Contraception

There are several ways you can get contraception:

1. Contraception delivered by post

Available free to residents of some boroughs, including Kingston. Please check the area in which you live:

• Croydon 
• London SHL
• London & Surrey 

Many contraception methods can also be purchased after an online medical assessment and delivered to you by post.

2. Contraception from your GP / local clinic

If you already get contraception from an NHS provider they may organise a prescription without you needing to visit.

Please contact your current / nearest service – find your nearest service here:

• London SXT: Sexual health information in under a minute 
• Getting it on

3. Contraception from The Wolverton

If the above options are not available to you please contact us and we can offer you an appointment to discuss your contraception over the phone and then arrange for you to collect your medication for the Wolverton.

Contraception from your GP / local clinic

If you already get contraception from an NHS service then please contact them first.

Contraception from The Wolverton

If you normally have your injection elsewhere please ensure you know the date of your last injection – contact us and we can offer an appointment for your injection.

There are several ways you can get contraception:

1. Contraception delivered by post-

Available free to residents of some boroughs:

• Croydon 
• London SHL
• London & Surrey 

2. Contraception from your GP / local clinic-

They may be able to organise a prescription without you having to visit.

3. Contraception from The Wolverton

If the above options are not available to you please contact us and we can arrange an appointment to discuss your contraception needs.

Contraception from your GP / local clinic

Please contact your current / nearest service – find your nearest service here:

• London SXT: Sexual health information in under a minute 
• Getting it on

Contraception from The Wolverton

If your implant needs changing or you wish to have it replaced; please contact us to arrange an appointment.

Information about the coil (also known as IUC – intrauterine contraception or IUD intrauterine device).

Please read all the information on this webpage regarding replacement or fitting of a coil.

The coil will not be fitted on the day of the consultation if you haven’t followed the instructions below. 

This page will provide you with the information you need to prepare for a fitting of a coil.

The coil is a long-acting reversible method of contraception.

Please note this service is funded to provide care for women requiring contraception.

We are unfortunately unable to fit coils (like a Mirena, for example) for women at age of 55 and over.

You should see your GP to arrange this.

If you currently have a Mirena coil or a Levosert coil, these devices can now be used for contraception for 8 years from the time of insertion.

If you currently have a Mirena or a Levosert coil and this coil was fitted when you were 45 years old or older, you can keep this coil until the age the of 55.

If you had use a Mirena or a Levosert coil coil as part of HRT (Hormonal Replacement Therapy), it needs to be changed every 5 years, regardless of your age.

If you currently have a Copper coil and it was inserted when you were 40 years old or older, it can be left in place until the age the of 55.

It is important that there is no risk of pregnancy when you attend – see step 2 below.

Please note we do not accept condoms as a reliable method to prevent a pregnancy as part of preparation for a coil insertion.

If you want to have a coil replaced and this coil is within date, it is important that you don’t have sex, even with condoms, for 7 (seven) days before having it removed.

If you have fibroids or have had difficult or failed coil insertions, we need to talk to you before your fitting appointment to ensure you attend the most appropriate fitting clinic – see step 5 below.

Please make a contraception appointment by calling us on the call centre phone number 0208 974 9331.

Before you book or attend an appointment to have a coil fitted, please follow the five steps below.

Step 1. Watch this short video about the coil fitting

It is important that you watch this short video before your fitting as it contains important information, see link below.

https://vimeo.com/856332715

(note this video was made by a different clinic and some details may be different at our service)

Please note the licence for the Mirena has changed, this can now be used for contraception for 8 years from the time of insertion (the CNWL video states the previous licence of  5 years).

An appointment is not required post fitting unless there is a problem with the coil.

We may have to reschedule your appointment if we are concerned about risks, such as pregnancy. This video explains any risks and the steps you should take to avoid them.

Step 2. Make sure you are not at risk of being pregnant at the time of your coil fitting

We need to make sure that you are not at risk of being pregnant when you attend for a fitting. If there is a risk that you might be pregnant then we will have to reschedule your fitting.

The timing of your fitting will depend on what contraception you are currently using:

In summary:

If you are currently using a hormonal method correctly (pill, patch, vaginal ring, injection and non-expired implant), then your coil can be fitted at any convenient time.

Please continue to use your current method correctly until your coil fitting appointment

If you are currently using condoms, diaphragm, natural methods of contraception, have an expired implant, expired coil or no method then you have two options:

• 1) Abstain from sex (including sex with condoms) for three weeks before your coil fitting appointment.

or

• 2) Contact us for a short acting method to use up until the time of your fitting e.g. the contraceptive pill, patch, vaginal ring and use for at least four weeks before the fitting. Please contact us if you require one of these methods.

or

• 3) If you are using an expired Copper coil or condoms, diaphragm or natural methods and haven’t  used emergency contraception (morning after pill) in the last cycle, you can abstain from sex from the 1^st day of the last period until the coil appointment. It’s important that this a normal period (period comes at the right time, had the normal length and normal amount of bleeding for you).

If you need to replace your current coil and it has not yet expired, then this can be done on any convenient day however, please make sure you abstain from sex for 7 (seven) days before the fitting.

The coil will not be replaced if you have had sex in the seven days prior to your appointment. 

This is to make sure that you are not at risk of being pregnant if for some reason we cannot fit the new device after the original one is removed.

Step 3. Complete the self-assessment form and email it to us

Our self-assessment form will help you to decide if you are ready to have a coil fitting.

Click here to download Self-assessment form (will open in MS Word)

Once you have completed the form, please send it to khn-tr.wolvertoncentre@nhs.net.

24 hrs after you have sent the form, please call 0208 974 9331 to book an appointment for the fitting.

Where possible we will fit your device at your appointment. However, there may be reasons why the fitting may need to be deferred. If this happens then the doctor or nurse who is seeing you will explain why.

Step 4. On the day

On the day of your appointment:

• Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment for registration.
• Allow at least two hours for the appointment. Although the procedure does not take this long, some women need a little more time to recover after the procedure.
• We recommend that you eat and take simple pain relief before your appointment e.g. 1g paracetamol and/or 400mg ibuprofen.
• We advise that you do not bring children with you to the appointment.
• Bring sanitary protection, as you may experience some bleeding after the fitting.
• We advise you to avoid driving immediately after your fitting.
• If you plan on driving, please allow up to one hour before your appointment due to limited car parking facilities at the hospital. Alternatively, use public transport or a taxi.

Please call the phone 0208 974 9331 to book your appointment once you have submitted the self-assessment form.

Step 5. Contraception face to face consultation. 

Please call 0208 974 9331 and ask for a contraception face to face appointment for a pre-fitting discussion if:

• You have a learning disability.
• You require an interpreter.
• You are under 16 years of age.
• You have known complex medical or gynaecological problems. For example, fibroids.
• You have had difficult or failed coil insertions in the past.
• You have any symptoms (abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain).
• You have any complex medical conditions E.g epilepsy. 

If for any reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please cancel, so that the appointment can be given to someone else.

Contraception from The Wolverton

Coils can only be removed if you have not had sex within the last 7/7 – please consider abstaining from sex before contacting us for a removal.

If you wish to stop using the Implant or Coil but still require contraception it is advisable to start another method before having it removed.

Please discuss this during your telephone consultation.

Contraception from your GP / local clinic

If you already get contraception from another NHS provider please contact them first.