to worry that GP is not telling whole truth about "painless" IUD insertion.

[neverquitesure]

Had my post-baby contraception chat yesterday and the copper IUD came out as by far the most suitable method.

Now it sounds like a lovely method of contraception but, as I explained to the very nice GP lady, am far too much of a pee-my-pants, no pain threshold scaredy cat to brave having one fitted. I mean, I grit my teeth when they do the cervix swab for the smear so had always assumed that an IUD was a no go area.

GP then says that the bad press about insertion comes from women who haven't given birth vaginally and/or women who have the slightly larger hormonal coil (i.e. mirena) fitted. She assures me that, having had 2 vaginal births mine will "be no more uncomfortable than a smear test". She did say that it will take a few moments longer than a smear and that I would have period cramps afterwards, but that the actual insertion itself would not hurt.

Really? REALLY? Or is she just telling me what she thinks I want to hear? I spent the whole of my first pregnancy getting over my medical phobia to the point where I can (very reluctantly ) have blood taken and am very keen not to let another bad experience put me back to square one.

Or should I just be trusting the professionals? AIBU?

I would go with it. I had an IUD (copper one, not Mirena) before I had DD. It was painful for a few seconds having it inserted, and was very painful afterwards for a few hours, but after that it was fine.

Had another one put in after having had DD and was expecting a bit of pain and discomfort....but it was totally painless having it put in and no pain afterwards. It really was no different to a smear, for me anyway.

The insertion of my copper IDU absolutely fine, less uncomfortable than a smear beacause there was none of that horrid scraping they have to do. It did take a bit longer but it really wasn't the nightmare I was expecting. I was expecting painful cramps afterward but didn't have any at all.

It's advisable to take a couple of paracetamol half an hour or so before your appointment and to take someone with you to drive you home.

I was 8 weeks post partum with DC 2 when I had mine fitted.

I didnt' find the insertion painful (and I had a Mirena and have never given birth vaginally). I did, however, find them putting the clamp on my cervix very, very painful! They have to put a metal clamp on it to stop it "waving around" apparently!

I had a mirena done 3 weeks ago, and I can honestly say I felt no pain whatsoever. No painkillers or anything. I have given birth to 2 9lb babies though so my cervix could be shot, either that or a very skilled doctor!
I had no cramps, no after pain and so far it fab!
hth

My first pre-baby IUD was extremely painful to have fitted, but only for minutes. My second post-baby IUD was uncomfortable to have fitted. But then I get myself into a state about smears and the like, I wasn't half so worried about giving birth.

I have one fitted. My GP tried to fit one and it was honestly more painful than giving birth. Apparently my cervix was facing backwards . It took me a year to pluck up the courage to go again and this time I went to a family planning clinic and it was honestly no worse than having a smear done. And it was quicker than I imagined it would be.

I was sore afterwards - like bad period pains, but that only lasted a day.

My advice would be to get it done by a family planning place rather than GP.

you have given birth twice and you are worrying that this might be painful....really?

on a serious note i have this one and i cannot stand smear test tense up get all stressed and i would describe this as being a little uncomfortable but not painful.

only downside was periods were seriously heavy for quite a few months afterwards but now nine months down the line it is absolutely fine. i say go for it.

I had a mirena fitted before I had ever been pregnant, and it was only period pain level cramps for an hour. I had this one fitted when DS was 12 weeks, and it was totally painless.

Would def get it done at the FP clinic where they do them all the time

Well, that all sounds very optimistic. Thanks girls . I guess I need to learn to be a bit more trusting!

Callisto - funnily enough I didn't mind giving birth either. Dh can't understand why I can give birth without so much as a whimper, but work myself into hysterics over a blood test (and they do hurt). God only knows how I'd have been if I'd needed an assisted delivery though.

Goobledygook - my GP does an IUD fitting session every week - do you think this is enough experience or should I be seeking out someone who does it more often?

Whoneedssleepanyway - I know, the irony! I think my brain is just wired a bit weirdly...

i definitely did more than whimper both times i gave birth

i had mine done by GP who does a family planning clinic once a week at our surgery and it was fine.....

Lol I more than made up for it at all the antenatal bloods appointments.

