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.

It wasn't painful. Why put drugs into your system needlessly

I had one fitted privately and all I got was numbing spray. I wouldn't say it hurt, but it was more uncomfortable than a smear (and I haven't had any vaginal births). Only for a few moments though and the benefits of having one (no more periods) have been life changing.

It's not needless if it is painful, which it is for a lot of women.

Why not read the thread first?

Go to a sexual health clinic and ask for the numbing cream it definitely helped vs my first fitting with no pain relief.

@Magenta82

I did read the thread but it's not representative of all women with a cool because just like with child birth, only those with horror stories post. I would not want to have anaesthesia just in case it's painful because it's not without its own risks. And I didn't have pain relief in child birth either. Drugs have side effects and I weigh up or is and cons, a 1 minute coil fitting just isn't worth the risk of putting another drug into my system just in case.

If it was always a problem, why would women go back a second time?

I just want to add that I feel exactly the same, my experience gave me medical trauma. I was lied to and told the vast majority of women don't find it painful at all. Imagine my shock when it actually happened and it was the most painful thing I've experienced beyond childbirth. I have memories of lying on the bed crying and then whimpering on the bed whilst the doctor/nurse just said "oh sorry, most women don't react like that"
EVERYONE i have spoken to since has apparently been told it's painless when it's not!!! WHY are we being collectively gaslit over the coil???

No idea. It seems really inhumane to me.

This. I've had a number of similar procedures to my exH, inc Endoscopy & Colonoscopy. Same time period, same small hospital. He was offered pain relief, I was refused it. 'You've had 2 babies, it can't be that bad'. Unfair.

Exactly this!
A friend recently had her coil removed & replaced and her experience was horrific - to be honest I'm surprised she actually went back to have a new one fitted, I certainly wouldn't have done!
I can guarantee if men had to undergo this procedure (or suffer any of the other female specific medical issues/ procedures) the pain/discomfort etc wouldn't be so quickly dismissed!

I have a high pain threshold - have limped around for a week on a foot that I hadn't realised was so badly broken it required surgery - I'm also OK wwith smears - but my coil fitting was excruciating.
I had it done by a doctor at the GUM clinic amd she had to stop and give me some of the anaesthetic spray - after which it was still excruciating but managed to get it in!
I had to sit down in the hospital waiting area for about an hour before I felt safe to drive home, and had what felt like very bad period cramps for the next couple of days.

Having it taken out (it didn't agree with me) was almost as bad - had a nurse that time and I was hoping it would be less painful but the shock of the pain made me shoot backwards and the nurse told me off! On attempt 2 I had get her to tell me the exact second she was going for it so I could brace myself.

DH had am awful experience with his vasectomy too (which he kindly arranged so I didn't have to go through that again).

It is very painful for a lot of women though.

Exactly this.

Because I can't have hormonal contraception

The effect of a tiny bit of local anaesthetic is minuscule compared to the amount of medication I take and the risks/side effects from those
I don't risk assess every time i need medication so I'm not bothering for local anaesthetic

Because for many women it is painful so drugs wouldn't have been needless for them?

They gave me a general anaesthetic for both of mine

Did you have to ask for this as it's not routine? If so could you share what the discussion looked like? I think it would be really helpful as so many of us are told there aren't pain management / t options beyond a couple of paracetamol 😞

I found my Mirena coil fitting more painful than (drug-free) childbirth- I felt as if I was going to die, and I was not nervous beforehand (previously had a copper coil, no fuss). Never again.

It is odd how differently it affects people and it's nothing to do with a high pain threshold as people who have a bad reaction to a coil don't necessarily feel other pain more intensely - suspect it's a physiological difference. The sort of thing that should probably be studied, but that would cost money.

I had my 3rd fitted in august and I've never been told to abstain from sex

Had two fitted, not a problem but have had 2 vaginal births. More a pinch and 'weird' sensation than painful for me.

Suggest you take a couple of painkillers (maybe combo of paracetamol and ibuprofen) before if you're worried...

Ok well off now...

Yes I did request a ga.This was in Scotland and tbf it was over twenty years ago

came here to say exactly this.

I definitely think though there could be other options offered routinely to patients such as pre procedure pain relief (paracetamol and Eg. some tramadol or equivalent), gas and air etc. things that are not resource intensive.

but in most cases women are just told to grin and bear it. especially when it is being fitted in the GP setting.

either way the risk of GA is just not worth it for a coil fitting except in extenuating circumstances.

They do offer it - I had my copper one replaced last month and they offered before I even asked.

I would say that I refuse to go to the GPs for anything gynae and I book in with the local GUM clinic wherever possible (in my area they do smears, coils, any assessments but I don't know if it's the same nationwide). I find the GPs/GP nurses are always cack-handed, never offer pain relief and are really obnoxiously dismissive if you're visibly in pain as a result. The GUM clinic staff are all skilled, understanding and kind in contrast.

Women aren't important when it comes to pain, I have fibromyalgia and endometriosis amongst other things and I was expected to have multiple biopsies (internally with speculum) with no pain relief

It's not normal to feel the level of pain some women do but 🤷‍♀️

I had 2 sections then a Mirena. I didn't feel a thing.

She said sit, take your time to recover... I was back in my 3 minutes later.