Aaarghh went to Drs for annual Pill Check and not allowed it anymore so experiences of IUCD vs mini pill much appreciated

[eandh]

Went for my annual check up and had a snotty nurse who didnt even weigh me, simply said that I had been on pill for 17 years (minus when ttc and pg) but BP was raised this time (surgery was baking appointment was 45 minutes late and DD2 was having her jabs done at the same appt!) I have 3 days left off my pill and then my normal weeks break and thats it I am unprotected as she will not even prescribe me one months pill to make a decision.

She mentioned IUCD coil (ie not mirena but normal coil) or mini pill, I really dont fancy the idea of the mini pill and no experience of anyone having the coil fitted. Will talk to DH tonight but for medical reasons unlikely he can have the snip but we may just decide to use condoms (last thing I need/want is a 3rd child)

So anyone had coil fitted if so how do you find it?

I am on the cerazette mini pill and havent had a period for 2 years and havent really had any problems with it. My sister had the copper coil and bled a lot and had it removed. Is there any reason you couldnt have the Mirena coil as it is has the same hormone as one of the mini-pills?

Check out the netdoctor website for info on each of the methods.

mirena coil

contraceptive coil

mini-pills

I'm no longer allowed the combined pill either but have been on Cerazette for a couple of years and have been really happy with it. It is much better than the old-style mini pill because you have a full 12-hour window in which to take it and also prevents ovulation so iirc it is also more reliable than the older ones. I just have a few days light bleeding every few months, which is great. Would really recommend it.

I've got the Implanon implant after being refused the pill. I haven't had a period since April 07. I've not suffered any of the side effects (luckily) and it's a 5 minute procedure to have it fitted.

implanon

I had the copper coil for 4 years and thought it was great! No side effects apart from slightly longer (for me 1 day) periods. If you have long painful periods I would recommend something else.

It took a couple of minutes to put in and felt like a slight period pain then it took 5 seconds to remove. They last up to 5 years I believe.

I am not good with hormones and have tried the implant, injection, mini pill and combined pill. All of which caused me side effects!

Would highly recommend.

This happened once to my mum when her family planning appt was, yet again, very late, so her BP was rasied by the time she was seen. Once she got home, Dad measured her BP (he is/was a doctor) and of course it was fine. She then made an appt with her GP (for short term prescrpition) - and also orgnaised to have her tubes tied. She's have been in her early 40s then - I was in my early 20s.

Was this at a faimly planning clinci or at your GP's practice. Whichever it was, could you make an appt to the "other"?

Alternaitvely, go back and ask to see someone else and go through the alternatives properly.

I was on the mini pill (cerazette) for about 5 years, it was fine, I still had periods each month but they weren't overly heavy or painful. In the last year of taking it I developed a cervical erosion which is common for women on the pill so came off and had a copper coil fitted.

I've had the copper coil for about 18 month to 2 years now and it's really very convenient, no pill to remember or prescription to collect, no extra hormones whizzing around (other my own) and now, after it initially making my periods heavier and more painful it has settled down completely and is as though there were nothing there but with no risk of unwanted pregnancies.

The fitting of it was painful but IMO was worth the ease and convenience it offers.

Thanks for all the advice - it was at GP's that I saw practice nurse I phoned FPc and they havent got any appointments for a few weeks but recommended a few websites.

She was a new nurse and very 'offish' compared to normal ones (I had booked double appt to do my pill check and get dd2 booster injections and she said there was someone booked inbetween us but I refused to go back in waiting room and asked her to do dd2 jabs whilst we were in room and she didnt even wipe DD2 arm before or after)

I did phone back to speak to Dr and he suggested reading through the literature and either using condoms or 'abstaining' (that made me as with our dd's its hardly like we're at it every night) he passed me onto another nurse who informed me the next available appointment to have the coil fitted waxs the 16th june so have booked that but honestly they want people to prepare their family planning and this is the response!

DH home now so going to have a chat when the dd's are in bed about maybe trying condoms for a while and see how we feel in June?

If it was refused on the basis of BP alone I'd ask for a recheck

I've been on cerazette for about 9 months, like you I'd been on combined pill for years but now I'm 40 so GP advised a change. Cerazette is great, haven't had any side effects and have only had one v.light period. Result! Wish I'd started taking it years ago.

