No one will remove it!

[vinotinto88]

So long story short - we are hoping to TTC our third and final baby.

It's pretty much now or never - certain work opportunities and home finances etc, plus my age. And I'm so broody it's unreal.

My GP won't remove my implant, no clinic within a 20 mile radius will remove my implant.

I've called and hassled and nagged everyone. The last person I called said it'll be well over a year before their clinic is up and running again.

I know this is totally a first world problem. And it's more a whinge than seeking any kind of solution. I just had my heart set on it.

Has anyone else up and down the country managed to get their contraception sorted?

Following with interest!
I was told to call my GP back tomorrow for a telephone appointment as my periods have started again (3rd year with it) and no periods until now, and I get almighty headaches when I'm on.
Idk if this will change anything as they said they weren't doing it because of COVID-19. I'll let you know.

It's almost bloody impossible to get them to remove or change anything at the best of times.
I took to lying to get my last coil changed. Told them I was TTC then went to a different clinic to get it replaced.
It wasn't sitting correctly and comfortably and no one believed me.
Just say whatever you have to say to get it done. Threaten to cut it out yourself or threaten to bother A&E.
Maybe 111 can help, they seem to be able to get appointments for people in GP surgeries that previously "couldn't possibly"

Thanks @YellowPenny good luck

@MrMeeseekscando What would I even say to 111? I would feel silly calling them during a pandemic, i honestly can't believe it's this difficult. I've heard of other people getting coils in and out and going to GPs for regular appointments.

I managed to get an appointment with my gp to remove my coil. Keep trying, they're reviewing their options daily.
I'm sorry you're in this position

I wasn't able to get through to my GP yesterday (standard Monday) so I called the Sexual Health clinic near where I live, and a nurse is calling me back on Friday.
So if I have no luck with the GP tomorrow then I'll have another go with the clinic on Friday.
I just want the sodding thing out! I feel for you
@vinotinto88 with wanting to conceive. I'm just having a look at the YouTube videos now, and wondering if there's a major artery near it? 😂 I'm only half joking.

Wow. This is insane. I always decided against any contraceptive I couldn't remove myself, because I was worried about them not taking it out again but I'm astonished to see it's actually happened! How can they compel you to keep a foreign body inside you?

@Frariedeamin You are nails. Much respect.

@Elephantonascooter Can I ask where in the country you are? It seems my neck of the woods everything has totally stopped unless you've been hit by a bus. Even then it's sketchy.

@FourPlasticRings Exactly, I have absolutely no choice but to keep it in. Despite the NHS guidelines saying otherwise.

@vinotinto88 I'm in the south West, near the Welsh boarder

I'm another that had to threaten to cut it out myself if they didn't.
The worst problem was that it wasn't deep enough and caught on rucksack straps and handbag straps. It's gone all red and itchy/ blotchy round it. It was so shallow I was confident one little cut and I could have it out.
They did say it was expensive so I should keep it. Apparently that is the important factor. I made it clear it was coming out that day by their hand or mine because it itched so much.
Refused to have the coil on the basis after that experience I want contraceptives I'm in control of.

Would they remove it if you told them you'd had a positive pregnancy test? I don't know how comfortable you are with lying about it but surely they wouldn't force you to keep it in if it had failed and you thought you were pregnant?

@GoingBackTo505 Christ I don't know, they would probably say that's fine keep it in and then send me for a scan that I don't need knowing my luck!

@cupoftea84 I've definitely learned from this. No more semi permanent contraceptives. Problem is I'm so limited on what I can have. I'm glad you got yours sorted.

I couldn't remove it myself. No way

Im on the fence with being able to get it removed though.

Whilst I understand your PIV totally 🌷 I also think that no one should be putting themselves at risk if getting CV for anything non essential.

But the givernment seem to think otherwise & if retail & schools are supposedly ok to go back then HCP (with PPE) should be able to do things like this at local clinics that aren't set up solely for CV.

I would definitely wait & keep ringing around, some will open up sooner than others. I'd expect to go privately as the GP funding re these is very much skewed to not removing them in 'normal' times!

Best of luck & good luck with getting DC3 in the oven soon! 🌷

Oh OP please don't remove it yourself you could damage yourself. It's not like a coil where you can just pull the strings, you could get it infected or damage a vain!

It's out of order and I'd be really upset in your position I'm wondering if a nurse at the hospital could do it although probably not the best idea but if you are desperate and considering doing it yourself I'd prefer to go there.

Thank you @IncrediblySadToo xx

Some services are being planned to restart in the NHS from 1st June. This is being discussed amongst senior managers and decisions have not filtered down to the HCPs and receptionist etc yet.

Try ringing sexual health clinics or GP surgeries in June and you may get a different answer then.

Maybe dramatise it a bit? Sob down the phone to the receptionist about the pain, and tell them that your mental health is really suffering and you feel trapped by it.

hamm87 She’s wanting to have her contraception removed not throw herself off the top of a car park, “red flag red flag”! I’d be pissed off too if they wouldn’t take it out and I wanted to try to conceive, in fact it’s one of the reasons I wouldn’t have any sort of semi-perm contraception, i know friends who have had issues and wanted them removing and have been told they have to “wait and see if it settles“, a year... with terrible migraines etc. Any other form of contraception you can just stop if you aren’t happy, I always preferred that control.

If I was you I’d just throw a bit of money at it and go private, I’m sure you can get it removed at a private clinic. I wouldn’t diy though.

@DontStandSoClose Thank you! I have looked into private clinics but the hours operating are impossible for me to get to within work hours at the moment. All other clinics in a 20 mile radius are telephone only.

@therona I've just emailed the practise manager asking for an appointment with the government guidelines on women's choices on contraception. Hopefully this gets me somewhere. Otherwise I hope you're all right and come June things will be different.

I have a coil and think I'll want it out in the next three months, and have worried about this.

Obviously we're in an unprecedented situation but saying it'll be next year is totally unacceptable. Tbh feels like a feminist issue.

Anyway, a friend of mine cut hers out herself, no drama. She's a vet nurse though...

@NathanNathan She literally said she won't be reopening the clinic based on government guidelines for a year and it felt like she pulled the rug from under my feet.
Does your vet friend live far from London 😂 I don't even require a local anaesthetic!

This was before lockdown, but no one would remove my mirena coil nearly 3years into having it and still bleeding continuously. I'd only had it to stop the constant bleeding, and was suffering bad side effects.

They (my gynae) point blank refused to take it out, telling me I needed to give it another year first, and then they'd consider other methods.

I finally managed to get it removed by lying to a locum GP about 5 months later but even he asked if my gynae knew my intention to remove it so I got it by saying my consultant knew I wanted it out, which was true, but implying they'd agreed to it.