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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:
Radio4ordie · 14/07/2021 13:45

The casual use of the phrase "pain threshold" isn't helpful either. It's more likely that nerves, anatomy and the skills of the fitter are the variables in women's experience of pain rather than how 'tough they are'. It should absolutely be offered as standard, women are free to refuse it if they are fine without.

Radio4ordie · 14/07/2021 13:47

(by nerves I mean physical nerves in the area)

GrolliffetheDragon · 14/07/2021 13:49

@Secondbellini

Why do women want the coil given the potential for pain as well as all the complications and side effects that can ensue?
Because I was flooding, having heavy periods generally that were causing anaemia, and night sweats.

Combined pill is no good as I get migraines with aura and the mini pill is not good for my mental health, or the mental health of those around me. It took a number of chats with my very nice, very understanding GP and a lot of research before I decided on the Mirena.

I've only had one, but my GP is experienced at fitting them, and was kind and reassuring through the whole thing, explaining everything she was doing and making sure I was ok. It was painful, I did feel faint and took a pile of painkillers for the next couple of days, but it's been pretty much trouble free since then.

I am dreading having it replaced though, which I think is due next year.

Theunamedcat · 14/07/2021 13:50

@Secondbellini

Why do women want the coil given the potential for pain as well as all the complications and side effects that can ensue?
When it works well it works well, its been a saviour for my sister and stopped a friend getting pregnant when she didn't want to be however my sister requires diazapam and gas and air plus numbing gel to get her mirena in my friend has nothing just pop it in and go shopping after

Ex sil had to have surgery when hers perforated her uterus and she collapsed

My other friend got pregnant on two different coil types

Its a huge variation on experience in a relatively small pool of people

ZombeaArthur · 14/07/2021 13:50

I take issue with likening the pain of a coil fitting to period pain too, as it implies there’s one type/level of period pain. For me, I’ve never really suffered with period pain and at it’s very worst, would need nothing more than a hot water bottle. My friend however has pain so bad every month she vomits and passes out. Are they saying you’ll experience mild cramping or excruciating pain resulting in becoming bed bound for days?

ExConstance · 14/07/2021 13:51

I have one because I'm post menopausal and it is part of my HRT regime. I had two for contraception years ago. I was very apprehensive every time but each time had a good G.P. involved who reassured me and talked me through it. I didn't have much pain on any occasion but afterwards had a slightly fainty feeling as if I'd just come through something not very nice. All OK for another 5 years now.

Frymetothemoon · 14/07/2021 13:52

I almost shot off the bed with the pain, but my gynae was quite surprised so I don't think that's the usual reaction. Needed quite a while before I felt able to drive home. Have told DH he has to come next time and drive me, but I'll be requesting something strong from the gynae before he gets to touch it.
Haven't had any kids, that's probably relevant

peachgreen · 14/07/2021 13:55

It was agony. The worst pain I've ever experienced, and I say that as someone who has had major surgery 5 times including the spinal wearing off during my c-section! I couldn't have sex for months afterwards because it gave me awful flashbacks. It also made my periods unbearably heavy and painful (I had the copper coil). On the bright side, getting it removed was pain-free.

Imascarecrow · 14/07/2021 13:55

I don't appreciate the you are part of the problem comment. I personally didn't feel a lot of pain either. Some discomfort? Yes. But I think it's really unfair to say someone is 'part of the problem' just because their pain tolerance is different.

I do agree if people feel the need for more than just paracetamol they should get it. It shouldn't be a get on with it attitude.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 13:58

@Imascarecrow I think it should be quite obvious, after reading through a lot of these experiences, that it doesn’t come down to your pain ‘tolerance’.

Baystard · 14/07/2021 14:01

I've had one inserted 4 months after having a baby (by CS), due for replacement (overdue in fact).

It hurt like buggery, I've been dreading getting it replaced. My lasting memory is of my legs and buttocks being really sore the next day because I'd been clenching them so hard. I nearly got her to stop but just wanted it over with. My female GP had pushed it as the easy solution and I don't recall her even suggesting it could be actively painful. It was fitted at a sexual health clinic, so they do them all the time.

I'm not sure what to do about replacing it, I can't summon the motivation to make the appointment knowing what it was like last time.

Frymetothemoon · 14/07/2021 14:04

@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 it's hormonal. I have a copper coil because the hormones make me suicidal
Secondbellini · 14/07/2021 14:06

Don’t a lot of people also get suicidal ideation and depression due to the cool though?

Zilla1 · 14/07/2021 14:09

I think the circumstances are more complex, OP and I'm not sure PPs trying to disregard the experiences of those PPs for whom the procedure didn't cause significant pain is appropriate as it isn't appropriate to dismiss the experience of those PPs for whom significant pain was caused.

What pain relief do you think should be administered that would be effective for what IME is a minority of patients that a HCP would be happy to administer to someone who didn't need it and which a patient would be happy to receive if they didn't need it? In PP's words, what pain relief would touch the sides that wouldn't be inappropriate to administer when someone didn't need it?

It's a poor analogy but we don't routinely sedate or use a general for all dental extractions where local would suffice though these are available where appropriate.

parsnipsnotsprouts · 14/07/2021 14:09

I’ve had two drug free births and I’m still too scared to have this done. I don’t like the sound of it at all

Zilla1 · 14/07/2021 14:11

IME, because there's no contraception which suits everyone, because most people have a coil fitted without significant discomfort and because for some women, the benefits of non-hormonal contraception or local hormonal contraception outweigh the costs compared with hormonal or mechanical/barrier. In the self-selected sample of women who choose the coil, the majority are strongly in favour and are unhappy for those English GP practices that don't offer the service and they are told they need to go to central clinics.

Secondbellini · 14/07/2021 14:12

What I am trying to work out is that before a treatment is approved, the likelihood of side effects is taken into account.

And I hear over and over again of women who have these side effects (including agonising pain) and it just gets ignored or minimised by doctors. So is the recording of the side effects actually accurate for them to keep on using this as a treatment, or at least in cases where it is solely contraceptive?

I think of the vagina mesh scandal and I just think they ignore side effects when it comes to women. Because women are just meant to put up with them.

shatteredandtired · 14/07/2021 14:15

I have PTSD thanks to gynaecology ‘care’ .

GP told me last week numerous other women have come forward reporting abuse, assault, loss of dignity, being verbally abused by staff, being humiliated and laughed at .

One consultant forced a speculum into me so hard she left a tear in my vaginal wall .

GP said they have reported department dozens of times .

It appears to be endemic .

Frymetothemoon · 14/07/2021 14:21

@Secondbellini

Don’t a lot of people also get suicidal ideation and depression due to the cool though?
Not the copper coil. There are no hormones to alter your mood
schmalex · 14/07/2021 14:21

In general I have a pretty high pain threshold, but when I had a coil fitted it was utter agony and I went into shock. I had to stay for over an hour at the GPs and my husband had to come and collect me. Then I had to have an ultrasound the following week to check my womb hadn't been perforated (it hadn't). This was pre-kids but I have only had caesareans so I am still unconvinced about having another one unless I could have some heavy-duty pain relief. I have a retroverted uterus so I'm not sure if that contributes to the pain. I also find smears quite painful but nowhere near the coil level.

It's a shame, because I found the Mirena a great method of contraception once it was in! Getting it out was also horrible but much quicker.

TuttiFrutti · 14/07/2021 14:21

I needed a general anaesthetic both times I've had a coil fitted. They tried manually and it was excruciating pain, and the doctor still couldn't get the coil in.

I think the attitude to pain which is only experienced by women is sexist. If a man had broken an arm in a car crash, he'd be offered pain relief straight away, but anything like childbirth is treated as if the women should just put up with it.

Scoobydoobywho · 14/07/2021 14:23

Mine was quite painful, I had taken a couple of painkillers before hand. Having my blood pressure checked afterwards it was a bit too high so had to stay for about half an hour until that came down to normal.

azimuth299 · 14/07/2021 14:28

@Ponoka7

I've always thought this and pain relief for after birth pains. On my last baby I was left alone as soon as I was delivered because of staff shortage. I went back on the gas and air and it made a big difference not having that continuation of pain.

@Lissy23, I have a coil post menopause to protect from female cancers, as do some younger women who are ovulating. They aren't just for birth control.

Yes I had it and it was absolutely brutal! And it's the shock too, as they tell you it doesn't hurt much.

I agree with you though @Ponoka7 about it being the same after birth. I wasn't given any painkillers at all after my section, and was expected to get up and go to the loo by myself when my legs started working again. I honestly felt that I might die with the pain.

singingsoprano · 14/07/2021 14:28

@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.
@chocolateorangeinhaler because the surge of hormones doesn't suit everyone and my dd was suicidal so we had it removed (very reluctantly by healthcare professionals) after 5 weeks. The difference in mood after a few days was remarkable.
fantastaballs · 14/07/2021 14:30

Ask the people are saying or didn't hurt them, billy for you! The procedure is requirement to having somebody with a pair of pliers trying to catch your tongue in a firm grasp as you wander it around. Because that's what they do..... they ask you to cough and then they pick your cervix firmly with the pinchy pliers off hell and stretch it open so they insert a straw like rod which contains the coil. Now, some women won't mind it. For others it will be very painful. When I got my tongue pierced I found the pinch of the clamp MUCH. worse than the actual needle itself.