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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:
UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 14/07/2021 11:34

I've never had a vaginal birth (3 sections, one long failed induction resulting in the first emergency caesarean - never dilated).
My gynecologist failed to fit mine - didn't offer pain relief and told me I'd need it fitted under anesthetic at hospital. I chose not to have it done although I'd paid 90€ for the coil already - birth control is only free for under 25 year olds where I live. The fitting was excruciatingly painful and the gynecologist couldn't manage it.

Ive had impacted wisdom teeth removed and a colleague told me that when she had her wisdom teeth out it was the worst pain she'd experienced, worse than broken bones or childbirth - yet I found it not to be a big deal, it was fine. That doesn't mean that she was lying.

Anyone saying that having a coil fitted doesn't hurt as a blanket statement is an absolute prick. If it didn't hurt you great - the fact it did hurt the next woman doesn't mean she's a wuss with a liw pain threshold, it means it hurt her.

Viviennemary · 14/07/2021 11:39

Interesting about wisdom teeth. I had one out by a local dentist years ago. Horrific agony. Went to hospital for next two. Local anaesthetic only. No problem. Hardly felt a thing.

evtheria · 14/07/2021 11:42

Reading with interest and trepidation.
Due to replace mine, which I had put in under GA, and I’ve only found out (due to the recent press and campaigns) that it’s often a very painful experience. Actually feel sick when I think about it, but I want to know what my rights are or whether I’ll be laughed at for expecting strong pain relief.

Mrbob · 14/07/2021 11:42

Ok. Everyone has different experiences and that isn't to do with "pain thresholds" just the same as birth isn't to do with pain thresholds. It FEELS different for different people for multiple different reasons.
I have had 3 and each felt totally different which clearly wasn't something to do with me as such
Yes they are really unpleasant but you need to weigh up how you want them to run. My first- took pain relief myself as advised, not hideous (never had a baby) but not pleasant. Second- took same pain relief, not much worse than a smear tbh. Third- took pain relief, fucking horrible. But do you know what, if someone asked me if I wanted to faff around with sedation, get someone to drive me home etc or I wanted to have my 4th one (bearing in mind they are only every 5 years) and just put up with 5 minutes of unpleasantness and then nearly passing out after as I always do then there is no bloody way I would have sedation. And that's from someone who made damn sure they were entirely unconscious for an endoscopy.
Different things are more or less painful and more or less bearable for all of us. I think we can make out that it is AGONY for everyone and the patriarchy is trying to torture us because they don't believe it hurts OR we could say that some people have a worse experience than others and people should be able to make a choice about their healthcare. Just like we say for childbirth or having stitches or having a vasectomy

Mrbob · 14/07/2021 11:44

And making out it is super painful for everyone is really unhelpful for people who are thinking of having it

BillyShears · 14/07/2021 11:45

The one I had on post having had a baby vaginally didn’t hurt at all - was just briefly uncomfortable. But the one I had before having kids was horrible- really hurt.

Paripale · 14/07/2021 11:48

I’ve had two fitted - one before having babies which made my legs shake violently and drip with sweat it was so bad and one after having DS2 which was an absolute doddle ( didn’t feel a thing). So I guess a bit of whether it’s painful or not depends on how open your cervix is? Apparently cervixes never close completely back up once you’ve had a vaginal delivery. I do think more pain relief should be offered for those who are likely to find insertion painful. With the first fitting I was given local anaesthesia but only after it was apparent o was finding things horribly painful.

sparklyblue81 · 14/07/2021 11:49

Yes everyone should be offered pain relief if they want it & they should be more honest that it can be painful especially if you haven’t had children. I took paracetamol & that was fine for me but if numbing gel is an option for some surely it could be offered more widely? And the option of other types of pain relief as needed/wanted.

NursePotato · 14/07/2021 11:50

Mine didn't hurt that bad, in fact I can't recall it really being painful. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt other women.

Missmonkeypenny · 14/07/2021 11:50

I also passed out after having mine done. I was 17 when it was fitted and was told afterwards that if you haven't had a baby/anything pass through your cervix that it will make it more painful.

BobVance · 14/07/2021 11:50

I had one fitted a few weeks after giving birth, I was told to take paracetamol before hand, given an anaesthetic gel and it was fitted by an expert gynaecologist at a sexual health clinic - she fitted them day in, day out.

I think all of the above factors contributed to the fact I didn’t experience any pain during the procedure and just some cramping over the following 24 hours.

