Implant removal

[bensonpink]

Hi all,

I was hoping to see if anyone else has experienced trouble getting contraception removed during the pandemic or has any tips.

I currently have the implant fitted and have had it for just over 18 months I believe. This is my second implant (first being implanon that I had for three years with no issues). I've struggled massively with mood swings and my mental health, to the point of being put on antidepressants by my GP since having it. I'm not attributing this to my implant for definite but this is the first time I've had trouble with my mental health.

On top of this my periods are extremely irregular, bleeding for over 5-6 weeks at a time, coming off for a few days then bleeding for another month. This is all very heavy, not spotting and alongside painful period cramps. I was told to allow it to settle however it's affecting my relationship as I have no libido and am constantly miserable.

After trying to get an appointment for around 8 weeks I managed to book one for the first week of December last year. This was cancelled the day before. My GP has agreed to refer me to the local sexual health clinic in order to speed things up, but according to him, due to covid the staff have been redeployed to hospital wards. I've been unable to get through to the clinic as they're shut, along with other local services.

Apologies for the rant, I'm at my wits end with feeling like this. If anyone knows of other services to have the implant removed or has experience of this, please let me know.

Thank you in advance

If you are desperate to have it removed, but SH staff have been redeployed, is private an option?
www.clarewellclinics.co.uk/contraception/contraceptive-implant-removal/

Just Google contraceptive implant removal & the name of your area to find somewhere local to you.
Our practice nurse is actually removing, & fitting new implants where needed, so it’s not the same in every area.
I hope you manage to get it out soon.

My DD’s implant got infected not long after being inserted, was a replacement, but she had real problems being removed.

It took a night in A&E, several more trips to the hospital and a complaint before it was removed.

Sorry only places I can think of are GP surgeries and sexual health clinics. Can you contact any yourself to see if you can get it removed instead of being referred by your GP?

I was lucky with mine in that I kept checking for appointments and managed to get a slot. Some sexual health clinics also do walk ins where it's literally first come first serve though I'm not sure how this may have been affected by Covid.

Sorry :(

@Isgooglebroken thank you, I wish private was an option. Currently between jobs as after I was signed off by my doctor, my employer told me that they couldn't keep me on if I was off with a fit note

@MrsPnut that's horrific, I'm sorry that your DD had to go through all that. Glad it was sorted.

@Tee20x thank you. All of the SH clinics in my area are run by the same group, not sure if this is the case elsewhere. Their walk in service is currently not running and all clinics are shut so can't even get through by phone. I've tried the clinic in my local hospital and was told they were also shut.