Family Planning / Well Woman

Most of the female doctors and Dr Chan offer Well Woman clinics. In these special clinics you can see the GP about issues such as contraception, HRT, sexual problems, vaginal discharge, sexual health screening, period problems or anything else that you might consider a gynaecological problem. In these clinics the doctors also fit coils, undertake smears, and fit hormonal implants as appropriate. Not all doctors offer all services.

Nurse Helen Gilbert also runs a specialist nurse-led Well Woman clinic on a Friday afternoon during which she can provide sexual health advice and screening, perform vaginal swabs, counsel on sexual health issues and perform Oral Contraceptive Pill checks. Smears are undertaken all day by all nurses in the Treatment Room.

If you are interested in having a coil fitted you will need to have vaginal swabs undertaken at the Treatment Room to exclude gynaecological infection before the coil insertion. Please have the swabs done and then book an initial assessment appointment in a Well Woman clinic with one of the doctors who fit coils (see below). Your coil will be fitted in a separate second appointment.

Instructions for Patients – Coil Fitting:

These instructions are designed to make the fitting of your coil as safe and pain-free as possible. Please refer to the leaflet for more details about coils.

1. Swabs – please make an appointment with the Treatment Room to have swabs carried out at least 2 weeks before your coil fitting. The results can then be checked beforehand. Please ring a few days before the fitting appointment (Tel 01237 476363 between 3 and 4 pm) to check the swabs are clear.

If there is any infection showing on the swabs the doctor may leave a prescription for treatment or ask you to make an appointment to see him/her.

2. Patch/Painkillers – a type of patch is used to help “relax” the neck of the womb. You may collect one of these from the Treatment Room when you attend for your swabs. It is stuck on the thigh about 1 hour before your coil fitting appointment. It is a good idea to take some Ibuprofen (or Paracetamol) at this time as well.

3. Coil Fitting – this will be carried out by a doctor. Please make a 20 minute appointment in the doctor’s appropriate clinic. The coil can be fitted any time in your cycle, but it is best just after your period has finished. It is vital that there is no chance of pregnancy when the coil is fitted – if you are not sure about this check with a nurse or your GP before coming for your appointment.

4. Follow Up – please make an appointment for a check up 6-8 weeks after the coil is fitted. After that coils are checked annually unless you experience any problems. They usually need changing in 3-5 years, depending on type.

The first check up is usually carried out by the doctor who fitted your coil. The annual check can be carried out by your usual GP.

If you would like information on the coil, the pill, contraceptive injections, contraceptive implants, breast pain, breast lumps, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other women’s health issues, please use the search facility below:

Other Women’s Health Issues

ADVA - against domestic violence and abuse
Tel: 0808 2000 247

for leaflet use the following link (requires adobe acrobat reader): www.adva.org.uk/docs/111948_leaflet.pdf

Kindly reproduced with permission by NDWA - North Devon Womens' Aid - Working to end violence towards Women & Children Tel: 01271 370079

Following leaflets by Northern Devon Healthcare Trust

Advice following Breast Surgery

Exercises for after Baby is Born

Pelvic Floor Exercises after Gynaecological Surgery

Physio Advice after your Caesarean Section

Physio Advice following Gynaecological Surgery