Eldon she said because of BP and how long I had been on it that it was time to change (she didnt weigh me but didnt mention that they offer support to people who wish to lose weight (I am a size 16/18 and know I am overweight but have been this weight for last 2 years and been allowed pill did wonder as I have just turned 31 if that made a difference)

I like the idea of having a monthly period which is one of the reasons I decided I dont fancy the mini pill

Condoms aren't so bad IME when you get used to them. DH and I used them for years when we first got together and we were so used to it that we hardly noticed it when we were in the act. It'll probably seem like a bit of a faff if you're not used to using them, but that'll pass. (Ironically, we needn't have bothered to use anything as it turned out we were both very sub-fertile.)

I had to stop taking the combined pill, and am now prescribed cerazette. I am really happy with it. I have lost weight and have not had a period since I started taking it. I also find it easier to remember to take it, as I have to do it every day, and no breaks.

Cerazette didn't stop my periods. In fact, I never stopped bleeding. Gave me acne, mood swings, and dropped my sex drive.

You shouldn't have been refused just because it was raised one time.

That's not hypertension - you have to go through continuous monitoring to be diagnosed with that.

I'd ring back and see someone else or the GP if you are still happy taking your pill and it works well for you.

'Eldon she said because of BP and how long I had been on it that it was time to change '

That's just ignorant of her. You can use the combined pill up to menopause if you do not have any contraindicting conditions.

If you can't see someone else at your surgery I'd ring your city's family planning clinic and get someone more educated.

If they're going to make you wait, see your FPC instead.

The problem with minipill, IMO is that it's much less reliable than the full fat version if you forget one, or even if you don't take it at the same time every day. I used to wake up terrified in the middle of the night because I thought I'd missed one.
Implants AFAIK are the same stuff except you can't possibly forget to take it, so well worth looking into.

I've just stopped taking Cerazette, I was only on it for a few months and like expatinscotland I got mood swings and loss of sex drive. I also got headaches, a mammoth appetite and a constantly painful and bloated tummy (pretty much like being pregnant). The nurse at my surgery said they are trying to get women off the mini-pill and on to cerazette, an implant or the coil. Don't really want to go for any of those and I was thinking about another DC anyway. All women are different and shouldn't all just be stuck on the same thing because its better for the surgeries.

nhs info here

mmm food for thought in all these posts, did make me wonder if they had some 'campaign' for coil as a few friends have been recommended the coil now too. Am going to phone tomorrow and request a Dr to call me (they do telephone appointments as the wait to see a Dr is stupidly in the future or sit and wait and since I have to take DD1 to school can't get there till 9.15 then face hours of waiting with DD2) If the condom thing works then we may just stick to that for the forseeable future and maybe review later in the year, will wait and see what Dr says

Thanks for all the help and opinions

There may be some campaign on I am on the pill and I have had a letter detailing different contraception. Just out of the blue, haven't been for a repeat prescription for 4 months.

the same thing happened to me. The nurse got me into a right state.

I went to see the GP and persuaded him to prescribe me the pill while I sorted myself out (getting pregnant would have been a disaster for me at that time). It later turned out (after a 24 hour monitor) that I have white coat hypertension and was able to carry on with the pill until I decided to ttc.

How about going to a family planning clinic instead of the GP (or vice versa) for a second opinion?

I've heard mixed reports about coils and know two people who have got pregnant while using them and one who had trouble with bleeding. I discussed the mini-pill with my doctor but because I have a somewhat chaotic life with quite a bit of travel it wasn't suitable because you have to take it within a tight time schedule for it to be effective.

Some surgeries get a bonus for every coil they insert.

There's a definite campaign to get women on long-term contraception like coil or implant.

I had no end of hassle getting the Mirena pused on me, which was a nightmare for me, and every time I see the nurse, no matter what for, she brings up that damn Mirena even though a) I've already told her my experience on it was dire b) my husband had a vasectomy.

"Some surgeries get a bonus for every coil they insert."

I didn't know that Expat. There does seem to be a push from the NHS to have coils fitted.

Mirena's are preached to women as being the Rolls Royce of contraception and terrific and will stop your periods, etc.

Potential side effects are glossed over and, all too often, when women present with them they're fobbed off; told it can't be from the coil or to leave the thing in and it will all 'settle'.

For some, Mirena works great.

But it's not for everyone the way so many healthcare professionals make it out to be.

And it is entirely possible to stay on combined contraception until menopause if it works for you and you don't develop any health conditions that contradict its use.

Or smoke.

If you can have mini pill then don't see why you wouldn't be allowed the implanon implant. Slow release of progesterone only. Gentle on you and your body, yet effective and lasts for 3 years.
Personally I've been put off the coil by tales of people having pain (not discomfort) when having them fitted and unwanted pregnancies.
Hope you find something.