When I got one inserted in Canada I was given Tylenol with Codeine, a valium and a cervical dilator (Misoprostol). My appointment included time to let the medicine kick in, recovery time in a comfy chair with a juice box and making sure I had a ride home (because of the valium).
When I got one placed in the USA I got told that it doesn’t hurt and I’m imagining the pain, because I saw blood on the spiked forceps that they clamp onto your cervix. I was begrudgingly given an instant heat pack and told that they need the room.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/tenaculum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qG2gUnP4c8
My favorite cervix fact that I hear from far too many US gynecologists is, the cervix doesn’t have pain receptors. Only pressure receptors. Big pinch!
The physicians of the past failed women.
Oh, JFC!! :
“When considering patient pain, it is important to recognize that the experience of pain is individualized and might be influenced by previous experiences including trauma and mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety,” according to the CDC’s guidance.
So after decades of being told this pain is all in our heads, we finally get pain relief - and they’re still claiming it’s all in our fucking heads!!
The last time I got an iud inserted I specifically asked for better pain relief, as I’d previously had one inserted and it hurt like hell.
The woman told me “you don’t need that, it doesn’t hurt that bad”.
I was like look, I very recently had my uterus inflated with saline to check it over, and I vividly remember how much that hurt (it was horrific, 0/5 stars, do not recommend) so yeah I do want pain relief… whether you think I should need it or not.
She told me to take Tylenol or ibuprofen. Like thanks, super helpful… I didn’t have options for other gynos, so I sucked it up.
I’m really glad this is being taken more seriously because holy shit are doctors out of fucking touch.
About damn time
