which can happen of course) it wouldn't have lasted 3 years. I understand your frustration, but it is very unfair to criticise the doctor who put the first coil in.

I agree with colditz ,i would of just turned up and cried loudly had they tried to turn me away . I think jbay is right though , although unlikey the coil can come away at anytime ,my friends fell out after 4 years ,so it doesnt necessarily mean it wasnt correctly fitted .It is ridiculous that you are having to wait so long for your preferred method of contraception

Its wanting a mirena that is the cause of the wait I think. The under 25s are less likely to be suitable for a coil, hence they appear to be seen quicker.

If its any consolation (probably not) its a 4 - 6 month wait for a coil fitting here.

I do apologise but am so frustrated as i have had to change my contraception to suit (hormones everywhere just lucky you dont live with me ) and when the coil came out i was not examined to check if i was pregnant or asked any questions. Just told to get another one fitted. I had a uti not long after and the same symptoms are back again even thought a urine test is negative i have lower back pain, pelvic pain and lower stomach pain only which i can describe as 'stitch' i have had over a week now it is really getting me down.

I do really sympathise - I think you have been treated badly and I am surprised they can get away with treating you differently from another age group. It's fine to have a clinic to encourage the under-25s to access sexual healthcare, but I don't think it's reasonable to ban anyone over 25 from attending. What do they think - that you're going to scare away under 25s when they see someone as ancient as 29 ?!

Do contact your PCT - they may well be able to help.

Why did you choose a hormonal method if it disagrees with you?

I was considering having the copper coil but my SIL had an ectopic pregnancy so it put me off a bit even though i know it is very rare yes there is condoms but i have been with my hubby for 13 yrs so dont really feel the need to use them but other than that what other non-hormonal contraception can i have?

And the Mirena seemed to suit me until this mis-hap.

Condoms are a legitimate form of contraception for people in long-term relationships, though I can imagine not wanting to use them when you've not needed to for a while.

Even so, in the short term, surely it's better to use condoms while waiting for an appointment than suffer from using hormonal contraception.

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Perhaps just better keeping my legs shut until the 8th Sep . Sad to say but we are really rusty when it comes to using condoms been on contraception since the age of 15 so not really used that much. Better get the cucumber out of the fridge and practice

"Rusty" with condoms conjures up some unpleasant images!

Ha ha prob not the best choice of word