Contraception - gp or family planning clinic

[RollerCola]

I've just booked an appt at my normal gp to discuss contraception (not used it for years) but then discovered there's actually a family planning clinic in my town that's completely separate from the doctors practice.

Am I better going to the clinic? I need to discuss options so need some expert advice. Or will the gp have just the same knowledge?

Could you visit both, then make your mind up?

For options, FP clinic everytime

I'd go to FPA if you're not sure what method you want.

In my experience the specialist family planning clinics have more up to date advice e.g happy to give me a coil before I had children when GP said no. I did find them more geared towards younger women especially given the average age of those waiting and slightly patronising about knowing the risks of sex without a condom etc but that could easily just be the staff I met. Of course they vary massively depending on where you live and I think that all in all they do a good service.

If you have other medical conditions or complex reasons for rejecting using certain methods then I'd probably recommend GP instead as they will have a better understanding of your overall health and medical history which may be something to consider. If you're anywhere near London, there's a specialist FPC near Kings Cross which is open to anyone and does an amazing job, tonnes better than the more local ones.

Thanks, I'm 39 with 2 dcs and not really sure what method to use. In my 20s I was on the combined pill but it started giving me migraines so I swapped to the mini-pill with no problems. I used that for quite a few years and then my H got the snip 7 yrs ago so haven't thought about it since.

I'm now in a new relationship so asked for the mini-pill again and they gave me a new one to me, Cerazette. It's not right for me though, after just 3 weeks I've stopped it as it's making me incredibly anxious and panicky. Can't decide whether to ask for another POP or to try a less 'hormonal' method such as the coil.

I do have previous health issues such as migraine and have taken antidepressants for short spells (not now though)

I think I'll stick with the gp for now and see what they say.

I would go to a family Planning clinic as they specialise in that area of things GP s are too general to be up to date I have heard bad stories with GPs re coils for instance as they do not have the practice in doing them that the FP clinics have Also Gps get paid extra for it so it is a nice money earner for them

Family planning clinic every time, clue is in GENERAL practitioner. with the best will in the world, they can't be experts at everything. FPC are specialists in contraception.

Ok yes, maybe the FPC would be better then. I've got a drs appt for next week now so I'll see what they say but I'll check out the clinic as well. Thanks all

FPC - gp treated me like some sort of hippy loon when I said I wanted to try non-hormonal contraception

Clinic for anything non-standard. I was going to go to local GP to get a coil but turned out the one GP who could fit them had left, so went to the FPC - where the woman who did coils every day did it painlessly, with a smear included.

Family planning clinic definitely. Recently had a coil taken out and new one put in and was so much better than when I'd had the first one put in at a gp surgery.