Anyone due their depo injection?

[Faraway20]

Have you spoken to the GP yet about alternatives or if you can have it? Mine's due in April and wondering what will happen..

We are strongly encouraging, although not insisting people swap to the pop. Prescription can be issued electronically after a telephone consultation and without the need to be seen in clinic.

Mine is due next week. My dr surgery said they had plenty of appointments and just ring on the day it is due and I can go and have it.

What’s the pop?

Progesterone only pill, the 'mini pill'

@cptartapp I've been on the depo for 10 years with no side effects, what are the implications of switching, if I'm asked to?

I normally go to the drop in clinic, am due 10th april and rang them just before lockdown.

They've booked me in, and I have to stand outside and they'll give me a phone consultation with the check up questions, then whisk me in, stab me with the needle and then whisk me out again to minimise contact.

They said they would phone if the situation changed and it was cancelled but I haven't heard anything yet (fingers crossed)

Glad you can get yours pottering, I'll call next week when hopefully they are a bit quieter

Still no Sayana Press available (global supply issue dating back 6 months) so I have to go to GP tomorrow. No way will I go on a pill, this has worked for me for 17 years. I had been self injecting for a while but had to return to injections with the supply problems. Really don’t want to go into the GP’s waiting room so have booked earliest session possible, will stand outside until called in (reception has a window!) and won’t touch anything with my bare hand.

You can swap quite easily. Usual risks with the pop of irregular bleeding which can take a few months to settle. Also remembering to take it if you're not used to taking a pill!
Guidelines say there are increased risks of reduced bone mineral density with lengthy use of depo, it should be reviewed every couple of years anyway. Particularly if you smoke or have a family history of osteoporosis.

Mini pill is samd hormone as the injection so won't be much different.
Or you can use condoms.

*same

Or you can use condoms

I get the depo as I don't get periods and forget to take a pill everyday, despite phone reminders etc. I wouldn't switch to anything else when I've got something that works for me!

Mine is due the 8th April, had a phone call end of last week cancelling it and phone consultation to switch to the mini pill.
Will be going back on the depo when this has all calmed down.
It's not ideal, the depo works best for me of everything I've tried but doctor's surgeries are places to be avoided if at all possible at the moment and the depo isn't a crucial medication.

@itsbetterthanabox you know people don’t just use contraception for sex. Some use it to control heavy periods.

@cptartapp are you aware there's been issues with getting pop until very recently?

I'm on noriday continuously for medical reasons, I've 2 months (well 28 day months!) left and I'm already worrying I may have problems again getting it.

If you're going to "encourage" patients to use that instead please check on potential availability first?

Can I also ask that you be aware it's not as simple as just switching for many women especially those of us with underlying gynae conditions.

I was very unwell when I tried the depo, others wont get on with pop and I don't mean minor side effects.

"Mini pill is samd hormone as the injection so won't be much different." Not true, the difference in delivery system and dose can affect different women very differently.

It's also better for the nhs to maintain status quo as far as possible as it means less likely to have to deal with patients developing worrying side effects/symptoms

I am bricking it because I need to schedule travel to Europe this summer to get my foreign coil replaced. It's a frameless hormonal IUS not available in the UK, the framed ones available in the UK are too big for my uterus and hurt continuously.

I don't currently use it for contraception, but it keeps dysmenorrhea and endometriosis away, as well as giving me a safety net in case of rape.

I've seen a few suggestions online that there will be a birth spike around Christmas. If women can't get contraception easily, that will cause it, and not through women's negligence. To fall pregnant, a woman need only have sex six days before her mini-pill supply runs out, with every intention of obtaining more, and then not be able to get a fresh supply in time because the pharmacist has none in stock.

Relevant: www.devex.com/news/opinion-how-will-covid-19-affect-global-access-to-contraceptives-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-96745

And of course, if a woman is in an abusive relationship, simply saying "no" isn't an option.

@cptartapp I’ve had bone density scans every 5 years so far - nothing concerning and like others I am terrible at remembering to take a pill. It’s a method that works for me (pregnant just 1 month after stopping when TTC) so reluctantly going to attend tomorrow.

DM has to have a fortnightly injection (not contraception, another medicine). Last time she went to the clinic they were making everyone queue standing up outside. DM experiences pain if she stands for any length of time...

We are just following the FSRH guidelines on this, and yes 'encouraging' not insisting a swap to pop. There are no reported issues of pop shortages, not in our area anyway, not even in recent months. COCP and discontinuation of brands yes.
Of course the swap isn't always straightforward and many women won't want to change, that's fine, we just give them the risks, the choice and document it.

I have a fibroid and bleed continuously (so much so that I had to get a blood transfusion two years ago).

I have the mirena in but still bleed continuously. I can't get a hysterectomy because I have had 4 c sections.

So I was put on noriday. I then couldn't get it at any chemist so I was offerred the depo. Turns out the depo actually works better than noriday at stopping the bleeding.

I take iron tables so I will just have to up them if I can't get the depo at my gp's. Hopefully will just be for a couple of months.

I am quite grateful I don't rely on it for contraception.

I was due to have my implant changed last week but been advised to temporarily switch to POP. Not ideal as I've been using the implant for 6 years but I've always been lucky and never had bad side effects so will do as advised for now.

My daughter was due to have her implant changed but the nurse said (during a telephone consultation) that it should be fine for longer than the recommended 3 years. To be on the safe side, they're posting her out some pills to take until she can be seen in person

@cinammonbuns
I am aware of that which is why I said taking the mini pill is the same hormone so will be easy to swap to as periods will be reduced by that too (if they are with the injection they weren't for me).
However if it is for contraception like I said using condoms is better than an unwanted pregnancy surely?

Has anyone been given noriday instead of the depo? If so did you get it ok from the chemist? No shortage of it in your area? Thanks.