GP refusing to replace coil

[roundofapplause]

Just after some advice.

I had the mirena coil fitted almost 3 years ago to help with heavy bleeding and it's been the best thing I ever did. When it was fitted I was given a discharge note that said it needed replacing in 3 years.

Over the last 6 months or so my bleeding has returned and so has the tiredness, mood swings, bad constipation (tmi) and other pms symptoms. I had a telephone gp appointment and she said the warranty has now extended to 5 years so they wouldn't replace for another 2 years. Has anyone else experienced this? Just wondering whether to suck it up or keep pushing. I can't afford to go private.

Keep pushing. Make it their problem.

"I understand that it is not possible to replace the mirena for another 24 months. What can you prescribe to stop the bleeding for those 24 months?"

Either they will suggest a sensible solution or "I'm sorry, that will not work for me" until a solution is found.

@roundofapplause could you approach your local sexual health clinic?

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health/find-a-sexual-health-clinic

I too was going to say a family planning clinic- often connect to a sexual health clinic. Ring and check if they run contraceptive clinics.

They can’t force you to keep it in your body, so make an appointment to have it removed then wait a month and make an appointment to discuss contraception and ask for the coil?

Do you have a family planning/sexual health clinic nearby? If so book an appointment there and say it needs replacing as you have had it for 5 years.

I have always said my sexual health clinic records cannot be shared with my GP and then the GP has no record of the dates or the treatment.

Then go back to gp in three years and say it has over run by a year.

Women’s health is a shambles in this country and I’m expecting an issue when mine needs replacing. The above worked for me previously.

They are licensed for over five years.

Some are now approved for 8 it appears (10 years if aged 45 plus at the time)
https://www.fsrh.org/documents/fsrh-ceu-statement-mirena-8-years-contraception-jan-2024/fsrh-ceu-statement-mirena-8-years-jan24.pdf

I'm pretty sure that the 8 years is for contraceptive use and the 5 years is for use to control heavy vaginal bleeding.

The hormone levels in them steadily decline over the years.

The mirena had a 5 year lifespan when I got mine quite a few years ago. Mine was removed several years ago as dh had a vasectomy. Are you sure it's not the Jaydess coil as that has a 3 year lifespan?

I was told 5 years for HRT at the gp surgery. However they are not very up to date with HRT information.

Thank you everyone. I'll push back this week and then try the sexual health clinic. I teach sixth form so the idea of seeing a student in there makes me cringe a little 😂

@LIZS they are indeed. If it was just contraception I wouldn't be pushing but I had it for bleeding linked to suspected endometriosis rather than contraception, and the symptoms are coming back and the pain and lack of energy is starting to affect my day to day life. I struggled to teach yesterday because standing up was causing so much pain,

I had mine fitted in 2019, they told me at the time come back in 5 years. I did use a sexual health clinic though.

I don't trust that they are effective after a certain length of time and everyone is different so surly each body could react differently to the hormones or absorb them at a different rate. Seems the lifespan gets longer and longer and I'm sure it's a money saver. Women's health is treated appallingly so I wouldn't be surprised. I'd just say you want it removed and then at the appointment say you now changed your mind and want another one.
Maybe a coincidence but I had mirena for 3 years without a problem then got pregnant with it in. Sounds like the hormones are no longer effective if your symptoms have returned. Probably what happened to me. The result of mine is now a toddler so be warned.

They've been licensed for five years at least since early 2012 when I had my first one fitted.
I started to get bleeding again half way through my most recent one but that turned out to be due to fibroids, not the Mirena wearing out. Have you considered you might have something else wrong which needs investigating?

Just read your update about the endo, in that case I think you need a GP apt to discuss the change in symptoms. Not sure a new coil is the answer. Have you had surgery to clear scar tissue? Sounds like that may possibly be next steps.

I hadn't but thank you for the info. I'll get that checked out too

🫣

I had a cervical biopsy rather than laparoscopy as the consultant felt that after internal and external ultrasounds that a laoposcopy wasn't needed but the discharge notes said suspected endo and adeno. I'm just going to push back on everything I think. Sometimes talking it through with others makes you realise, so thanks for all of the replies x

• the coil was fitted under general as part of the biopsy

I had Mirena back in 2005 and it was licensed for 5 years even then as a contraceptive.

DD has endo and has had same issues with the implant, it didn't control her symptoms for the full number of years I think 3 instead of 5, the next one didn't even help as long as that.

Another example of the medical profession not listening to women and not treating endo or indeed gynae problems.

Time to start insisting on a referral back to gynae.