Mirena coil - wwyd?

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

Hello, can anyone help, please? I had a consultation re HRT a few weeks ago. The doctor recommended Mirena plus oestrogen but I ended up with patches (Evorel Sequi) because I was a bit scared of the idea of a coil! We agreed to review in three months. The patches are completely useless and keep falling off if I have a bath, so today I rang to book in for a coil at the sexual health centre, per the GP’s instruction.

All fine, until I mentioned it was part of HRT, then not fine. The receptionist had a big rant about how you cannot self-refer (which is what the doctor told me to do) and the GP needed to write to them. Apparently coils can only be fitted as part of HRT by one special person, and there is a huge waiting list. (Not if you want it as contraception. I said - truthfully - it would also be contraception but she was having none of it!)

Anyway, rang the surgery, the receptionist there was lovely and said she would talk to the doctor about doing the referral. Now I wonder if I should just ring again in a few days and say I want it as contraception, not mention HRT? It’s the same thing, right? Or am I missing something? My surgery doesn’t have someone who fits them so that is not an option. I didn’t give any personal information on the phone to the SH clinic.

Well done OP

Well done - good to hear that it's all on track. Hope it's straightforward for you.

Thank you! I am scaring myself silly reading stories about insertion now!

Any thoughts on what I should ask for oestrogen-wise? The patches wouldn’t stay on, and also I felt really bloated, spotty, and headache-y. I’ve never done well on the combined pill if that’s relevant.

I have a mirena for contraception- honestly the insertion was absolutely fine, maybe 3 seconds mild discomfort and that was it. Same for all my friends who have it!

Re Oestrogen, I was advised by both my local community menopause doctor, and Newson health, to go for the gel because you're in complete control of the dose and can fine-tune it. Seems to be working fine for me, but then I wasn't getting bad symptoms, just the odd hot flush. My rationale was really that I wanted to carry on feeling good, rather than wait until things got bad.

@peanutbutterwaffle that is reassuring, thanks so much!

@DivorcedAndDelighted i am new to all this so sorry for stupid questions - are you on a private paid regime via Dr Newson? I am NHS. Also I am in Scotland and I saw on her website that some things are not available here, one beginning with U I think, is that what you have? Is the gel the thing that has been in the media as short supply?

Symptoms-wise I am poor sleep, hot in bed (but no hot flushes as such), huge anxiety, no sex drive (poor DP), tingly fingers, acid reflux and (sorry if TMI) “delicate” skin in my vulva - assume dry - which can get sore and kind of cracked. Initially I thought that might be thrush and took the Canestan pill but there are no other symptoms of that.