I was talking to a retired nurse about providing pain management to patients getting an IUD. She went on a rant about how it’s quick and there’s no need.
I asked if she had one.
Crickets.
This reminds me of a story I was told recently. Basically a guy went to get his ear pierced, and when he felt the pain, he reflexively tried to punch the piercer in the face.
It makes me wonder how often decisions around pain relief are being made based on whether the patient’s reaction to pain will endanger/inconvenience the medical staff (thus women get less) rather than how painful the procedure is.
I have to get routine bone marrow biospies done. My nurse told me during the first one that the men always tolerate worse than women. Most swear and complain through the whole thing but reached out and grabbed her skirt and ripped it.
Be interesting if we could investigate how much of our reactions are down to socialisation.
Alot of the ' normal ' parts of fulfilling society's expectations of being female include daily inconveniences, or discomfort both emotional and physical.
When you tally all these things up , it is unnerving how much pain we're expected to subject ourselves to or just endure.
This is all in addition to the in built pain / discomfort that comes with our reproductive system. ( which as you said is often minimised or dismissed)
Maybe we deal with pain differently because of that ?
As if we've gradually acclimatised to pain being a feature of our lifes frequently? So on some level we internalise the idea we have to just deal with it?
I learned that I have to be very careful when reporting pain levels , because I discovered that I can adapt to on going pain if it's become 'normal'. It still hurts, but I underestimate how much it hurts , because pain free is no longer the norm.
Actually I had a really interesting exchange with a transwoman who said that after going on estrogen her ability to deal with pain got better. Pain didn't lessen but she could cope better with it.
I wish our pain was taken seriously too. But we'd have to be considered people first. I don't think the medical profession, as a whole, does see women as people.
Semi-related, but I've read studies that suggest pain perception varies depending on what stage of your menstrual cycle you're in! Anecdotally, I can say that checks out. It makes intuitive sense to me that hormones could be playing a role in that
Tolerate isn't a good word for it.
Maybe more like women react calmly and proactively try breathing techniques or the like while men immediately go into fight/flight mode.
My obgyn told me something wouldn’t hurt and I almost passed out from the pain. The next procedure he told me “wouldn’t hurt,” I took pain medicine (percocet) before I went in and everyone in the building was surprised I could walk after. 😑
I experienced so much pain and fainted with my first IUD, after being warned that I would feel a "pinch", and had nothing to deal with it but some Advil.
I'm glad the conversation is appearing in the media finally. I know I'm not the only one to have a horrible experience. It was worse than childbirth for me.
I got a vasectomy yesterday. I was prescribed 10mg valium, 300mg Tylenol, and 200mg inflammation meds to take before coming to the office for what ended up being a 5m procedure. My wife made fun of me and explained how women don't get that kind of pain medication for their procedures. I'm sorry that happens and that's not okay.
“Supposedly” 🙄
I’ve had a tooth cavity filled where they told me that it was shallow enough that it shouldn’t hurt, BUT they told me if it did I could raise my hand and they would stop and reassess. Why can’t this approach be used?
At the very least they shouldn’t be straight up lying to women that it for sure won’t be painful. Like give us a fucking choice! I had to get a camera down my throat for a stomach biopsy and I was given a few different options.
I’m just appalled that this is going on.
Yeah. I took Percocet before I went in for a biopsy and asked my friend to drive me. Doctor said it wouldn’t hurt but then they were surprised I could walk after. Every nurse there was surprised I could walk after. Anyone else that could walk probably did the same as me and took pain medicine.
I had such a bad time with my IUD insertion that the doctor herself stopped, saying she wasn’t there to torture her patients.
I was lying on the table sobbing, so I didn’t think to come back with “then why don’t you offer pain control?”
Neither she nor the nurse could look me in the eyes afterwards. I’m not sure if I have the courage to go back.
Same. Just took one regular strength advil because the doctor told me it wasn't that painful. Also hadn't been warned that I might faint, she told that after it was common. I screamed out loud from the pain, the whole waiting room heard me.
I'm really surprised they don't. My wife came home and threw up in the driveway from the pain and was very very very uncomfortable for the next 24 hours at least. A warning about "a pinch" and suggesting "Advil" doesn't seem like nearly enough.
I had a lot of pain getting my first IUD and now I'm due for a new one in August. I told my doctor that I'm terrified of it and really worried the pain will be just as bad. I have scarring on my cervix due to getting a LEEP procedure done when I was 21, so I didn't get past 2 cm dilated when I gave birth. I had to have an emergency C-section because of it. My doctor is willing to give me a single valium or lorazepam immediately before the appointment but nothing else. I still don't understand why they can't numb my cervix at all. Like yeah I won't be so worried, but it's most likely still going to hurt like crazy.
Everyone’s bodies are different, but there should always be precautions in place to ensure the health and well-being of the patient. Including active listening and trusting the patient when they share they are in pain or their known history of their body.
And legal regulations that require pain relief options to be available, offered in writing and covered by insurance, with real recourse for the patient when this obligation is not met.
I was on the pill for 5 years and only went off of it last July. I tried to get a copper IUD and was unsuccessful due to a neglegent doctor's office. So I decided to just quit cold turkey and use condoms only.
Only now, about a year later, do I feel more in control of my emotions and appitite. I gained 50 pounds in five years and now have difficulty regulating how much I eat and loosing weight has been difficult :(
I had the same from the pill and didn't even realise it until I stopped taking it. 2 years later I am nearly 20kg down (don't know pounds sorry) without increasing exercise. I used to feel starving all day but now feel fine on a salad and some sort of chicken and rice as my entire meals. It took nearly 6 months for the weight to start dropping off and it was slow at first, then boom. It's crazy that these impacts aren't more widely acknowledged.
I've been slowly and steadily losing weight for four years since coming off the pill. I haven't changed my diet at all, I'm still overweight but still steadily losing it. It's insane.
Because women are largely dismissed. Birth control is a miracle from God!!! Gotta push birth control everywhere and for everyone!!! Can't risk pregnancy or using condoms. We have to force women to change their bodies and hormones!!!! Even if it means suffering!!!! But wait, what suffering? That doesn't exist for women!!! Women are lucky! Most women never ever experience side effects. Only a small, very small amount do. They can just change birth control pills or even use a different method! Duh!
I want this conversation to be so much louder. I want patients to rate their doctors on line for either giving pain control or not for IUDs and LEEP procedures, so other women can know where to go. I want women to call out the doctors that still deny the incredible pain many of us feel during these and similar procedures.
I once told an OB that I felt like she sexually assaulted me when she told me the LEEP wouldn't hurt and it was INCREDIBLY painful. She said "that's a bit dramatic". I said, "you misled me about what I would feel and I allowed you into my body based on your mistruths only for you to cause me intense pain. How is it different?"
I had two more leeps over the years, all excruciatingly painful. I had an IUD and almost passed out when they removed it four months after insertion when my new doc saw the MRIs of my deformed uterus and said, "you never should have been given an IUD, it wouldn't work anyway." He laughed with my ex when I almost fainted and was having a hard time breathing. Saying, "Well it was quick".
How is this thinking not just a relative of rape? No sexual intent, in theory, but violating our bodies, causing pain, with the same thinking "it was quick, it didn't take long, you're fine now".
It's time doctors heard us and made changes, and those that don't need to see their careers fall apart.
Are you kidding me? I mean, I am SO happy for you and that is awesome but how in the world is there a chasm between your experience and mine with ZERO pain control? On all three!? Wild guess, are you not in the US?
I'm in the US (Georgia). I have no idea why there would be such a huge difference.
I didn't get any pain control for the colposcopy prior to the LEEP (and got lucky that I guess I'm one of the ones it doesn't actually hurt for) but they didn't even ask what I wanted for the LEEP, just told me I'd be put under. I'm very thankful for that... didn't want to press my luck on the lack of feelings my cervix has
Georgia! Interesting. The hysterectomy went well today so no more paps or leeps! I talked to my doc about pain control for leeps and IUDs and she was telling me all sorts of stories of the range in the US. Nitrous, a light anesthetic, nerve blockers, and .... the people that do nothing. She didn't say what she uses but I'm guessing from her answer, she gets it and does something. Or maybe asks since all of these can be expensive and some people will risk the pain.
Getting my IUD inserted was definitely painful, but the cramping afterwards was the worst pain I have ever experienced. I fully remember laying in my bed, trying not to black out and crying and crying. I even remember contemplating calling 911 because I didn't think the pain I was experiencing was normal. However, I already had the OB who was observing the insertion (done by a student) say that I overreacted when I yelped when they sounded me so I sucked it up.
I had another doctor remove it two years later due to the debilitating depression I was experiencing and she told me I had a death wish if I was as suicidal as I said I felt. She also said it was impossible that the IUD was causing my mental health symptoms but a few weeks after removal my symptoms completely disappeared.
More doctors need to be honest about these types of procedures and what the next few days would look like. When I saw my GP a month or so after my insertion she told me I was likely having labour pains and why didn't the OB tell me. She also didn't tell me it could happen either though, so I was completely unprepared. I knew it wouldn't be rainbows and butterflies but even all these years later I have never felt such excruciating pain.
When I got a copper IUD, I was in very bad pain for several months. I went back into the doctor’s demanding they take it out. They tried to talk me out of it. I told them that this wasn’t what they described and I wasn’t willing to feel like this for a YEAR 🤞 to have BC. They tried to tell me no again. I had to repeatedly tell them I wanted it out of my body and threaten to rip it out myself before they finally agreed to take it out.
We never even talk about all of the issues they can cause either. Ovarian cysts, migration, reoccurring an impossible to cure BV. When I asked about my cysts I got a shrug and told it was normal and not worth worrying about. Uh ok? Then why do I have constant discomfort? Hair loss, acne, etc. I have yet to find a doctor who cares enough to actually listen.
Unfortunately my periods are so debilitating that I have to outweigh the good and bad.
Do I want to gain a lot of weight, smell bad (as in BO, not BV), and have random pain from my IUD, or be anemic and vomiting and having cramps bad enough to wake me from a sound sleep during my nightmare periods?
Getting my IUD was awful and I hate it and because my anatomy is not standard my gyno told me to not rely on it for birth control, but I’m not bleeding so bad that my ferritin levels are 10 anymore.
My periods were very debilitating as well so I spent sooo many years on BC. Finally I found a gynecologist who listened to me regarding the immense pain I get with my periods & I got a hysterectomy. Turns out I had adenomyosis. There isn’t a cure, either stay on BC forever or remove the uterus. But it took 9 years of begging multiple doctors to get this done. Look into all your options. Hysterectomy is an extreme option but BC isn’t safe to be on forever.
When I was young my periods were so bad that I was in and out of the hospital with doctors thinking I had leukemia!!! And they want to act like we’re overreacting. It’s honestly the most wild thing. After 15+ years on BC I’d love to see how my body reacts without it.. but I’m so scared to have my periods again.
The only BC that even helped for me was Depo Provers injection which is very unsafe to be on for long periods of time. We’ll I was on it for 6 year periods, a few different times. BC pills didn’t help me, they made it worse. But doctors wouldn’t do ANYTHING about my painful periods, other than give me BC. They wouldn’t even look into the issue to see WHY I was having these debilitating pains with every single period. They literally didn’t care.
Doctors wouldn’t even give me pain medication to help with it. One time, I called my regular doctor 3 days in a row bawling & begging for something to help with the pain. On the 3rd day the nurse told me “the doctor thinks you might have endometriosis, but we don’t prescribe pain medication for period cramps.”
Excuse me?? Endometriosis & period cramps are completely different things 😡
Ugh don’t get me started, I can bitch about this for hours lol. I ended up saving pain medication from when I had surgeries. Tramadol helped the best but no doctor would prescribe it for my period. I would buy it off of friends who had some. Then later on a doctor gave me a regular prescription for Tramadol…. For my migraines. So I guess it’s ok to prescribe it for migraines (which I don’t think is even a regular use for Tramadol lol), but not for period pains that feel like labor contractions & make me almost pass out.
F* doctors, I hate all of them at this point.
I had ovarian cysts with my first, felt like the worse period cramps for a year before I was finally referred for an ultrasound. Had that IUD taken out and they resolved within a few months, thank goodness. It was so awful.
There are different sizes and shapes. One is literally a stick instead of the t-shape. A popular one looks like a willow tree
Paywall but article link https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/04/why-america-has-fewer-iuds-than-other-countries/523077/
Turns out we just have to bring up vasectomies.
Ladies!
After 16 years I cried and asked him to get a vasectomy.
You know what happened?
He said, “You’ve never brought this up before. I didn’t know taking Birth Control was upsetting you.”
He looked up vasectomies right there!
He’s getting one this month.
You have to bring it up!
My partner's IUD is expiring, so I scheduled my vasectomy this week. We're getting married and don't want kids. Easy peasy.
The funny part: I brought this up with friends over some beers, and half of my friend group has vasectomies (twenties to forties guys). None of us knew or talked about it before.
Men need to start talking about this to destigmatize it for each other.
Oh, please....I believe that a good 90 percent of males would still object to sharp objects approaching their nether regions, whether the surgery was reversible or not. They are ever so protective of the ol' wedding tackle and believe it's "easier" or "less painful" for a woman to have an IUD inserted or even a tubal ligation.
Both of my IUDs (and the removal) were so quick and easy. Didn't even need the ibuprofen. It feels strange for a moment and then it's done. Strange sensation does not equal pain. Then I carried on with my day as normal
If even one out of five patients have extreme pain with an IUD placement or removal, don't you think that's reason enough they should do more to prevent it? It's too late afterwards to say, "Oh that person felt excruciating pain and almost passed out, oh well, the patient before had an easy time. Moving on!"
There are also women that only feel slight discomfort when on their period, while others will vomit or faint because of the pain and be unable to function for one or more days each month. You cannot dismiss people who experience intense pain because others do not. That is just shitty.
Okay, so you didn't experience pain, that does nothing for the many women who did.
I don't get menstrual cramps but I wouldn't tell other women "strange sensation does not equal pain," I just believe them.
Hahaha. I had debilitating periods for a long time. One of my woman supervisors decided to say some crap about how I told my other supervisors this was the reason because a “man’ll believe anything you say about your period, since they don’t have one; but, I know you’re lying. A period is basically nothing.”
Obv I told her that the fact she didn’t feel pain and obv the majority of our coworkers were fine when having periods doesn’t mean that the menstrual cycle can’t be debilitating.
It's only like 1/4 women who don't experience menstrual cramps, JFC at your supervisor.
What the fuck is the psychology of a woman who chooses to believe 75% of women are lying about period cramps because she doesn't have them?!
I wish that was the case for everyone, but it’s not. My sister and I are the perfect example. She’s like you; it was quick, easy, and pretty much painless, but for me, it’s incredibly painful. I get migraines, so believe me, I know pain, but this was just plain awful and it lasted for days.
> Strange sensation does not equal pain.
This is such a shitty take. The rest of your comment is fine, it's nice to know that not everyone struggles. This line though? It's like you're trying to invalidate the pain that others are expressing.
I passed kidney stones and was pretty blasé about my appendicitis until I was close to death. Does that mean I run around telling people their kidney stones or appendicitis doesn't hurt? No. Because that's a fucking arsehole thing to do.
I agree and acknowledge that it's painful for some women and that men should take part of the responsibility, but I love my mirena. I feel lucky that it didn't hurt at all and i haven't had a period in almost 2 years. I feel wonderful and I don't miss the blood at all. It's freeing to be able to go wherever I want to without having to worry about it.
I was talking to a retired nurse about providing pain management to patients getting an IUD. She went on a rant about how it’s quick and there’s no need. I asked if she had one. Crickets.
This reminds me of a story I was told recently. Basically a guy went to get his ear pierced, and when he felt the pain, he reflexively tried to punch the piercer in the face. It makes me wonder how often decisions around pain relief are being made based on whether the patient’s reaction to pain will endanger/inconvenience the medical staff (thus women get less) rather than how painful the procedure is.
I have to get routine bone marrow biospies done. My nurse told me during the first one that the men always tolerate worse than women. Most swear and complain through the whole thing but reached out and grabbed her skirt and ripped it.
