Pain Relief during IUD procedures

[1stWorldProblems]

Apologies if this has already been covered - the search facility doesn't seem to be working today on MN. I know that Caitlin Moran is a bit of Marmite person for Mumsnet (& even for me some days) but today's Times magazine is a) laugh out loud funny in parts and b) made think about something I'd just taken for granted as a given - why is it that coil insertions & removals are done with out any offer of pain relielf? It never just "hurts a bit" and leaves me feeling physically odd for several days after.
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-we-all-need-pain-relief-when-having-an-iud-fitted-7qks82srw

She has recently had a particularly bad procedure and has been tweeting about a petition by Lucy Cohen calling for more information & pain relief for the procedure. This bit made me laugh out loud

"Interestingly, several who worked in the medical industry pointed out that during colonoscopies – a unisex procedure – people are offered either gas and air or sedation. In many ways a colonoscopy is similar to an IUD insertion – doctors are putting something up one of your special, private holes. The big difference between the two is in scale and accessibility. The sphincter is essentially like the Blackwall Tunnel; it’s built for daily traffic. It’s a well-travelled route, open 24/7.

The cervix, on the other hand, is a bit like my nanna’s sitting room. The door was always closed, it was only used on “special” occasions, and she’d be quite agitated that someone might break something precious while they were in there. She was relieved when everyone left."

[NiceGerbil]

And as usual the paternalistic explanation for them saying that

'Most people encounter no problems, and no-one should be put off considering this very safe and effective contraceptive, medics say.'

Same message as with smears.

They worry the silly ladies will all say don't fancy that and not do it.

While in real life, the silly ladies know these sorts of things are really unpleasant- undignified, uncomfortable and yes sometimes/ often painful. But we do it.

This sort of messaging really pisses me off.

Like the covid period stuff. You'd think that anything to do with reproductive function would be pretty important. But it's all. Women have changes all the time they're only noticing because of vaccine. It's really low numbers. Probably nothing. Don't let it stop you getting the jab!

While if the same number of men had reported no more erections, and it was suspected that loads hadn't reported, I imagine the response would be somewhat different.

[ferretface]

I don't like the wording about "shouldn't hurt more than period pain", all of my insertions and removals have been unproblematic but there was a short moment of deep cramping pain that was very much more painful than the average period (and I take naproxen for painful periods!) or smear tests etc. It just didn't last long so i considered the experience ok overall. I would be offended if anyone suggested that it didn't hurt at all!

I had both of my IUDs placed at sexual health centres by very experienced clinicians who spend most of their time fitting and removing IUDs, not sure whether that had anything to do with it?

[OvaHere]

While if the same number of men had reported no more erections, and it was suspected that loads hadn't reported, I imagine the response would be somewhat different.

I'm sure that would warrant a national emergency

I've never had an IUD so I can't comment from experience but it's yet another thing that highlights that treatment of and research into women's healthcare is so often subpar.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

I honestly think the pain an IUD causes should be considered a fatal design flaw. Why is it shaped like a crucifix for example? Looking at a picture of one, and knowing myself, I can’t imagine any way of forcing that in or even living with one in without any pain at all.

But I bet men designed it and really all they care about is does it prevent pregnancy?

[Yolanda524]

When I had mine put in I had a sharp reminder of what contractions in labour felt like, it was so painful though quick. I don’t know why they can’t offer stronger pain killers and why we have to suffer.

[Y0YO]

I've had three attempts to insert a coil, once at the same time as a hysteroscopy.

I wasn't ever offered any pain relief.

I had to call it off each time as it was so painful.

They didn't get enough material from the hysteroscopy as I couldn't bear it long enough. But they said it was 'probably ok'.

I'm so traumatised I don't think I could try again even with pain relief.

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis so that may have played a part.

[olivethegreat]

Infuriating BBC article up now again denying women's experiences .

[oneglassandpuzzled]

@BraveBraveMouse

I've never had a coil, but had lots of fertility investigations and I always felt like it was cruel to not offer a woman something to relax her (like a valium) when being tense is known to make procedures accessing uterus via the cervix more painful. After one such instance where the doctor repeatedly struggled to get access via my cervix, telling me to try and relax through the pain, I decided I was taking matters into my own hands and would make sure to have some gin before procedures - I'd recommend anyone do the same.

If I didn't have to drive myself, I'd do the same. I use self-hypnosis (along with cocodomal). It helps me remove myself a little from what's going on.

[TurquoiseLemur]

@olivethegreat

Infuriating BBC article up now again denying women's experiences .

I've just been reading that article. Grr.

"Insertions shouldn't be painful". . . so all those women who say that their experience has been different are exaggerating/lying/ hypochondriacs/nuisances?

When they say "Pain relief should be part of the discussion" that is a giveaway, surely. They've just said that insertions aren't painful. Which is it?

The suggestion to women that we demand proper care in this regard is absurd. If you go along to a fitting, having not had one before, having not read this or similar threads, and having been told nothing about pain by the health professionals, how can you be expected to advocate for pain relief?

A lot of this could be avoided if these people just bloody listened!

[334bu]

A lot of this could be avoided if these people just bloody listened!

100% this.

By the way is their a financial incentive in not offering suitable pain relief? For example does it take less time, fewer staff needed? How much is money driving this?

[NiceGerbil]

@PlanDeRaccordement

I honestly think the pain an IUD causes should be considered a fatal design flaw. Why is it shaped like a crucifix for example? Looking at a picture of one, and knowing myself, I can’t imagine any way of forcing that in or even living with one in without any pain at all.

