Surely doctors who do this should have short fingernails?

[bgudd]

I had my Mirena coil replaced this week. It's the third replacement and I don't remember any pain at all from previous times - just a bit of discomfort. But this time it was intensely, sharply painful, and made me scream out. I'm wondering it was because the doctor had long fingernails. They weren't talons, but they were long enough to stick out, and therefore stick in. (I noticed them because they were painted black and quite chipped). Aibu?

Yes, she introduced herself as a doctor.

My legs were in stirrups with a sheet over my knees so no, I couldn't really see what was happening, just feel it. There was also a nurse next to me, chatting to distract me.

The speculum would be in place and then the coil is in a case and inserted.
The Doctor's fingers would only be inside you if you had had a bimanual exam at the beginning, not during a coil fit.
Sexual health clinics have to ask very specific questions due to the nature of the clinic.
I agree that the practitioner certainly shouldn't have had long painted nails but how she dressed quite frankly has nothing to do with how she does the job.

So - not hidden bias - just very open bias

it can be a really painful procedure - but will never have anything to do with the clinicians nails - as you have said - many others have commented on that.

but - to be fair to your clinician - having a mirena inserted is not a sexual infection related procedure - but even in a GP surgery - those questions about potential risk should also be asked regardless of what clinic space you are in. So really - stop going on about the fact you had to go to a sexual health clinic - they are a vital nhs service and are not just for infections - and ideally all contraception services should be focused therw rather than in less busy (for this) GP surgeries

Fair enough. I mean normally they tend to sort of explain things so you know what’s happening at what point but i think as others have said, it’s unlikely to be nails during insertion or removal. That said, they shouldn’t have long or painted nails and should know better.

I'm not "going on about it". You asked me about it. Or was it a rhetorical question?

Blimey, I’ve had three coils and all of them have been agony, I didn’t know it was possible to have one inserted without loads of pain. The last one I had gas and air at a sexual health clinic and that was much better

The long hair won't be an infection risk, although may have made it harder for her to see. She may well have temporarily tied it up. Apart from a gloved bimanual exam at the beginning, her hands would not have touched you. I wonder whether you felt more tense due to your feelings surrounding this person, and therefore the procedure was more painful. Or are you approaching menopause?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195670124004080
I wear gel polish on short square regularly kept nails as a doctor (no invasive procedures performed) The above article shows why!

I've had 2 coil insertions, and the pain both times was breathtaking, with a really intense pinch sensation. Both doctors talked me through it and it was clear they were using instruments and definitely not their fingers. Is it not more reasonable to assume it was the procedure and what she had to use, rather than her nails?

I had the coil fitted recently, I got a prescription for numbing gel they use for lip injections, it cost €20 for the prescription gel, I would highly recommend it to anyone having the procedure.
The doctor used the entire tub.
Painless.

As others have said it was likely the speculum as her fingers shouldn't be inside you. And it can be extremely uncomfortable which may make us tense up more than we realise. She would almost certainly be wearing gloves. If she wasn't that would be very concerning.
The chipped nail varnish worries me and personally (I'm a nurse), I always keep my fingernails short. I feel dirty if they get past a certain length (probably because when I trained we were told strictly no polish and keep them short my and clean.
Im noticing more and more that nurses are working with long/ painted/ gel nails and it does make me uncomfortable. It's not hygienic and I wouldn't be comfortable if a healthcare professional caring for me was wearing nail polish. Especially chipped nail polish.
The dress, tattoos etc shouldn't really be an issue.
If you feel uncomfortable about the procedure then I would contact the health centre. If you felt this way it's possible others have too and perhaps it needs to be addressed. Patients need to feel safe and at ease , especially when they're having a procedure like this performed and it seems that you didn't.

The pain you felt would not have been from the doctor’s nails. Having a speculum inserted or coil fitted can be incredibly painful .
Length of nails is important for cleanliness but polish doesn’t make a difference to cleanliness as long as they are cleaned properly and gel polish in studies actually has a lower infection risk.
Agree chipped polish is scruffy in any profession though . As someone else said , it’s important in this area not to intimidate the service users and to be approachable.

But really a negative feedback about it ??

Dd1 is a gynaecologist and she says she is not allowed to wear nail varnish. The first day of her holidays she always gets them painted!

I've had multiple coils fitted, first 15+ years ago, never had fingers inserted.