My friend had hers done at a GP surgery in the same area, wasn’t offered any pain relief and was in agony.

For anyone considering getting it done, go to a sexual health clinic for it and ask about pain relief before you decide. There is no way I would have done it without pain relief.

Wheresmrpenguin · 14/07/2021 11:52

Maybe contraception in general needs re thinking, I was debating getting the coil after already having had pills that cause me serious depression and the implant that means I'm constantly on very heavy periods. It should be better and now I'm completely put off the coil.

ShowMeHow · 14/07/2021 11:53

A bit of gas and air to be available is all that I would have needed.

It must be a cost thing combined with decision making of non-coil users, what else could it be?

AryaStarkWolf · 14/07/2021 11:54

I've had 2 fitted, for the first I was under GA because I was getting another procedure done at the time, the second one I also needed an Ablation and they told me take 2 paracetamol and I said i wanted more than that, they were kind of reluctant but on the day of the procedure that actual Gynecologist who was doing it was way more helpful and she told me I could have a LA and gas and air if I wanted, I did.

Chalkmirror · 14/07/2021 11:56

I tried to have a coil fitted about a month ago and nearly shot through the wall, screamed out loud and (almost) swore at the doctor. I’d been told it would be like a period pain at most - it wasn’t.

But then I’ve never given birth, so maybe that was why!

chocolateorangeinhaler · 14/07/2021 11:58

So if fitting and removal are so horrific why do women not opt for the implant under the skin? That's put in and removed under local.

Pandoraslastchance · 14/07/2021 11:58

I've had 3 babies by c section. I've had 4 coils total.

First one was uncomfortable with injections and numbing and faffing with a junior doctor and paracetamol.

2nd coil was a failure to fit due to angle of cervix and lack of experience.

3 and 4th both fitted by same gp. Quick and only slight stabbing pain.

Last one was fitted by a sexual health gum doctor with proper gyne stirrups and chair. Barely felt a pinch but this lady fits them all day long.

If women want pain relief then they should be offered more than a paracetamol. I don't know what as I have been extremely lucky and not needed anything stronger. I also believe that the equipment, the stirrups, the table and chair also need to be fit for use, not a rickety old table shoved up against a wall.

Chalkmirror · 14/07/2021 11:59

@chocolateorangeinhaler don’t know about others, but hormonal contraception doesn’t suit me. Acne, no libido, mood swings, weight gain, period for 2 weeks at a time and very unpredictable.

I’d gone for the copper coil (no hormones) but obviously couldn’t have it as we had to stop mid way through.. so now at a bit of a loss as to where to go next!

toastantea · 14/07/2021 12:00

@chocolateorangeinhaler

So if fitting and removal are so horrific why do women not opt for the implant under the skin? That's put in and removed under local.

Because women are allowed to choose whatever is best for them based on the performance of the device. Pain relief should be available. Please don't suggest women are making the wrong choice for their body based on a lack of basic pain relief.

PumpkinKlNG · 14/07/2021 12:01

I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about the implant, good job I’m single as I’ve heard horror stories about all of the contraception tbh and I don’t want to use any and men seem to not like using condoms Hmm so I will probably stay single forever!

huuuuunnnndderrricks · 14/07/2021 12:01

I need to get mine done and I keep putting it off . I just hope I don't get it pregnant .. it hurts so much and I'm pretty brave .

AryaStarkWolf · 14/07/2021 12:01

@chocolateorangeinhaler

So if fitting and removal are so horrific why do women not opt for the implant under the skin? That's put in and removed under local.
The reason I got the coil wasn't for contraception it was for treating Endometriosis, that's what was recommended
Foodlovelyfood33 · 14/07/2021 12:04

Had mine fitted and was worst pain ever. Felt sick on the couch and nearly passed out when I got up. Never advised painkillers before. They said it would pass. Had horrible cramps for a few days.

Then the 18 months it was in, pain daily and spotting. Took ages to get removed by goad they kept saying it will pass. But they was painless.

RainingZen · 14/07/2021 12:04

It definitely hurt. I remember thinking, next time someone says 'this might be uncomfortable for a minute or so' I'm going to get a big branch of wood to bite down on, like in medieval times. Because giving people medical treatment without painkillers for no reason , it's pretty barbaric.

Enough women find it very painful that it should be assumed it might be.

Doidontimmm · 14/07/2021 12:05

I was offered anasthetic but said no as had found the previous one 5 years ago not too bad. It was more painful taking that one out than the new one going in but still really sore.