Had mine after dd and honestly, it was absolutely fine - I only experienced very very mild discomfort for a couple of days afterwards (less than normal period pain) and it's been great ever since (3 1/2 years). Only thing I would prepare yourself for is heavier and longer periods, but given I don't have to think at all about contraception, I still would thoroughly recommend

It does seem to depend on when your next period is. I was told AFTERWARDS I should have waited until after my period, as the coil was more difficult to insert at the time of the month I went, and hence more painful (and it also started my period for me).

But I wouldn't have said it was completely pain free, even so!

I had one after dc3 I have a very low pain threshold am a complete wuss and honestly I didn't feel a thing. I didn't work out for me as a contraceptive because I ended up with a non stop period, which wasn't what I had in mind.

There are plenty here who've given birth vaginally and find IUD insertion painful.

Mine didn't hurt, BUT I had it done at a family planning clinic in a big city where a GYN came in on Tuesday and all she did was fit coils in the afternoon, so she had done a lot of them.

I had a Mirena, though, and it didn't work as contraception for me - never stopped bleeding, mood swings/depression, no sex drive, cystic acne.

This is a great thread! The copper coil looks like the best option for me too and I've been avoiding the whole subject because I'm a wuss and didn't think I was brave enough to have it done. (I work in a cancer hospital and make myself go for smears as I can see the benefit and feel I should practice what I preach.) Thanks for starting it - think I'll definitely have to consider it properly now. Please let us know how you get on if you go for it.

I've had the copper coil fitted twice (once after ds1, and then after ds2) and can honstly say it was like having a smear. Uncomfortable few a few mins, but not painful.

I have had 2 Mirena coils

First one - 3 months post- vaginal birth - practically painless on insertion

Second one - 5 years later - to my great surprise, incredibly painful. GP told me that when I have the next one fitted, I should go in a week before for heavy duty pain relief

BUT It's well worth it - Mirena has suited me very well, so don't rule it out. No periods (Yay!), carefree sex.

If you are worried, take some pain relief (if you can tolerate it - maybe paracetamol and codeine, at least 30 mins before.

whoneedssleepanyway - FWIW, despite having 2 children I do not like having smears. I do not enjoy being reminded of the pain of labour or having strangers up my fanjo.

Hmmm, so I'm thinking I need to ask my GP how many of these things she actually fits.

I'm currently bfing and only 9 weeks pp so no periods yet. However, on the plus side I suppose my cervix is still fairly loose (for want of a better word!)

I just have a horrid feeling I'll be one of the unfortunate few who have a bad experience, but I do tend to think the worst about all things medical - hence the AIBU thread!

HappySeven - I still don't think I'm brave enough to have it done but am trying very hard to psych myself up for it as it really does seem the only decent method of contraception open to me. Dh has very gallantly offered up his testicles to the knife, but there is still a lingering doubt that we might want another some day so I'd really like to be able to delay that decision for another 5 years. I'll definitely post if I do get it done.

glad i am not the only one who hates smear tests Jamie, i just can't stand having a relative stranger poking around down there and apparently partly because i am tall my cervix is quite far back and hard for them to get to so always seems to take forever.

Anyone know what pain relief you can take whilst bfing? I know the odd paracetamol is ok but remember from an abscess with baby #1 that I wasn't allowed any of the good (i.e. prescription) stuff.

neverquitesure - I am not sure how many my GP fitted, but when I got it done at the family planning clinic she had done 3 already that morning and she also put some anesthetic on my cervix which helped.

Thinking about it though. I was breastfeeding and therefore didn't have it done when I had a period as I wasn't having them.
Second and less painful attempt I was at the end of my period so don't know if that made a difference.

If I had it done again I wouldn't go to GP tbh. Go somewhere where that is all they do and you know it is going to be the best it can be.

yy who needs- I think my cervix is not quite where it should be. I do find pain relief, or something else relaxing (Gin and Tonic ?) helps

I had mine fitted in the FP clinic and it was quite eye-wateringly painful.
I had 1 single and 1 twin (both breech)vaginal deliveries but have a retroverted womb which is what caused the pain apparently.
But I am talking about many years ago and I have had zero problems since the fitting so on balance it is worth the pain.