Why don't they offer anaesthetic for coil fitting on the NHS?

[OneBluntZebra]

I had a coil fitted a few years ago (since taken out) and it was incredibly painful. My sister had one fitted privately and they gave her anaesthetic. Why don't they do that on the NHS? I have to have another one fitted soon and I am dreading it.

Cost?

I had one fitted two years ago - was offered an injection and a numbing spray. NHS GU place where I was referred by my GP because it was part of HRT, otherwise you could just book in if it was for contraception. I got the spray and it still was horrifically painful! I’m in Scotland, not sure if that makes a difference.

Oh no, I'm having a mirena fitted today. Not had vaginal births so am a bit nervous.

In my experience a very skilled fitter is key. I had to stop my GP trying and was referred for fit with cervical block but didn't need it as the gynaecologist was so good.

Cost. Simple as that.

Because no one gives a shit about women's pain.

This.

It's not that painful, I've had 3 fitted and it was fine, slight pinch but nothing more uncomfortable than a smear test

Cost, not giving a shit about women’s pain as poster above said.

I was offered numbing spray when I had my copper coil fitted in February on the NHS. Found the pain horrendous 😓

It wasn’t that painful for YOU. Certainly not applicable to everyone.

I was given a local anaesthetic spray last time I had a coil fitted - it was still uncomfortable but quite bearable. When you get it fitted ask they may be able to do something to help

It should be offered

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57821258.amp

I had my copper IUD on the NHS and a Mirena fitted privately (when they also dropped an endometrial biposy on me with no notice) and I wasn't offered anaesthesia either time. So it's got nothing to do with NHS vs private in my experience.

Some women breeze through it, and I barely even feel a smear. My copper fitting was uncomfortable but not unbearable. The biopsy and Mirena fitting was considerably more painful.

I had a local when I had a mirena and that was worse than the actual fitting. My first and last coil!

Everyone's pain threshold is different though. I passed out when I had both of mine fitted

Luck of the draw then. When I had mine put it in, the GP shoved it straight through the wall of my uterus into my abdomen. I passed out because of the pain and my blood pressure tanked. She nearly called 999. I had to have an MRI scan and then surgery to remove it.

You're lucky to have found it fine, for many women it's VERY uncomfortable at best, agony at worst and that's if the procedure is done properly unlike mine. My situation can and does happen, think I'd have preferred some sort of anaesthetic for that torture thanks.

ETA I have told my daughter's what happened to me and strongly advised them to NEVER have a coil without anaesthetic.

Good for you, however different people experience things differently.

I have a very high pain threshold, I have a chronic illness that causes pain. After major surgery I was given a morphine pump that I didn't use because I didn't like the way it made me feel. The nurses were amazed and horrified and got me switched to a different med once they realised. I am giving you this information so you know that I am not someone who moans at a "slight pinch".

I fainted from the pain of my first coil fitting, it was genuinely the worst thing I have been through, worse than when I had a cervical biopsy without anesthetic.

For anyone considering a coil I would recommend avoiding going to your GP for it.

Last year I had another fitted, it was a clinic in a chemist, there was an experienced woman's health nurse and a midwife training to do fittings. They offered me various pain relief options and I went for the injection. I still felt it but it was more like the "pinch" we are told to expect. The company were called MSI in case anyone wants to look it up. They have a contract with the NHS, so although I had expected to pay they did it for free.

Maybe I'm lucky with my uterus or my pain threshold - just broken a ligament in my knee and still walking around on it til I realised what I'd done when I went to my physio 😯

Clearly you are very lucky, most of us aren't, so please don't undermine or seek to dismiss the pain that many of us feel.

They do. I had it under general.

Get back in your knife drawer @Pinkfuvey - I'd never heard of anyone talking about painful Mirena coil fitting before - so don't automatically hit me with your hateful words to describe me, or do you enjoy berating people

You are on a thread where other women are saying how painful they are.

The response to you wasn't rude either.

I had marina fitted a few years ago, I felt traumatised after.

I came out and sat in my car and burst into tears. It was horrific, very painful. Had it taken out about a year later because I constantly had a light bleed and it gave me permanent pms.

Dp could also feel the strings and sometimes it spiked his Willy!

To add I gave birth with only gas and air to my first baby 2 years before, I thought that was bad enough, didn’t imagine having a coil filled could be so painful.

I did at my local NHS clinic