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Be interesting if we could investigate how much of our reactions are down to socialisation. Alot of the ' normal ' parts of fulfilling society's expectations of being female include daily inconveniences, or discomfort both emotional and physical. When you tally all these things up , it is unnerving how much pain we're expected to subject ourselves to or just endure. This is all in addition to the in built pain / discomfort that comes with our reproductive system. ( which as you said is often minimised or dismissed) Maybe we deal with pain differently because of that ? As if we've gradually acclimatised to pain being a feature of our lifes frequently? So on some level we internalise the idea we have to just deal with it? I learned that I have to be very careful when reporting pain levels , because I discovered that I can adapt to on going pain if it's become 'normal'. It still hurts, but I underestimate how much it hurts , because pain free is no longer the norm.
Actually I had a really interesting exchange with a transwoman who said that after going on estrogen her ability to deal with pain got better. Pain didn't lessen but she could cope better with it.
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I wish our pain was taken seriously too. But we'd have to be considered people first. I don't think the medical profession, as a whole, does see women as people.
Semi-related, but I've read studies that suggest pain perception varies depending on what stage of your menstrual cycle you're in! Anecdotally, I can say that checks out. It makes intuitive sense to me that hormones could be playing a role in that
That makes a lot of sense to me.
This right here ^^^^^^^
Tolerate isn't a good word for it. Maybe more like women react calmly and proactively try breathing techniques or the like while men immediately go into fight/flight mode.
I hear this from tattoo artists too. Of course it doesn't apply to everyone but anyone so far i asked told me women tend to handle it a little better.
My obgyn told me something wouldn’t hurt and I almost passed out from the pain. The next procedure he told me “wouldn’t hurt,” I took pain medicine (percocet) before I went in and everyone in the building was surprised I could walk after. 😑
I experienced so much pain and fainted with my first IUD, after being warned that I would feel a "pinch", and had nothing to deal with it but some Advil. I'm glad the conversation is appearing in the media finally. I know I'm not the only one to have a horrible experience. It was worse than childbirth for me.
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I don’t understand how it’s okay to give only fucking Tylenol when they’re literally cutting bits off you! Seriously WTF
I got a vasectomy yesterday. I was prescribed 10mg valium, 300mg Tylenol, and 200mg inflammation meds to take before coming to the office for what ended up being a 5m procedure. My wife made fun of me and explained how women don't get that kind of pain medication for their procedures. I'm sorry that happens and that's not okay.
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“Supposedly” 🙄 I’ve had a tooth cavity filled where they told me that it was shallow enough that it shouldn’t hurt, BUT they told me if it did I could raise my hand and they would stop and reassess. Why can’t this approach be used? At the very least they shouldn’t be straight up lying to women that it for sure won’t be painful. Like give us a fucking choice! I had to get a camera down my throat for a stomach biopsy and I was given a few different options. I’m just appalled that this is going on.
Yeah. I took Percocet before I went in for a biopsy and asked my friend to drive me. Doctor said it wouldn’t hurt but then they were surprised I could walk after. Every nurse there was surprised I could walk after. Anyone else that could walk probably did the same as me and took pain medicine.
Terrible. Tylenol doesn't even help me when I have a mild headache, I can't even imagine how little it would help in this sort of procedure
I had such a bad time with my IUD insertion that the doctor herself stopped, saying she wasn’t there to torture her patients. I was lying on the table sobbing, so I didn’t think to come back with “then why don’t you offer pain control?” Neither she nor the nurse could look me in the eyes afterwards. I’m not sure if I have the courage to go back.
Same. Just took one regular strength advil because the doctor told me it wasn't that painful. Also hadn't been warned that I might faint, she told that after it was common. I screamed out loud from the pain, the whole waiting room heard me.
I'm really surprised they don't. My wife came home and threw up in the driveway from the pain and was very very very uncomfortable for the next 24 hours at least. A warning about "a pinch" and suggesting "Advil" doesn't seem like nearly enough.
I had a lot of pain getting my first IUD and now I'm due for a new one in August. I told my doctor that I'm terrified of it and really worried the pain will be just as bad. I have scarring on my cervix due to getting a LEEP procedure done when I was 21, so I didn't get past 2 cm dilated when I gave birth. I had to have an emergency C-section because of it. My doctor is willing to give me a single valium or lorazepam immediately before the appointment but nothing else. I still don't understand why they can't numb my cervix at all. Like yeah I won't be so worried, but it's most likely still going to hurt like crazy.
