When Jess Holmes talked to her GP about how to have a routine contraceptive procedure, she never expected the process to end in unbearable pain.
“It was definitely the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life, and it was pretty traumatic,” he said.
“I think the only thing that could rival that would be childbirth.”
Ms Holmes is one of 130,000 Australian women a year who select the intrauterine device (IUD) as their preferred contraceptive.
It is also one of many that you feel were not ready for device insertion.
The 26-year-old said the medical professional who administered the IUD told her the pain would be mild and would feel “like a small pinch”.
Jess Holmes says there needs to be more information on what to expect when an IUD is done. (ABC News)
In contrast, Ms Holmes said she suffered hours of severe cramps after being offered only paracetamol before insertion.
“It was a full body pain, from head to toe. Every few minutes, a whole wave of pain came and all I could do was crawl into the fetal position and wait for it to pass.”
Experts say this is part of a wider problem with the treatment of women’s pain in Australia’s healthcare system.
University of Sydney psychologist and pain specialist Louise Sharpe says there is a long history of women’s discomfort being seen as an emotional problem rather than a genuine physical response.
“Women’s pain is often not treated as seriously as a man’s pain,” Dr. Sharpe said.
“Psychoanalysts talked about women who had psychological symptoms labeled ‘hysteria,’ which actually comes from the Greek word for uterus.”
Dr. Sharpe says this bias is exemplified by the lack of applied scientific research on pain relief for IUD insertions.
A recent study in the international medical journal Fertility and Sterility found that ibuprofen and paracetamol, the most popular and often the only form of pain relief offered for IUD insertion, do not they work better than a placebo.
“There are studies on some of the drugs that help with IUD insertion, but most of the time, women are not offered this pain relief,” Dr. Sharpe said.
Some 130,000 Australian women choose an IUD each year to prevent pregnancy. (ABC News)
Mild sedation and numbing cream are generally considered to be the most effective methods of pain prevention, but they are often unavailable or very expensive in Australian clinics.
Family and Planning NSW Medical Director Deborah Bateson says that while some women may experience pain during insertion, IUDs remain one of the most desirable and safe options for reliable contraception.
Once placed, IUDs offer around 99% protection against pregnancy for up to 10 years.
“Most women tolerate IUD insertion well,” said Professor Bateson.
“Evidence tells us that about 15 percent of women who have not had a vaginal birth will experience severe pain.”
Dr. Louise Sharpe says women need more options to relieve pain when undergoing the procedure. (ABC News)
Even a previous part did not protect Liz Neist, 31, from significant pain during the insertion and removal of her IUD.
“My GP removed the IUD and, my God, it was so painful, so much more painful than I expected,” Ms. Neist said.
“I heard from my doctor that I was uncomfortable with her, as if she had overwhelmed me by expressing my discomfort.
“That made things very uncomfortable … I felt like I had done something wrong in expressing that I was in pain.”
Brydee Pickup, a doctoral candidate at the University of Sydney who is researching the experiences of women with endometriosis, says that this type of reaction from healthcare professionals is disappointingly common.
“I’ve heard a lot of invalidation stories,” Ms. Pickup said.
“Women’s pain is often dismissed as simple:‘ Oh, that’s normal women’s pain. It’s not that bad. Just take some Nurofen and you’ll be fine. “
Liz Neist was embarrassed when she told her GP that she was in pain after the IUD procedure. (ABC News)
However, patients who have undergone the procedure say they want to see things get better for women who opt for IUDs in the future.
“It simply came to our notice then [the uterus] it’s more of an external organ that you have access to to introduce something into, it doesn’t mean it’s less painful than any of your other organs, ”Ms Holmes said.
“If they put a stent or a pacemaker on you, would you send someone home with a Panadol? I don’t think you would.
“There has to be an appropriate pain management plan for IUDs and women need to be warned about what to expect.”
Professor Bateman says that while there is still progress to be made, autonomy and choice about contraception are improving.
Newer, low-hormone IUDs are smaller than their predecessors, making insertion more convenient.
“The key is to have a discussion with your healthcare provider about what will happen and what pain relief is available,” Professor Bateman said.
“It’s about having a complete understanding so you can make an informed decision.”
Posted 28 minutes ago 28 minutes ago dig. May 29, 2022 at 12:11 pm, updated 3 minutes ago 3 minutes ago dig. May 29, 2022 at 12:36 AM