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?

I did try to remove it myself but couldn't reach

Not sure if you’ve noticed yet but we’re in a middle of a pandemic?? people had their cancer treatments cancelled and you’re worried about TTC? what massive difference will it make if you start trying this month or next month?? if you’re that desperate take a day off work and go private , is not rocket science 🙄

@ThePianist38 Oh no I didn't realise there was a pandemic.

@Knowhowufeel2 Honestly I am shocked that they refused that's absolutely disgusting!

So basic care should be ditched because of Corona?
I don't think so.
People are returning to work, places are re-opening.
Basic services (and contraception is basic) need to start up again.

So was I. I'd read on here it could be difficult to get them to remove it, but I didn't really believe it until I tried myself.

Please do not attempt to take this put yourself! I have had 3 implants and 2 of them took almost an hour to remove and caused massive bruising and needed stitches. They had somehow got a ligament or something tiny stuck around it so the doctor had to be really careful getting it out. Was numbed so felt fine but looked horrific afterwards! And although there was no pain I could feel the digging around in my arm. Very weird feeling. For what it's worth though, I would get another one if I was looking for a semi permanent contraceptive again.

In my experience, only certain doctors are trained to put these in and take them out. Could it be that these doctors have been redeployed? I'm not making excuses as this is awful that there has been no time line given for you to have it removed. It just seems odd that they haven't given you any future reassurances that this will happen.

Have you been through your GP? Sorry if you already have said that you have. I had a coil put in at a sexual health clinic and lost consciousness it was so painful, would never go back so have always been to GP for the implant. There's always a long waiting list as it seems there is only one or two women's health doctors there and demand is high. You would have thought right now that there would be many appointments free though.

I do find all of the posters saying that they were refused it being taken out, quite horrifying! I had my coil out no questions after a year because of awful side effects and the implant out early, again, no questions asked and no mention of expense. Maybe it depends on trust/borough/county? That really is awful though that some doctors seem to be manipulating a women's reproductivity and sexual/mental health for the sake of money. I feel lucky to live where I live (south London). Could you maybe try a different GP rather than different clinics? Then register there?

I do hope you get an answer soon. If not now then hopefully a date can be given to you so you can get on with your baby journey.

They wouldn't even discuss it, just said no.

@MissLLM The Practitioner that put it in has called me back and she was the one that said give it two weeks, then another two weeks etc. So she's definitely still working there - just not seeing patients face to face.

I know we are in unprecedented times but I don't think it's ok to have my sexual health and physical choices on my body to be taken out of my hands. They are still seeing patients, but not for contraceptive appointments.

And that sounds awful, I've had implants removed before and it's always been quite straightforward. No ligaments or digging around required!! I'm not actually far from you, so I would hope to get the same experience but it seems not.

Do it yourself, with your partner, with everything ready to get in the car and drive to a&e if it's not going well.

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito I could just imagine the scene now! I like your style.

@vinotinto88 sadly my vet nurse friend is in the north

I really hope you get this sorted. I agree that it's about your body and choices. In the early emergency stages obviously everything stopped, but these things are important.

I removed my own mirena coil out in Feb...couldn't deal with the side effects (had it since April last year) It popped out as easily and painlessly as a tampon.

I don't think I'd be nails enough to removed an implant, unless it was really close to the surface.

In the nicest way possible. Having contraception removed will not be a priority as they most likely want to prevent future pregnancies putting more pressure on the NHS during current times. I understand its frustrating but there is a bigger picture here. If you got pregnant now, you add pressure to the NHS and that's the focus they will take. It would be irresponsible for a GP to remove contraception knowing it could put yourself and a baby at risk. Also knowing that your partner may not be able to be at any scans/appointments. I'm not saying people should try, but in the eyes of the health service, helping you get pregnant isnt something they will do. All fertility clinics have stopped.

Why don’t you just book a day off as previously suggested?
It would be great if a GP or clinic could do it. I’m very keen to have mine removed and will be looking into private clinics myself.

@TheTroutofNoCraic Honestly I would be more scared rooting around my cervix than my arm! You did good.

Do NOT remove it yourself. I’ve had two removed and it is minor surgery to be frank. You need an incision with a scalpel, and for both of mine there was quite a bit of scar tissue so they really had to tug and wiggle it around for several minutes. Without anaesthesia and a professional who knows what they are doing I don’t think you’d be able to remove it and so then you would have harmed yourself for nothing. It’s not at all the same as a coil which is literally designed to be removed by pulling the strings...

Go private if you’re that desperate - take a day off work or just lie and call in sick. If you’re near London it shouldn’t be too hard to find a private clinic within an hour or so.

@Spinksy9 The first two took quite a long time to conceive so I'm working on the basis we would be TTC for 6-12 months as it is. Obviously anything can happen but I doubt I would be lucky enough to conceive immediately.

I agree that it is out of order that this decision is out of your hands. But I also understand that face to face contact in surgeries is impossible in some cases right now. In my opinion, the best case scenario would to stop leading you on with this 'wait 2 weeks' nonsense and either say, we cant right now and this is the reason, or give you a timeline so you know where you stand.

I just read PP and it might have been harder to get out because if scar tissue from previous implants. That seems to ring a bell and makes a lot of sense!

I really do hope this is resolved for you soon.

I was only a little bit joking. I mean, it's a small cut on your arm. Order a sterile scalpel, numbing cream and make sure neither of you are a 'faint at the sight of blood' person. Sterilise some tweezers to help with grabbing. If it goes tits up, lots of pressure and off to A&E. You could give yourself far worse injuries by having all manner of common household accidents.

@vinotinto88 I understand that. I'm currently on month 5 of trying. However when it comes to the NHS you wont be a priority. Its frustrating when to you it's important, but people's cancer treatments and fertility treatments have been cancelled. It would be irresponsible of them to remove your contraception. As a working health care profession I'm just explaining the reasoning behind it. It isnt a medical emergency, you are healthy and safe and that's what they will want to maintain. It took the NHS a year to find and remove my coil and what was without a pandemic. It ended up being 18 months out of date. Just give it a few weeks and try calling again, after the next boris update.

@vinotinto88
It was easy...no rooting around required. TMI alert You're supposed to check the strings every once in a while (which I will admit, requires a certain level of being comfortable with your body) located the strings easily, quick and gentle tug and it came right out. It's designed to do that, so I think unlikely to go wrong, once you can locate the strings.

They wouldn't even discuss it, just said no.

I don't see how they can. You're allowed to refuse any treatment for any reason, presumably that includes refusing to continue ongoing treatment, whether they agree or not? I'd have thought that was a human rights issue, or at least clinical malpractice.

It would be irresponsible of them to remove your contraception.

Bull. A lot of people seem to buy this line that we're all basically children and it's up to those in authority to make sure we make good choices. We're adults, we are entitled to make our own decisions whether some medical professional agrees with them or not and no one has the right to force us to continue with medical treatment, including hormonal contraceptives, because they think it's best (unless we've been legally judged to be incapable of making an informed choice ourselves). How patronising.

Also, wasn't the message a few weeks ago that IVF treatments were allowed to resume? It's a bit silly in that case to deny contraceptive removal in case someone falls pregnant, wouldn't you say?

@Spinksy9 I get it, I'm not important in the grand scheme of things. I totally understand the horrors of what they are facing that could do without me falling pregnant. Doesn't stop the wishing and wanting and waiting.