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AIBU?

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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:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/07/2021 14:36

I'm one of the people who said it didn't hurt, @fantastaballs - but I also said that they should assume it will be painful for everyone, because it's better that some women get some pain relief that wasn't necessary than that some women suffer pain. So please don't tar us all with the same brush.

UnderCaffeinated · 14/07/2021 14:40

I'm generally okay with pain but a coil was the worst.

I got a copper one fitted at 21 (pre babies) it was agony and it took a long time for them to be able to do it. They'd advised me to take painkillers before hand so I did but I was also told I could drive home straight away. I vomited from the pain and thought I'd pass out but they told me that was quite normal (it was at a sexual health clinic) and that it should subside within a few days (it didn't and was removed in A&E 10 days later)

I think I'd try the hormonal one once I'm finished having children, but 100% women should be offered pain relief/sedation for the procedure as many have this sort of experience

KeepingTheWormsQuiet · 14/07/2021 15:17

I've had 3 vaginal births and found my two mirena coil insertions uncomfortable but OK. It was done both times by the contraception specialist GP at our surgery. On the plus side, the Mirena is brilliant. I haven't had a period for 9 years, which is great. It does sound like it's much worse for those who haven't had a baby.

I had a CVS (like an amniocentisus sp?) once where they put a needle through your stomach into the womb. I found that painful and afterwards told the doctor doing it that I could have done with some gas&air and he shruggd and said "well, it's quite quick".

habibibibi · 14/07/2021 15:19

Gordon Brown had root canal treatment without anesthesia.
Funny how that's not used as a reason to insist all of us do likewise.

Moonface123 · 14/07/2021 15:26

I have had 3 fitted over the years and l will say all of them were a painful experience.

RickiTarr · 14/07/2021 15:53

@habibibibi

Gordon Brown had root canal treatment without anesthesia. Funny how that's not used as a reason to insist all of us do likewise.
Shock

Why the hell did he do that?!

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 14/07/2021 15:55

I had root canals with no anaesthetic

But one of those times i was pregnant so I can’t speak for Gordon

RickiTarr · 14/07/2021 15:56

Oh that’s made me nauseous. Are you typically well ‘ard @RufustheBadgeringReindeer ?

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 14/07/2021 15:56

@habibibibi

Gordon Brown had root canal treatment without anesthesia. Funny how that's not used as a reason to insist all of us do likewise.
I dunno

Maybe it was down to the skill of the dentist

(Not gonna lie…it fucking hurt, i was sweating 😀)

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 14/07/2021 15:57

@RickiTarr

Oh that’s made me nauseous. Are you typically well ‘ard *@RufustheBadgeringReindeer* ?
No 😀

As evidenced by my painful coil insertion

RickiTarr · 14/07/2021 15:58

They’d have to tie me down, 18th century style. ShockGrin

VickyEadieofThigh · 14/07/2021 15:59

I had a general anesthetic for mine. Told them I found smear tests exceptionally painful and they said "No problem, we'll knock you out."

3scape · 14/07/2021 16:03

I've had three coils fitted. Most recent one was with numbing gel AND I've had no problems with it at all, the process was awkward but not painful. The previous two I wonder if my "powering through" meant it wasn't in an optimal position or something.

3scape · 14/07/2021 16:04

*I don't recommend powering through.

gogohm · 14/07/2021 16:14

Didnt hurt, well like a scratch for perhaps 1-2 seconds. Nothing I would consider taking painkillers for.

toastantea · 14/07/2021 16:15

@gogohm

Didnt hurt, well like a scratch for perhaps 1-2 seconds. Nothing I would consider taking painkillers for.

Nobody asked.

WrongKindOfFace · 14/07/2021 16:16

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

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

The shit we have to put up with Angry

If men were getting one fitted they’d get a bloody general anaesthetic.

Mine wasn’t that bad but it most certainly was not pain free AND nobody offered pain relief.

gogohm · 14/07/2021 16:18

(Ps had mine at gp by senior partner who is really lovely and calming, assisted by practice nurse who also is lovely, they just chatted to me throughout, works for me as mind over matter ). I'm a bit of a control freak so hated gas etc

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 16:25

@gogohm wow, good for you.

RickiTarr · 14/07/2021 16:25

Nobody asked.

To be fair to PP, the fact that experience differs so widely is part of the story. It establishes that some women do feel little pain, rather than just handling it better. Which just goes to show that you can’t generalise across an entire population.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 16:26

@RickiTarr but then she went on to say it was a case of mind over matter…

RickiTarr · 14/07/2021 16:26

[quote SmidgenofaPigeon]@RickiTarr but then she went on to say it was a case of mind over matter…[/quote]
Yeah. I should have refreshed. Hmm

wanttomarryamillionaire · 14/07/2021 16:31

I had some local anaesthetic gel and it was slightly uncomfortable but not painful.

Chwaraeteg · 14/07/2021 16:51

I've had 2 fitted and one removed. Never been offered pain relief!

The first one I had put in really fucking hurt. It wasn't the imsertion - it was the part where they attach the sharp diggy clamp thing to the cervix (if you watch the training videos online you will see what I mean - they don't detail this part of the procedure to you prior to the fitting ime). I screamed, swore, gripped the table for 20 seconds then apologised. The GP said 'oh everyone swears and screams during this, I'm used to it.

The removal was worse (I jad ane aelt removal because the GP who had fitted the coil had not measured my womb correctly and so the coil was in the wrong place. It honestly felt like there was a fish hook stuck in me and someone was tugging on it trying to pull put my insides!

Now for my second coil fitting I was understandably quite nervous but it didn't hurt at all! I had some very mild period style cramps as the device wemt in and that was that. Very strange. I really do wonder whether hormones/what part of your cycle ypu have the fitting done suring is a factor?

What I have noticedd in the press, even now, is that they cannot help but mention womens 'anxiety' about the fitting having a bearing on how much pain they experience. That is some bloody gaslighty bullshit!

Also, fuck people who go on about how some people have a higher pain threshold than others. Perhaps they have physiological differences that actually make the procedure more painful?

toastantea · 14/07/2021 16:52

@RickiTarr

Nobody asked.

To be fair to PP, the fact that experience differs so widely is part of the story. It establishes that some women do feel little pain, rather than just handling it better. Which just goes to show that you can’t generalise across an entire population.

Nobody was asking if it hurt or not. The discussion is whether pain relief should be available. Minimising things is backwards.