Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

51 replies

neverquitesure · 24/06/2010 10:50

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?

OP posts:
2boysandbean · 24/06/2010 12:37

It felt like a little nip too me then it was in took less time than a smear takes

kodokan · 24/06/2010 12:40

I had a Mirena fitted painlessly almost 5 years ago, and am due to have another in September (because it's not a spectator sport to take my kids along to ).

The gynae doctor here has given me a suppository thingie, which I'm to insert an hour before the procedure is done. Apparently this will relax the cervix and make it much easier.

Perhaps ask for something like that?

neverquitesure · 24/06/2010 13:10

The suppository thingie sounds good.

I think I will try to find my local family planning clinic and see what they suggest.

Oh I wish I wasn't such a wuss. Life would be so much easier!

OP posts:
Colliecross · 24/06/2010 13:58

My GP is an incompetent twerp and it was agony, then she gave up trying, and was v.impatient that I cried ( I had 2 babies without crying).
I went to FP clinic where they were great, it was a bit uncomfortable, not more, and they said 'This is our bread-and-butter work'.
I strongly recommend a FP clinic.

neverquitesure · 24/06/2010 14:07

Mean GP colliecross!

OP posts:
mloo · 24/06/2010 14:21

I had one inserted post 2nd baby and it was awful, my body practically went into shock (and painful).

Possibly because I had lactational amenorrhea (no periods due to breastfeeding); all the nurses were very nice, hand held, and seemed genuinely sympathetic that I was in such distress.

I would never have it done that way again, sorry to say!

Didn't help that I had 2 very young DC in the room, too.

TarkaLiotta · 24/06/2010 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iskra · 24/06/2010 15:19

I think go to a family planning clinic where they do them often - not a GP. You want an expert!

I had a copper coil inserted about 12 weeks post-natally & I did not feel a thing. & I love having it in! Such trouble free contraception (in my experience).

neverquitesure · 24/06/2010 15:37

mloo - yikes . Did you have yours fitted at GPs or FP clinic?

OP posts:
EveWasFramed72 · 24/06/2010 17:24

WOW...I can't believe how many of you found it painful!!!! I had my copper IUD about 2 years ago, about 6 months after 2nd DC was born, and didn't feel a thing...had about 2 days of really mild cramps that were annoying, but nothing a little paracetemol couldn't cure.

In fact, I was initially worried that it got 'lost' in there...I thought I should have had SOME reaction!!

HappySeven · 24/06/2010 17:25

neverquitesure I'm thinking we need to find ourselves an FP clinic! I'm not sure I'm reassured enough at the moment - I've got a retroverted uterus (or did before my last pregnancy) and it sounds like that makes possible pain worse from what people have posted here. When I went in to have the baby they couldn't locate my cervix to see how far along I was (although I had her an hour later so quite far along it seems!) My baby's 10 weeks though so maybe it's easier now than later? Decisions, decisions. Maybe abstinence is a better option...

HappySeven · 24/06/2010 17:25

neverquitesure I'm thinking we need to find ourselves an FP clinic! I'm not sure I'm reassured enough at the moment - I've got a retroverted uterus (or did before my last pregnancy) and it sounds like that makes possible pain worse from what people have posted here. When I went in to have the baby they couldn't locate my cervix to see how far along I was (although I had her an hour later so quite far along it seems!) My baby's 10 weeks though so maybe it's easier now than later? Decisions, decisions. Maybe abstinence is a better option...

secunda · 24/06/2010 17:26

Mine hurt, but not traumatically. I cramped afterwards. I hadn't had children. Mine was done by a GP but it was at a big practice and she had done 1000s of them

muriel76 · 24/06/2010 17:32

I had a copper one pre children....

and the same post two children....

....and no problem at all either time. Not massively comfortable but no worse than a smear.

A hundred million times better than giving birth ha ha.

Ps Removing it did not hurt either X

Clothilde · 24/06/2010 20:10

I'm having one fitted (at a FP clinic) next Tuesday morning. I'll report back once it's been done.

There is a very useful leaflet ob painkillers and breastfeeding by the Breastfeeding Network here:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets.html

They do a range of useful leaflets about medicine and breastfeeding.

Claire70 · 24/06/2010 20:16

It hurts... not especially the IUD being put in bit but the that is painted on your cervix to make it open up. Think early labour contractions...

RollaCoasta · 24/06/2010 20:28

I agree with FP clinic - they really are experts, and it is painful for about 2 seconds - just like a smear. Then you might get a few period-like cramps.

Had one from my early 20s to menopause - so easy when TTC because you just have to get it lopped out.

I was always pleased that I wasn't mucking around with my hormones - just had a foreign body stuck in my uterus minding its own business.

EthelredOnAGoodDay · 24/06/2010 20:31

I had a Mirena fitted before I had DD. Was the most painful experience of my life (not including childbirth! ) i came home aafter the appt and sat on the toilet at home rocking like a loon!

Apparently they are not recommended for women who've not given birth, for that reason. No one told me that!!

After the initial fitting though, I loved it as a form of contraception. No periods, no fuss, you can just about forget about it. I'm not using one at mo, but I am hoping that if i get one fitted after any subsequent DC's, it will all be a bit 'looser' and a bit easier to fit!

So think the doc is probably telling you the truth. Good luck!

Claire70 · 24/06/2010 20:32

I was lying on the couch at the FP for about 30 mins while they prepared me for putting it in and then for another 10 mins before they trusted me to leave without fainting. Was my experience unusual then? i thought it was normal

neverquitesure · 24/06/2010 22:57

Thanks for all your replies & stories (good and bad!)

HappySeven - I agree (about the FP clinic not the abstinence - well, not yet anyway)

Clothilde - what a great link, I've bookmarked that one. Please, please let us know how you get on Tuesday morning.

Can anyone tell me if the paint-on-cervix stuff that Claire70 mentions normal? I can't find any references to it on the FP sites I've checked.

OP posts:
DrivenToDistraction · 25/06/2010 12:03

They did a lot of painting with iodine but that was against infection rather than to make the cervix open. Not sure if they do that in the UK, the doctors over here have a bit of an iodine obsession...

muddlinleigh · 25/06/2010 12:26

I'm on my second Mirena and don't have kids -had a tiny bit of discomfort when they were dilating my cervix to insert it but no worse than a period cramp - I didn't take pain relief either times and I am no stoic!

The only pain I did have was when they inserted the speculum as i have a retroverted cervix but that was gone in an instant when they tried another kind.

homebirthmummy4 · 25/06/2010 13:41

oh my!
my baby is 18 days old, i cant do progestogen (makes me pretty ill) so it was coil or him snipped, this thread has confirmed my fears, and i am genuinely grateful for peoples honesty.i have become a proper wimp since i became pregnant there is no way i could do this. looks like it will be condoms for us for a while, at least until i stop feeling broody.....
seriously though, thank you all for letting me know, clamps? painful heavy periods? oooh no, sounds like hell! thank you thank you for making sure i dont do it!

Fizzielove · 25/06/2010 14:14

I've never given birth vaginally, and had copper coil inserted - no problems at all! Not sore at all

itsonlyajob · 25/06/2010 14:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Swipe left for the next trending thread