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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:
Porridgeislife · 14/07/2021 21:29

Higher pain threshold is absolute bollocks and has nothing really to do with whether or not you’ll find coil fitting bearable.

I have physical anatomy that means I cannot get a coil comfortably fitted without deep sedation - my cervix is tilted and my uterus tethered on an angle.

Tilted cervix affects something like 20% of women & is a normal anatomical variation so it’s no surprise that a not insignificant percentage of women find it excruciating.

Singinghollybob · 14/07/2021 21:29

But that's the first time I've been offered analgesia in the 3 times I've been

toastantea · 14/07/2021 21:29

@oneglassandpuzzled

I'm not offended by good experiences. I have had them myself.

What I was saying is that this is not a 'did your coil insertion hurt?' thread. It is a thread about how pain relief should be available. Any woman who posts about how it didn't hurt them is being dismissive of the need, generally, to have pain relief offered as standard. It's a bit like childbirth, all our experiences are different, but the options for pain relief are (generally) available.

Don't be the person who minimised the pain of others. Be the person who understands we don't all have the same experiences so maybe pain relict for some procedures would be a good idea.

therocinante · 14/07/2021 21:30

Oh I should add, I took 2 ibuprofen and a paracetamol the second time because I was like "oh, it hurt last time". It was nowhere near enough. So yes, we should definitely be offered better pain relief.

minty133 · 14/07/2021 21:35

Fitting a coil is just like bad period pains/cramps. Only lasts a few minutes and a bit of stomach ache afterwards. These posts could scare off women wanting effective contraception. The coil is fantastic and no more heavy periods! I had a broken leg and subsequent infections on an Ilazarov frame, you don't know what pain is if you think a coil is painful!

Mistressofnone · 14/07/2021 21:36

I had one pre-children and it did hurt but only for a few seconds. I thought in that moment that I can't handle any more of this but then it was done. Found it an excellent contraceptive.

I think if I had been told beforehand that it will be extremely painful, I wouldn't have gone through with it. So the 'uncomfortable' warning worked for me.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 21:37

@minty133 Jesus fucking Christ.

I’d get banned if I used the words I wanted to say to you.

toastantea · 14/07/2021 21:39

@minty133

Fitting a coil is just like bad period pains/cramps. Only lasts a few minutes and a bit of stomach ache afterwards. These posts could scare off women wanting effective contraception. The coil is fantastic and no more heavy periods! I had a broken leg and subsequent infections on an Ilazarov frame, you don't know what pain is if you think a coil is painful!

Not the brightest, are you?

MozzchopsThirty · 14/07/2021 21:44

I've had my last 3 under GA
Bloody brilliant

minty133 · 14/07/2021 21:45

Let's not put unnecessary burdens on the NHS. If it's too painful you can always ask for the procedure to stop.

toastantea · 14/07/2021 21:46

@minty133

Let's not put unnecessary burdens on the NHS. If it's too painful you can always ask for the procedure to stop.

Goodness. Stop embarrassing yourself.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 21:46

This reply has been deleted

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minty133 · 14/07/2021 21:46

Most people find the procedure uncomfortable but easily bearable.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 21:47

This reply has been deleted

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Holothane · 14/07/2021 21:48

@Minty133 I suggest you read the 15 page diary of pain I kept for 2020 period pain lasting for 8 to 12 hours at a time. To show the drs.

TheSockMonster · 14/07/2021 21:51

Interesting to look at the difference between what we consider to be acceptable levels of pain during men’s contraceptive procedures and women’s contraceptive procedures.

Loads of articles on PubMed about ways to reduce men’s pain during vasectomy. Here’s one and loads more linked at the bottom. Lots of work going on to keep men’s procedural pain to under 2 out of 10 (which is great)

Look up women’s pain during IUD insertion and under 6 out of 10 is “well tolerated” with the reoccurring recommendation that the best way to manage this pain is to reduce women’s anxiety about the procedure. Example here, one of many, plus it crops up in most of the other studies on pain control.

minty133 · 14/07/2021 21:54

Just trying to offer a more balanced view. I don't appreciate being called a troll as I'm just offering my own experience. I'm sorry others have had such a bad time of it.

Voice0fReason · 14/07/2021 21:56

There clearly needs to be some research done to make this more comfortable for women.

I had one fitted at my 6wk check post birth. It was just like a smear test. It was removed a year later without me even feeling it. It definitely wasn't about my pain threshold. Post birth must make a huge difference.

Women deserve far better than the dismissive and minimising they are currently getting. We need to be fully informed so we can make informed decisions.

therocinante · 14/07/2021 21:56

@minty133

Just trying to offer a more balanced view. I don't appreciate being called a troll as I'm just offering my own experience. I'm sorry others have had such a bad time of it.
You weren't offering just your own experience though, were you? You were saying that 'most' people find it fine. Which, if you can see that so many people on this thread have had such a bad time of it, you can also see is nonsense.
Original poster
mrsgrealish69 · 14/07/2021 21:59

@minty133

Let's not put unnecessary burdens on the NHS. If it's too painful you can always ask for the procedure to stop.
We could say this for a lot of procedures and treatments where pain relief or sedation is offered then
OP posts:
toastantea · 14/07/2021 22:01

@minty133

Just trying to offer a more balanced view. I don't appreciate being called a troll as I'm just offering my own experience. I'm sorry others have had such a bad time of it.

There is nothing remotely balanced about your posts and you know it.

Beetlebrooker · 14/07/2021 22:04

Blimey, it's brutal isn't it.

I've had no babies but my first mirena coil was further to a very early termination - I'd had a local for that (refused sedation and gas and air) which was horrifically painful, then they jammed the coil in there straight afterwards. To add to the indignity the surgeon abruptly shoved a metronidazole suppository up my bum without even warning me it was coming. FFS.

Removal and replacement 5 years later was distinctly uncomfortable, but I had a migraine at the time so was definitely powering through and they were mercifully quick. The nurse gave me a look of reluctant admiration and said, "You're very stoic aren't you."

The third removal and replacement was recent and oh, it was baaaad. The removal was so abrupt that it felt like they'd taken a bit of bowel with it, then I too was left legs akimbo with a speculum in place while they faffed around with the dreadful measuring implement, eventually being so rough with it that it felt like they were piercing my uterus. The coil wouldn't go in properly so they had to pull it out and start over with the measuring thing again.

Ugh I was begging them to please just hurry up. Hopefully this is my last one.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 22:05

@minty133 dint play coy now. You were not offering a remotely balanced view. And I suspect you know exactly what you’re doing. Maybe you’re a bloke?

IARTNS · 14/07/2021 22:05

I had 1 fitted (no children) and it was uncomfortable for me but not painful. Same for removal. I did take co-codamol beforehand though.

I've had a few colonoscopy too and only been offered sedation for one of them.

passtheloveon · 14/07/2021 22:06

My first fitting at the GP surgery left me shaking and crying. I then got an infection and had to have it removed. Due to gynae issues I had the next one fitted under general anaesthetic in hospital . Please don't under estimate the pain.