After our two-part series looking into IUD pain in Aotearoa, we’ve heard from so, so many of you, sharing your experiences with an IUD. This week, we talk to two Capsule readers who have had quite differing experiences. One of them was a pretty good experience. But the other? It’s BAAAD, like feeling like the IUD had perforated her cervix but their doctor just told her she has ‘low pain tolerance’ bad…
In our first two deep dives into IUD pain in Aotearoa, we found so many people can get blindsided about how painful an IUD procedure can actually be, and how gaps in pain management, and even basic care, are letting patients down.
We heard from advocates calling for better standards and health experts who explain why IUD pain management can be so very tricky in our current healthcare system.
Now, two readers share their real-life IUD stories: One that left her with nightmares and paid to go to a specialist for her IUD removal, and another that shows how care, compassion and proper preparation can make all the difference.
‘I Could Barely Eat or Sleep from Agonising Pain‘
With kids not on the horizon for then 24-year-old Rebecca Deuchar, she says she went to Family Planning to get a copper IUD since the contraception lasts for up to seven years.
“I was told it might be a bit uncomfortable, but that it was over quickly and I could return to work the same day… Ahead of my IUD session, I was told to take two paracetamol,” the now 30-year-old says.
If you’ve followed along the IUD Pain series though, you’ll know full well that the absolute opposite probably happened… And you’re right.
Rebecca says she passed out during – and again after – the IUD insertion. Her cervix cramped for daaaaaays afterwards that she had to take three days off work.
“I was in such agony that I could barely eat or sleep. I was taking ibuprofen, paracetamol and using a hot water bottle to relieve as much pain as I possibly could… Laughable that I was told I could return to work the same day!”
Since the pain was so excruciating, she thought her IUD had perforated her cervix so she went to her GP.
“He said everything was fine, and implied that I had a low pain tolerance, which is NOT TRUE. I have the most extreme period cramps each month, but NOTHING AS BAD AS THIS.”
Gaaah, honestly!
For years, Rebecca had nightmares about getting her IUD removed. So when the time came, she outright refused to do it through the government healthcare system.
She went through a specialist, paid extra for topical local anaesthesia and laughing gas, and the difference was “night and day”.
“I felt nothing and it was over in 15 minutes. All up, it wouldn’t have been more than $320. Still though, I know that’s a lot of money for some people – and it wasn’t a ‘luxury item’. It was simply me not wanting to spend days in agonising pain again. I know I’m so privileged to be able to afford private healthcare, and my heart bleeds for those who can’t.”
At that point, she was still unsure about the pain that made her faint and thought her IUD had perforated her cervix. Her specialist explained to her that she actually went into cervical shock.
She also got diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that significantly impacts a person’s mental and physical health during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.
“Having my pain diminished by the GP was disheartening, but not in any way surprising. All my life, my male GPs chalked up my bad periods and intense mood changes to just regular PMS,” Rebecca says.
“I think having a female doctor makes a massive difference, but also think all GPs regardless of gender, should be trained to manage patients presenting with pain differently.
“Telling anyone they have ‘low pain tolerance’ after they’ve just had someone place a foreign object inside their body is not acceptable.”
Better Care, Better Outcomes
In contrast, most people who have gotten an IUD have been reported to have good experiences.
A good friend of mine Nicole Schoombie (35) is one of those people, and she has had three IUDs in her life. Two of them were actually good experiences, except the latest one.
It’s also worth noting that Nicole is a health psychologist who specialises in pain management, which can be super helpful for medical procedures like this one!
“There’s a lot of privilege in being a health psychologist and understanding how to manage pain from a psychological perspective as well as knowing what to ask for in terms of pain relief,” she says.
Though she says her very first IUD insertion was before all of her training, it was a good experience which set her up for having a positive expectations.
She was 21 and it was done in the United States. (Nicole is Filipino-American and didn’t move to New Zealand a few years after meeting her Kiwi husband!)
Since she had health insurance, she was able to go through a very experienced and confident gynaecologist to insert the IUD, says Nicole. She was prescribed anti-anxiety meds and another medication that dilated her cervix to take before the procedure.
“I was counselled on what to expect after the appointment and the symptoms I might experience in the coming months,” she says. “I also had a follow up to check the placement was correct, and that I wasn’t having any issues.”
At 28, she went in for her second IUD insertion and it was another positive experience. This time, it was done in New Zealand by her GP at the time.
“I was offered a local anaesthetic (the injection) for my cervix and I took over-the-counter pain relief prior to the appointment,” says Nicole. “I held my prior positive experience in mind, I was practicing deep breathing and chatted with the nurse that was assisting.”
But when she went for her third IUD at 33, she says it wasn’t as good of an experience compared to her two previous ones.
It was done in a Family Planning clinic, and she says she agreed to have a GP in training to insert it but with an experienced nurse specialist present.
“The GP struggled to put it in there and there was an expected period of time with the speculum [inside] along with the other instrument used to widen the cervix. It was quite painful and I was also mindful that my newborn baby was fussing, which made it more distressing,” says Nicole.
When I asked her what made her positive experiences so great, she said it was because the clinician would explain the procedure with kindness and compassion.
They clearly told her the step-by-step process, what to expect during the procedure. AND explained it again, step-by-step, as they inserted her IUD.
“I also got positive feedback from the GP about how well I was doing and she seemed confident. The nurse assisting was very nice and also distracted me by asking my questions about myself.”
Steps YOU Can Take to Help with IUD Pain Management
As mentioned earlier, being a health psychologist meant Nicole was able to apply some strategies to manage her pain.
You would’ve noticed that she used deep breathing and chatted to the nurse or lovely staff during the insertion, both of which are psychological strategies for pain management. Another technique she used was visualisation.
These are just some of the techniques that worked for Nicole. But she has more advice for pain management advice for those who want to get an IUD but is anxious about the pain:
- Know that this procedure is VERY uncomfortable and it is NOT unreasonable to ask for pain relief. Ask your doctor or clinician what medication is available to make the pain manageable. Discuss with your clinician what your concerns are and previous IUD experiences, as well as other relevant medical procedures. You may need to discuss with your GP about a referral to a gynecologist if you need sedation.
- You can ask for a different clinician or GP if you’re not being heard or understood.
- If you need more or tailored support, see a health psychologist or a psychologist specialising with physical health concerns. Some people with pre-exisiting persistent pain conditions and people with a history of sexual trauma may benefit from psychological support as these previous experiences may influence a person’s experience of pain and/or cause distress. A health psychologist can help you understand how your thoughts, feelings and previous experiences can contribute to your experience of pain.
