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Women's health

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Original poster

Should I be made to stop the pill if I don't want to

35 replies

MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:19

I have been on a progesterone only pill for about 5 years now to control heavy bleeding. It is very effective. Gynae told me that I will know when I reach menopause as my periods will stop, regardless of being on this pill. Gynae signed me off when everything was regulated.
My GP contacted me following a repeat prescription request to say she wants me to stop taking the pill, even though I am still getting periods. I am 52 years old and she herself told me it's ok to take this pill till 55. I'm so annoyed that she is making me come off it, when everything is so under control. I dread going back to heavy bleeding again and then perhaps months of trying to regulate it. She says if this happens I can just start it again but it doesn't make any sense at all for me to do this .There is no reasoning with her. I find her an awkward old woman (she must be around 70). Any advice? (Can't change GP as small country practice).

OP posts:
Nasahoodie · 23/12/2023 23:21

What reason has she given for you coming off it?

She probably won't admit it, but I wonder if it is a cost factor.

Tell her you still have periods. Ask her what alternative contraception she recommends instead.

JenniferBooth · 23/12/2023 23:24

Yeah sounds like £££££ to me too

Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:26

I reckon it's cost too. There's no other rhyme nor reason for it.
i have a face to face appointement next week at her request because "we want to see you" 🙄

OP posts:
EmmaEmerald · 23/12/2023 23:28

She's going to try and flog you a Mirena coil, I think they get £ for that.

Stand firm.

Laszlomydarling · 23/12/2023 23:29

I buy mine online that the doctor stopped prescribing me.

JenniferBooth · 23/12/2023 23:29

Im 50 and am on the POP too. I buy mine from Boots Its called Hana. Every time they ask me if my GP knows im on it. Every time i say yes. But my surgery are uncontactable Ive tried ringing e mail and even Twitter, Its just ignore ignore ignore when ive tried to contact the surgery about other issues. So they certainly dont know im on the mini pill

MintJulia · 23/12/2023 23:30

Ask her why? She may have a perfectly valid medical reason and is trying to avoid future issues.

Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:30

I don't think so in this instance. I asked for one 5 years ago pre Covid and she said her surgery doesn't fit them coz they don't have time.

OP posts:
Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:31

i didn't know you could buy over the counter without prescription. This is worth looking into. Thanks for this.

OP posts:
JenniferBooth · 23/12/2023 23:32

@MilkTray2018 It was brought in about two and a half years ago. I pay £19.75 for a three month supply

JenniferBooth · 23/12/2023 23:33

Ive not had a period this year but have no idea whether thats cos of the POP or menopause

Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:34

Her answer on the phone was that I mightn't need it any more. Let's see. My gynae told me I would know when I didn't need it as my periods would stop when I reached the menopause.

OP posts:
Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:34

This is good news. Thank you.

OP posts:
JenniferBooth · 23/12/2023 23:37

So if i went by what your gynae said i dont need it anymore Fear of pregnancy (including ectopic which is more likely in older women) keeps me taking it

Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:41

@JenniferBooth i get that, totally understandable. I have had a period every month on the pill that I am on - gynae was fully aware. Woold have LOVED if it had stopped my periods altogether.

OP posts:
LizzieFromTheForest · 23/12/2023 23:53

Can you see another GP? We have 20 at our huge practice I am registered at - in the town, and different GPs allow different things. Eg, some of them refuse to give sleeping pills, but some of them do. So me and DH just make an appointment with the ones that do when we want sleeping pills. (We don't have them often - maybe a pack of 14-21 once a year!)

Also, one GP palmed my cousin off with a shitty cheapo blue inhaler for asthma and told her 'that's it, we have changed them, the old ones are not available anymore.' She saw a different GP 3-4 months later as she found the new one not working, and he put her straight back on the old one. So yeah, different GPs do say/do different things.

How stupid to stop it. The contraceptive pill costs very little... But yeah, buy it over the counter. I would if I had had it stopped. Like fuck would I be bullied into the coil.

On a separate note, why is this GP still working/practicing at 70 years old?

Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:59

@LizzieFromTheForest thanks for your teoly. Can't see a different GP - like I said in my OP it's a very small country practice with this GP and one other man (absolutely wouldn't want to see him). I can't fathom why she's still working at her age. She hasn't moved with the times at all. So old fashioned and traditional. Sadly she doesn't seem to understand women's medical needs.

OP posts:
PolizeiobermeisterWache · 24/12/2023 00:02

I can't find the NICE guideline online but I thought, unless you had contraindications, it was fine to continue to 55 ???
Have a look at this- scroll down to the "Duration Of Use" section- though I think you could find better info if you search:
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/contraception-progestogen-only-methods/management/progestogen-only-pill/#duration-of-use

My GP got really stubborn about keeping me on the minipill. Arguing with me(!) and then grudgingly giving me a 3 month prescription. She was always pushing pushing pushing the Mirena coil. I felt she must be incentivised somehow to get women on the coil....

In lockdown, aged 52, I decided I'd just come off the minipill cos the GP had made it such a hassle. Turns out i'd already gone through menopause without noticing.

FortunaMajor · 24/12/2023 00:04

MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:31

i didn't know you could buy over the counter without prescription. This is worth looking into. Thanks for this.

You don't need to buy it over the counter. As of this month you can access oral contraceptives through a pharmacy without the need for a prescription. This is a free service.

Find your nearest participating pharmacy here.

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/find-a-pharmacy-offering-contraceptive-pill-without-prescription/

Grimchmas · 24/12/2023 00:09

GPs are fucking useless for women's repro health in my experience.

The PoP bleed is a withdrawl bleed not a proper period - it happens because you are artificially cycling your progesterone, so I wouldn't necessarily believe your Gynae that you will stop having that bleed when you are menopausal but still taking the PoP.

Grimchmas · 24/12/2023 00:12

MilkTray2018 · 23/12/2023 23:59

@LizzieFromTheForest thanks for your teoly. Can't see a different GP - like I said in my OP it's a very small country practice with this GP and one other man (absolutely wouldn't want to see him). I can't fathom why she's still working at her age. She hasn't moved with the times at all. So old fashioned and traditional. Sadly she doesn't seem to understand women's medical needs.

Edited

Can you go private? There are options for private GPs these days, ranging from cheaper phone consults to full in person appointments, and you can pick and choose who you see.

Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 24/12/2023 00:13

@PolizeiobermeisterWache she told me herself that it was ok to stay on till 55.
interesting that you had already reached menopause. Maybe that's why she wants me
to come off? If only she had explained this.

OP posts:
Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 24/12/2023 00:15

@Grimchmas I honestly didn't know
tiis about the withdrawal bleed. Thank you for this information. It's starting to make sense that she wants me to try without it.

OP posts:
Pigeonqueen · 24/12/2023 00:15

That is extremely odd. Newson health clinic actually give the pop as part of HRT for women who can’t / don’t want the coil or a higher dose of utrogestan for progesterone - I know this because that’s exactly where I am, and I am post menopausal- I went into menopause aged 37 due to medical reasons, I’m now 43. I transferred to the NHS for HRT care and they are happy for me to continue on this - I take the mini pill, 3 pumps of oestrogel and one 100mg utrogestan a night. I never have any periods, ever and no one has ever wanted to check whether I do.

Original poster
MilkTray2018 · 24/12/2023 00:16

@Grimchmas yes definitely an option. There are private menopause clinics so I may make an appointment for one of those.

OP posts: