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Original poster

‘All women should be offered pain relief for coil fitting’

359 replies

mrsgrealish69 · 14/07/2021 09:49

I’ve just read a news story about a lot of women finding coil fittings painful and traumatic (certainly was the case for me a decade ago) I think naga munchetty said on the radio or in an interview somewhere that it was an excruciating experience for her.
I’ve seen an NHS response that apparently guidelines state women are offered appropriate pain relief for a fitting. Does anyone know what they mean by this?

I was advised to take a paracetamol beforehand, is this what they are referring to?

OP posts:
Singlebutmarried · 14/07/2021 09:56

Paracetamol is not going to touch it.

Wh2mval · 14/07/2021 09:57

I was never advised anything or offered anything. I was told I wouldn’t feel any pain but that it might feel uncomfortable. I wish they would just be honest.

Iggly · 14/07/2021 09:58

It’s the sweeping “it doesn’t hurt” attitude which is disgraceful when women are saying it does.

moosel · 14/07/2021 09:59

Morning, I recently had a coil fitting with gas and air but this was done in a hospital by a gynecologist. I refused one previously as I had a really really bad experience getting one fitted about 10 years ago and they couldn't get it in.

I was only offered this after being referred to a gynea for other issues and she persuaded me to have a go again as she had gas and air available. It's not standard practice though as GP's don't have gas and air available I don think so if you want this I think you need to speak to your GP /Clinic otherwise I think it is the case of take some paracetamol before you go.

moosel · 14/07/2021 10:00

sorry typo - I dont think. So*

sandgrown · 14/07/2021 10:01

I don’t remember it hurting much . Maybe it depends on the skill of the fitter ?

PositiveLife · 14/07/2021 10:02

I wasn't offered anything at either of mine.
First one was fine (3 months after having a baby)
Second one was awful - I went into cervical shock, passed out and it took almost an hour on oxygen for me to be ok to leave the surgery

toastantea · 14/07/2021 10:03

@sandgrown

I don’t remember it hurting much . Maybe it depends on the skill of the fitter ?

You are part of the problem.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 14/07/2021 10:04

If men were having this done pain relief would be a given.

The shit we have to put up with Angry

RainyDay2020 · 14/07/2021 10:05

I know several people who’ve had them. One is adamant “it doesn’t hurt and anyone who complains is a wuss” and I could slap her. Others have experienced varying levels of pain but out of 8 people I know not one of them was offered pain relief other than “take a paracetamol”.

AnUnoriginalUsername · 14/07/2021 10:05

I was told it would hurt and to take cocodamol before and regularly that day, and they had a nurse in to comfort you while another put it in. This was at a sexual health clinic. I wouldn't have needed gas and air or anything else, it only takes a second.

RandomMess · 14/07/2021 10:06

I had one 2 or 3 weeks after childbirth and it was briefly painful at the sexual health clinic where I presume they are very experienced.

I cannot imagine having one if I'd never had a vaginal birth full stop, any other time I would want decent pain relief too!!!

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 14/07/2021 10:07

@sandgrown

I don’t remember it hurting much . Maybe it depends on the skill of the fitter ?
I guess it's like labour, we're all different with different pain thresholds. I was ok giving birth but the slightest hint of a dentist drill snd no anaesthetic and I'll probably pass out before I'm even in the chair.

It should be offered to every woman as standard.

habibibibi · 14/07/2021 10:07

Yes! It was absolutely horrendous.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 14/07/2021 10:08

Blardy hell Positive that sounds horrendous Thanks

Youdiditanyway · 14/07/2021 10:10

My Mum had one years ago and she said it was absolute agony, worse than childbirth. It then became dislodged so needed removing and she said she was literally screaming in agony as this woman tried to drag it out of her. They failed anyway and she needed surgery. Her story is enough for me never to want a coil, terrifying.

OhGiveUp · 14/07/2021 10:11

I was advised to take two ibuprofen 30 minutes prior to removal and fitting a new one.
I ended up having an epidural for it. The pain was horrendous!
Yet, the first one I had fitted was uncomfortable, but not painful.
All women should be offered the choice of pain relief.
It's bloody disgusting in the UK that they aren't.

Original poster
mrsgrealish69 · 14/07/2021 10:12

@Singlebutmarried

Paracetamol is not going to touch it.
Yes it didn’t help for me :(

I just wondered if taking paracetamol is what they are referring to when they say ‘women are offered pain relief’ for a fitting. If women are now actually being given something better then i would consider having one again.

OP posts:
GetTaeFuck · 14/07/2021 10:12

I vomited and almost passed out due to the pain of them inserting a coil. I was in agony for hours after; to the point my Grandmother bundled me into the car and took me to A&E.

This was after 2 drug free births.

Pinkandpink · 14/07/2021 10:13

I haven’t had one put in but maybe in the future. Does it hurt being inserted or after the procedure? Or both. I had a child without pain relief as she was quick. So I can remember pain. But reading these comments puts me right off

thenonsensepotter · 14/07/2021 10:13

I had one as a teenager, had it fitted and sent to the waiting room to "see how it felt after 15 minutes".
I was sat in a waiting room, at 15 years old, full of families and couples, retching into a bin and unable to sit still. I eventually passed out from the pain and they had to rush me back in to remove it.

Funnily enough on the way home I met a girl from my college on the bus, who had had hers fitted a few days before. She was grey in the face, said she was in a huge amount of pain but hadn't been given anything for it. I never found out if she had to have hers removed too.

EvilEdna1 · 14/07/2021 10:15

It didn't hurt me but it obviously usually does as the nurse kept apologising for how long it was taking and how tricky she was finding it. Removing it hurt though but was mercifully quick.

AlphabetAerobics · 14/07/2021 10:18

I had a local anaesthetic after nearly leaping off the table. It was never going to happen - my cervix has no interest in opening and I'm a section kinda gal. It's due to be replaced - but I can't be doing with that malarky, so it can stay until it falls out - especially given my "not playing this game" cervix has sucked up the string!

troppibambini6 · 14/07/2021 10:18

I've had two fitted and they put numbing gel on my cervix. It didn't hurt just felt a bit rummagey!

User0ne · 14/07/2021 10:19

It's a anaesthetic spray that should be offered now.

But when I had my 2nd coil fitted (it wasn't offered with the first) they couldn't find it and they kept me waiting legs up, speculum in while they went hunting for it. I wish they'd just got on with it tbh.

I do think giving women more realistic expectations of what it will be like would be sensible. No one expects getting their legs waxed will be painless; forcing open your cervix should be considered similar (and obvs getting waxing wrong can really hurt)