But I bet men designed it and really all they care about is does it prevent pregnancy?

It folds up like an umbrella to put it in!

Yes if it went on like that it would be extremely eyewatering.

[NiceGerbil]

'48IronTeeth

Vinniepolis

I nearly passed out after having the mirena coil fitted - unfortunately I was driving at the time so that was a bit scary.

'

Why on earth the eyebrow?

Fainting is common with this procedure. Something about tampering with your cervix can have this effect pretty commonly. They said you may feel faint and are you ok to stand up do you feel faint afterwards.

[Elys3]

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect the choice of pain free fitting and removal. Women deserve better and to all HCPs who are fighting for better care.

[InkieNecro]

I'm wondering if those who have had immense pain also find smears painful? I find them almost unbearable, but went through two labours, including one back to back, without pain relief. Smears are no longer going to be happening without sedation unfortunately for me.

[NiceGerbil]

Smears have varied massively for me I think the skill of the person doing it makes a massive difference.

For me it was the fact I'd never been in Labour or had a VB I'm sure.

The consultant who had a look when the strings went AWOL said cervix was 'tight as a drum' and that it must have been really hard to get the coil in and it must have been very painful. He was right.

[NiceGerbil]

The problem with the pain relief thing.

Is that women don't know if it's going to hurt them until after a good go has been given at doing it.

I'm sure some people can manage all sorts of procedures without pain relief. But because it's accepted it can be painful, preventative pain relief is given to all before it's done.

I can just imagine the doc having a go. And when it hurts. It's nearly there! Just relax. If we stop you'll have to wait until pain relief has taken effect and I'm sure you're keen to get out of here. It's just a little more! Or even, these appts assume no pain relief there's no time. You'll have to rebook and come another time.

All that stuff.

Just give the sodding pain relief as standard.

[olivethegreat]

@InkieNecro that's also my conclusion. I recently had a consultant try and he tried first with medium speculum and it was unbearable, but okish with smallest one. At least now I know that there is a smaller option !! I've had two agonising smears this year though so can't see myself going back for more ever again.

[PurgatoryOfPotholes]

Pain relief should be offered as standard, and this was a great article from Caitlin Moran.

Like others, I found it horrendously painful, and taking two paracetamol beforehand did not touch it.

When I said it was torture, she told me a woman who had given birth shouldn't experience pain. I told her I'd been given pain relief for that!

[TurquoiseLemur]

@PurgatoryOfPotholes

Pain relief should be offered as standard, and this was a great article from Caitlin Moran.

Like others, I found it horrendously painful, and taking two paracetamol beforehand did not touch it.

When I said it was torture, she told me a woman who had given birth shouldn't experience pain. I told her I'd been given pain relief for that!

So daft, saying that a woman who has given birth shouldn't experience pain when it's clear that some do!

They seem unable to hear themselves.

[Crazysheep]

I have given birth 3 times with no pain relief and I came of the room shaking uncontrollably following having the coil fitted. DH husband took one look at me and gave me a sugary drink before I passed out. Getting it back out (after a week due to it slipping and getting wedged in my cervix) was absolutely fine. I hadn't even realised it was out.

[Helen8220]

@Y0YO that sounds terrible, I’m shocked they didn’t offer for you to have it done under sedation. They only tried once with me, and when I found it too painful to continue they referred me to a specialist clinic where I could have it under sedation - I was unconscious for the duration. I also have adenomyosis, and after the coil had settled in it helped hugely with reducing heaviness and pain.

[2Rebecca]

I had a Mirena and it was just a bit sore during it. I found it less painful than giving blood. I think if IUCD /IUS insertion has to be under local it becomes more time consuming so fewer GPs will do it as GPs have more than enough to do and are concentrating on core work at the moment anyway. Family planning clinics are also being cut back with more nurses and fewer doctors staffing them. I think getting a coil fitted will become harder, but maybe some women think it should be a specialist procedure in a few special centres

[MumofSpud]

@Beeboopbop

Am I the only one who isn't bothered by the fitting or removal?

Ya me too! I mean it isn't something I want to do everyday but ....
Also the newsreader who complained Naga said she doesn't have children and only wanted it for a year so I am surprised that they would suggest she had one?!

[FlatStanletta]

This is precisely why I have not been to hve a coil fitted, despite having it recommended for painful periods. A friend of mine also had a horrendous time when it got “lost” and took 3 months and several appointments to retrieve.

However, I just wanted to add that another thing that isn’t billed as painful but was actually massively painful and violating (in my experience) is a “cervical sweep” when you’re pregnant. “Oh, just a little sweep to get baby moving” actually translates as essentially having someone shove their entire hand up inside you and try to move membranes away from the cervix. It was horrendously painful and I felt shaky and couldn’t stop crying afterwards. I did give consent but somehow felt violated on a really deep level.

I don’t think a coil would be for me!

[Y0YO]

[quote Helen8220]@Y0YO that sounds terrible, I’m shocked they didn’t offer for you to have it done under sedation. They only tried once with me, and when I found it too painful to continue they referred me to a specialist clinic where I could have it under sedation - I was unconscious for the duration. I also have adenomyosis, and after the coil had settled in it helped hugely with reducing heaviness and pain.[/quote]
I think that would have been the next step but then Covid happened and it all went on the back burner.

I'm on progesterone tabs instead now but they're not the best for my PMDD!!

At least the endometriosis is a bit better though