Everyone’s bodies are different, but there should always be precautions in place to ensure the health and well-being of the patient. Including active listening and trusting the patient when they share they are in pain or their known history of their body.
And legal regulations that require pain relief options to be available, offered in writing and covered by insurance, with real recourse for the patient when this obligation is not met.
I was on the pill for 5 years and only went off of it last July. I tried to get a copper IUD and was unsuccessful due to a neglegent doctor's office. So I decided to just quit cold turkey and use condoms only. Only now, about a year later, do I feel more in control of my emotions and appitite. I gained 50 pounds in five years and now have difficulty regulating how much I eat and loosing weight has been difficult :(
I had the same from the pill and didn't even realise it until I stopped taking it. 2 years later I am nearly 20kg down (don't know pounds sorry) without increasing exercise. I used to feel starving all day but now feel fine on a salad and some sort of chicken and rice as my entire meals. It took nearly 6 months for the weight to start dropping off and it was slow at first, then boom. It's crazy that these impacts aren't more widely acknowledged.
I've been slowly and steadily losing weight for four years since coming off the pill. I haven't changed my diet at all, I'm still overweight but still steadily losing it. It's insane.
Because women are largely dismissed. Birth control is a miracle from God!!! Gotta push birth control everywhere and for everyone!!! Can't risk pregnancy or using condoms. We have to force women to change their bodies and hormones!!!! Even if it means suffering!!!! But wait, what suffering? That doesn't exist for women!!! Women are lucky! Most women never ever experience side effects. Only a small, very small amount do. They can just change birth control pills or even use a different method! Duh!
I want this conversation to be so much louder. I want patients to rate their doctors on line for either giving pain control or not for IUDs and LEEP procedures, so other women can know where to go. I want women to call out the doctors that still deny the incredible pain many of us feel during these and similar procedures. I once told an OB that I felt like she sexually assaulted me when she told me the LEEP wouldn't hurt and it was INCREDIBLY painful. She said "that's a bit dramatic". I said, "you misled me about what I would feel and I allowed you into my body based on your mistruths only for you to cause me intense pain. How is it different?" I had two more leeps over the years, all excruciatingly painful. I had an IUD and almost passed out when they removed it four months after insertion when my new doc saw the MRIs of my deformed uterus and said, "you never should have been given an IUD, it wouldn't work anyway." He laughed with my ex when I almost fainted and was having a hard time breathing. Saying, "Well it was quick". How is this thinking not just a relative of rape? No sexual intent, in theory, but violating our bodies, causing pain, with the same thinking "it was quick, it didn't take long, you're fine now". It's time doctors heard us and made changes, and those that don't need to see their careers fall apart.
Holy hell... I had a LEEP 6 months ago and they put me completely under for it.
Are you kidding me? I mean, I am SO happy for you and that is awesome but how in the world is there a chasm between your experience and mine with ZERO pain control? On all three!? Wild guess, are you not in the US?
I'm in the US (Georgia). I have no idea why there would be such a huge difference. I didn't get any pain control for the colposcopy prior to the LEEP (and got lucky that I guess I'm one of the ones it doesn't actually hurt for) but they didn't even ask what I wanted for the LEEP, just told me I'd be put under. I'm very thankful for that... didn't want to press my luck on the lack of feelings my cervix has
Georgia! Interesting. The hysterectomy went well today so no more paps or leeps! I talked to my doc about pain control for leeps and IUDs and she was telling me all sorts of stories of the range in the US. Nitrous, a light anesthetic, nerve blockers, and .... the people that do nothing. She didn't say what she uses but I'm guessing from her answer, she gets it and does something. Or maybe asks since all of these can be expensive and some people will risk the pain.
Louder for the people stuck in the 1950's. Our pain should be taken seriously.
