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.

I had my first copper coil inserted following a termination (my pill failed and I had already had a baby) so was fully asleep. 5 years later when it was removed and a new one inserted by a male GP, it was just about the worst pain I'd ever felt. I'd already given birth via vagina, to a 7 pound 18 oz baby girl the year before. I actually threw up in my car from the pain of the coil fitting ! I found giving birth less painful, although I did have a epidural at the end.

2nd coil removed in same room by same male GP. I was pale and sweating during the removal. Had took some painkillers beforehand and he'd put a numbing gel inside me. I actually puked after going dizzy upon slowly sitting up. He didn't dare insert another copper coil. Oh, and it was the nurse's sink that I puked in this time :-)

We should definitely be offered GA for coil insert/removals. I found the copper coil a great method of birth control for me personally. No side effects whatsoever.

And this is why I'm never having one!

And capacity / staffing.

Where I work we don't always get an anaesthetist/odp/scrub nurse for our emergency trauma list.

The majority of stories I’ve ever heard about coil fittings is that they are barbaric. I will never EVER have one.

I also saw a bunch of TikToks around gynae procedures and pain. One women said her doctor told her that she couldn’t possibly feel any pain during her procedure because “the cervix has no nerve endings”. Apparently this is what the textbooks said, or still say.

Misogyny in medicine isn’t a bug, it’s a feature.

I have had it done twice. First time (experienced older female GP with a nurse to hold my hand) was fine.

2nd time at the sexual health clinic at my local hospital (young female doctor with nurse to hold my hand) it hurt a lot more, but not unbearably, but then 10 minutes later when I was alone walking along an endless prefab corridor to get back to my car I went into what my GP friend later told me was cervical shock: pain, cramps, hysterical tears, urge to vom (did not actually vom) and uncontrollable shaking. Lasted about 15 mins. Nobody found me and I was too unwell/daft to get myself back to the clinic area.

So do be aware that experiences can REALLY vary, even for the same person.

I didn’t even notice my coil going in as I was chatting to the nurse. I have several friends with Mirena coils and not one of them has mentioned any pain during the fitting.

So I’d assume for most women, having a coil fitted is similar to a smear test and painless.

Had mine fitted knocked out under a general and waste of time hysteroscopy. Came round with period cramps and having to drink a very sugary drink where blood sugars dropped I thought I’d feel the device over traditional periods pains.

I’m sorry I’m well aware of the argument of hysteroscopy without general but to me you have to have a lot of trust in the surgeon operating.

I can tolerate internal scans but not sample taking. Already been subjected to coil removal attempt under gas and air. Hospital bless them tried their hardest to take it out to send off for infection testing and appreciating the distress of having it inserted then for no viable reason.

I have decided to never present for future smears.

Jesus why would any woman agree to have that torture device in the first place!

Then there are ectopic pregnancies to worry about!

It just kills me that women just go along with these barbaric devices to prevent pregnancy. Condoms. Condoms all the way!

The mirena coil is incredibly effective, has very high user satisfaction ratings. I have had 4, for me best thing since sliced bread. Condoms might be a great option for you, but they don't manage periods, help through menopause. Also the failure rate is unacceptable for many women. I have three friends who are GPs, they all have mirena coils.

They should have put a new one in if they dislodged your other coil.

I had a hysteroscopy a fortnight ago, they went past the coil, they showed me the photos when I came around. But consultant said he would replace it if it had come out.

Mine is for HRT though so essential that I have one in.

Coils aren't just to prevent pregnancy. Condoms have a high user failure rate and unplanned pregnancies are often much more traumatic mentally/physically to manage than a coil fitting
I'm not saying they're the solution to everything but they 100% have a place for lots of women when condoms wouldnt work for them.

I had to have a general to remove my last Mirena as it was unbearably painful. Many women do find insertion and removal agonising. I found it as painful as childbirth.

Update if anyone is interested : fitted at the hospital last week
No pain relief offered or suggested
So painful - felt like my left ovary was being squeezed
Quick
Left for ages as they didn't have scissors so that was quite undignified (naked with a speculum hanging out!)
Very pleasant people
Cramping and blood (speculum was bloody)
Hopefully removal in five years won't be so awful ! But probably worth it not to have to remember the pills every day.

It's absolutely barbaric 😡

@Shiveringinthecountry tbh I'm googling private removal

I don't know why they do not use gas and air more - it is cheap and effective. Ideal for other things too - removing drainage tubes, taking out tight stitches etc. I have never understood why it is so little used. So simple and so much suffering avoided.

I had mine fitted before my first child was born, it was horrendous. I am never ever sick but I physically vomited straight after and could hardly walk, I was shaking. My mum had to drive me home and kept having to pull over for me to be sick. I was just told to take paracetamol before the appointment but it didn't make a difference. I've had a child now so maybe it would be less painful next time but either way I think pain relief and or sedation should be offered for the procedure.

And also honesty about the side effects. I have low back pain and bloating (also cramps for the first few days) . I don't feel there was any honesty about the side effects beyond it might hurt a bit at the time and have some cramping afterwards.

I think having pain and other side effects is very rare. I had a coil fitted and didn’t even notice it going in. I had a bit of mild cramping afterwards.

Lots of my friends have coils. I can’t recall any of them mentioning pain or side effects.

As I've mentioned upthread, Caroline Criado Perez ran a survey on this a few years ago. 93% of respondents reported experiencing pain during IUD fitting, 60% of those respondents rating it very painful or above.

@FrannieGallops my experience was completely different to yours - and I actually did have local anaesthetic spray! The bit where they measure your womb and then the actual insertion were both unbearably painful, like I was being kicked by a horse on my insides. I bled heavily, and on my way home had to stop and sit down on a kerb because I thought I was going to faint. I had to go to bed when I got home.

i have three friends who have had or still have them and all had similar to me - possibly we were just unlucky.

I've decided to have it removed. It's had a really weird impact on me, like I feel violated. And I can't cope with having something internal that may or may not cause a load of side effects. Really happy for people who get on with it. I'm going to have to look privately as I know the NhS won't want to.

You poor thing @OneFrenchEgg I really hope you can get it sorted, awful experience for you

Thank you, I was really expecting it to be ok and some lovely people messaged to reassure me. I'm sure it's the right choice for lots of people and I won't share my decision in real life as I'd hate to scare anyone off.