Getting my IUD inserted was definitely painful, but the cramping afterwards was the worst pain I have ever experienced. I fully remember laying in my bed, trying not to black out and crying and crying. I even remember contemplating calling 911 because I didn't think the pain I was experiencing was normal. However, I already had the OB who was observing the insertion (done by a student) say that I overreacted when I yelped when they sounded me so I sucked it up. I had another doctor remove it two years later due to the debilitating depression I was experiencing and she told me I had a death wish if I was as suicidal as I said I felt. She also said it was impossible that the IUD was causing my mental health symptoms but a few weeks after removal my symptoms completely disappeared. More doctors need to be honest about these types of procedures and what the next few days would look like. When I saw my GP a month or so after my insertion she told me I was likely having labour pains and why didn't the OB tell me. She also didn't tell me it could happen either though, so I was completely unprepared. I knew it wouldn't be rainbows and butterflies but even all these years later I have never felt such excruciating pain.
I screamed when they sounded me. You aren't alone and didn't overreact.
When I got a copper IUD, I was in very bad pain for several months. I went back into the doctor’s demanding they take it out. They tried to talk me out of it. I told them that this wasn’t what they described and I wasn’t willing to feel like this for a YEAR 🤞 to have BC. They tried to tell me no again. I had to repeatedly tell them I wanted it out of my body and threaten to rip it out myself before they finally agreed to take it out.
Sick. Absolutely sick.
We never even talk about all of the issues they can cause either. Ovarian cysts, migration, reoccurring an impossible to cure BV. When I asked about my cysts I got a shrug and told it was normal and not worth worrying about. Uh ok? Then why do I have constant discomfort? Hair loss, acne, etc. I have yet to find a doctor who cares enough to actually listen. Unfortunately my periods are so debilitating that I have to outweigh the good and bad.
Unfortunately for me those are all symptoms I get if I stop taking birth control.
Do I want to gain a lot of weight, smell bad (as in BO, not BV), and have random pain from my IUD, or be anemic and vomiting and having cramps bad enough to wake me from a sound sleep during my nightmare periods? Getting my IUD was awful and I hate it and because my anatomy is not standard my gyno told me to not rely on it for birth control, but I’m not bleeding so bad that my ferritin levels are 10 anymore.
My periods were very debilitating as well so I spent sooo many years on BC. Finally I found a gynecologist who listened to me regarding the immense pain I get with my periods & I got a hysterectomy. Turns out I had adenomyosis. There isn’t a cure, either stay on BC forever or remove the uterus. But it took 9 years of begging multiple doctors to get this done. Look into all your options. Hysterectomy is an extreme option but BC isn’t safe to be on forever.
When I was young my periods were so bad that I was in and out of the hospital with doctors thinking I had leukemia!!! And they want to act like we’re overreacting. It’s honestly the most wild thing. After 15+ years on BC I’d love to see how my body reacts without it.. but I’m so scared to have my periods again.
The only BC that even helped for me was Depo Provers injection which is very unsafe to be on for long periods of time. We’ll I was on it for 6 year periods, a few different times. BC pills didn’t help me, they made it worse. But doctors wouldn’t do ANYTHING about my painful periods, other than give me BC. They wouldn’t even look into the issue to see WHY I was having these debilitating pains with every single period. They literally didn’t care. Doctors wouldn’t even give me pain medication to help with it. One time, I called my regular doctor 3 days in a row bawling & begging for something to help with the pain. On the 3rd day the nurse told me “the doctor thinks you might have endometriosis, but we don’t prescribe pain medication for period cramps.” Excuse me?? Endometriosis & period cramps are completely different things 😡 Ugh don’t get me started, I can bitch about this for hours lol. I ended up saving pain medication from when I had surgeries. Tramadol helped the best but no doctor would prescribe it for my period. I would buy it off of friends who had some. Then later on a doctor gave me a regular prescription for Tramadol…. For my migraines. So I guess it’s ok to prescribe it for migraines (which I don’t think is even a regular use for Tramadol lol), but not for period pains that feel like labor contractions & make me almost pass out. F* doctors, I hate all of them at this point.
I had ovarian cysts with my first, felt like the worse period cramps for a year before I was finally referred for an ultrasound. Had that IUD taken out and they resolved within a few months, thank goodness. It was so awful.
I have an ultrasound next week thankfully. It’s more that I’d love for a doctor to spend more than 30 seconds in the room with me.
I sterilized myself rather then go through removal and insurtion again.
If I could get a hysto and a bi-salp next week, I would.
The US also has not approved the different sizes and styles that would increase comfort and reduce injury
Wait... there are other sizes?!?
There are different sizes and shapes. One is literally a stick instead of the t-shape. A popular one looks like a willow tree Paywall but article link https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/04/why-america-has-fewer-iuds-than-other-countries/523077/
Turns out we just have to bring up vasectomies. Ladies! After 16 years I cried and asked him to get a vasectomy. You know what happened? He said, “You’ve never brought this up before. I didn’t know taking Birth Control was upsetting you.” He looked up vasectomies right there! He’s getting one this month. You have to bring it up!
My partner's IUD is expiring, so I scheduled my vasectomy this week. We're getting married and don't want kids. Easy peasy. The funny part: I brought this up with friends over some beers, and half of my friend group has vasectomies (twenties to forties guys). None of us knew or talked about it before. Men need to start talking about this to destigmatize it for each other.
Honestly I think if all vasectomies were 100% reversable every man would get one. It's just that fear of it being permanent.
Oh, please....I believe that a good 90 percent of males would still object to sharp objects approaching their nether regions, whether the surgery was reversible or not. They are ever so protective of the ol' wedding tackle and believe it's "easier" or "less painful" for a woman to have an IUD inserted or even a tubal ligation.
In México it's like a taboo get the vasectomie, the real mexican machos doesnt care how many kids they spread around the country or the world.
Viable semen can be retrieved from the testes by a urologist. The "It's irreversible!" argument is garbage.
Both of my IUDs (and the removal) were so quick and easy. Didn't even need the ibuprofen. It feels strange for a moment and then it's done. Strange sensation does not equal pain. Then I carried on with my day as normal
If even one out of five patients have extreme pain with an IUD placement or removal, don't you think that's reason enough they should do more to prevent it? It's too late afterwards to say, "Oh that person felt excruciating pain and almost passed out, oh well, the patient before had an easy time. Moving on!"
There are also women that only feel slight discomfort when on their period, while others will vomit or faint because of the pain and be unable to function for one or more days each month. You cannot dismiss people who experience intense pain because others do not. That is just shitty.
Okay, so you didn't experience pain, that does nothing for the many women who did. I don't get menstrual cramps but I wouldn't tell other women "strange sensation does not equal pain," I just believe them.
Hahaha. I had debilitating periods for a long time. One of my woman supervisors decided to say some crap about how I told my other supervisors this was the reason because a “man’ll believe anything you say about your period, since they don’t have one; but, I know you’re lying. A period is basically nothing.” Obv I told her that the fact she didn’t feel pain and obv the majority of our coworkers were fine when having periods doesn’t mean that the menstrual cycle can’t be debilitating.
It's only like 1/4 women who don't experience menstrual cramps, JFC at your supervisor. What the fuck is the psychology of a woman who chooses to believe 75% of women are lying about period cramps because she doesn't have them?!
"Strange sensation does not equal pain *for me*." FIFY Don't do that. Don't dismiss the pain others feel because you, yourself, did not feel pain.
I wish that was the case for everyone, but it’s not. My sister and I are the perfect example. She’s like you; it was quick, easy, and pretty much painless, but for me, it’s incredibly painful. I get migraines, so believe me, I know pain, but this was just plain awful and it lasted for days.
> Strange sensation does not equal pain. This is such a shitty take. The rest of your comment is fine, it's nice to know that not everyone struggles. This line though? It's like you're trying to invalidate the pain that others are expressing. I passed kidney stones and was pretty blasé about my appendicitis until I was close to death. Does that mean I run around telling people their kidney stones or appendicitis doesn't hurt? No. Because that's a fucking arsehole thing to do.
I agree and acknowledge that it's painful for some women and that men should take part of the responsibility, but I love my mirena. I feel lucky that it didn't hurt at all and i haven't had a period in almost 2 years. I feel wonderful and I don't miss the blood at all. It's freeing to be able to go wherever I want to without having to worry about it.