Women’s pain has long been discounted by medical professionals. In fact, research shows that doctors take women’s pain less seriously when compared to men.
This will be no surprise, of course, to any woman who’s had debilitating period cramps, pregnancy pains or undergone any kind of outpatient procedure, including one in particular that has garnered attention for its severe discomfort: IUD insertion and removal.
IUDs are a small, T-shaped form of birth control that’s inserted into the uterus through the cervix. For years, people on social media have shared harrowing experiences about their IUD process to try and advocate for better pain management during the procedure. The most common guidance is for patients to take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen beforehand; in other words, pain management is not nearly useful enough.
However, public advocacy has seemingly started to work. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidance that says doctors should take IUD pain seriously and talk to their patients about it, as well as offer additional pain management options for them, including anesthetic gels and sprays. But some experts say this isn’t enough, arguing that the lack of research on this issue is hurting women.
For many people, the insertion and removal of an IUD is absolutely brutal ― so much so that many folks are afraid to get it, despite the fact that it’s one of the most effective and long-lasting forms of birth control.
Below, HuffPost readers shared their real-life IUD experiences to bring more awareness to the procedure. These stories are proof we need better, more effective options for those getting the device. (The responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.)
‘I broke out into a sweat and thought I was going to faint.’
“I got my IUD in my late 20s. I decided to try the Mirena IUD because it had hormones. When my gynecologist inserted the IUD, I was not prepared for the pain I was about to experience. Once she released the IUD in my body, I instantly felt pain. I broke out into a sweat and thought I was going to faint. I instantly swelled and wondered why I wasn’t given anything for the pain. They prescribed me no medication for the pain.
For months, I had complications from the IUD. I had bloating, discharge and a smell that was very funky. My doctor was not concerned and gave me antibiotics. I decided to take matters into my own hands. I researched my symptoms and read experiences from other women with the same issues.
I knew it was the IUD and decided to have it removed. When my doctor finally removed my IUD, it was instant relief. The only thing my doctor said to me after she removed the IUD was, ‘Call me when you’re pregnant.’ Then she walked out the door. She’s not my gynecologist anymore. That whole experience was awful. No empathy whatsoever, and I felt very alone.” — Mary H. from Savannah, Georgia.
‘I ended up in the ER.’
“I had a very painful time. I wanted a tubal, but the male OB-GYN wouldn’t do it because I hadn’t had children. He offered an IUD. I was never told about the pain.
It was so very painful — both insertion and after. I ended up in the ER after a couple of days, begging them to take it out. The ER removed it.” — Laura D. from Minnesota.
‘I was in so much pain I sweat through the paper liner on the exam bed.’
“I was not given anything for pain, and it hurt so much I can only describe my body’s reaction as full flop sweat. Afterward, I was dismissed and told that a regular Tylenol back at home would help any discomfort. I was in so much pain I sweat through the paper liner on the exam bed.
I went to my regular OB. We actually have a good relationship, so when I decided to get an IUD, I expected her to give me a real assessment of how much it would hurt. I’ve had that IUD going on three years, and I’m already nervous about getting it taken out and getting another one.” ― Maya from Washington, D.C.
‘It felt like being stabbed in the vagina with a large needle multiple times.’
“I had my gynecologist attempt to insert an IUD on two separate occasions … when I asked if I could have anesthesia, she said it was not allowed. Due to the intense pain and discomfort, I refused to try a third time.
No medication was given or offered to me. My doctor stated that the pain was due to the shape of my cervix.
I’ve had a C-section, a few surgeries and dental work, but nothing compared to the raw and barbaric insertion of an IUD. It felt like being stabbed in the vagina with a large needle multiple times! I almost kicked my doctor in the face after she tried reinserting for the final time.” — Jamie A. from New York City.
‘They thought the IUD had gone through my uterus.’
“I had an IUD inserted a few years ago, which was the most painful experience of my life, and ended up in the hospital a week later due to the overwhelming continuing pain (for which I was made out to be wasting hospital resources).
I was in the hospital for a few hours — after almost passing out in the waiting room ― and they gave me some morphine and did a scan because I was in so much pain that they thought the IUD had gone through my uterus. However, the scan showed that it was in place, and so I was told that I was fine and should not have received morphine. It made me feel really stupid and ashamed for going there in the first place.
I left and was still unable to walk properly for a few days, and was having intense contraction-like pain that lasted around a week. I later ended up having two surgeries revealing Stage 3 endometriosis and suspected adenomyosis, and so the IUD likely was an aggravating factor. I had it removed about two months after insertion by a different doctor.” — Brooke B. from California.
‘They just kept telling me to take deep breaths, which really did not help at all.’
“I have had two IUD insertions and one removal. The first insertion, I was offered valium, which was awesome. I was not offered anything for the removal and reinsertion, which was truly indescribable how painful that was.
Getting it out was definitely worse than getting it in — however, the first insertion they had to do twice because they did not insert it high enough the first time! They just kept telling me to take deep breaths, which really did not help at all. It felt like someone scraping the inside of me, but with a giant metal straw cleaner, over and over again. I don’t even want to get mine out again due to how bad it was!” — Alyssa H. from Denver.
‘The insertion was as painful as labor.’
“First experience — it was within a year of having my last child. I had a nurse practitioner do the procedure at my regular doctor’s office. I was given nothing ahead of time for pain. The nurse said I would ‘feel a little pinch’ — the insertion was as painful as labor. When I told the nurse how painful it was, she told me it ‘shouldn’t be’ and to just breathe.
It was excruciating, and I thought I was going to pass out. She kept telling me it shouldn’t be this painful, which made me think it was just me. I definitely felt like my pain was completely discounted and dismissed. It was absolutely awful. When it was done, I was covered in sweat, I was dizzy, and I felt nauseous. I was determined to never get one again.
When my five years were up, I met with a new nurse practitioner and told her about my experience, and that I didn’t want to go through that again. She gave me a prescription for Xanax to take beforehand. She assured me that that level of pain shouldn’t be happening again, and she’d do whatever she could to make sure of it. I also took Advil before the appointment, per her recommendation. She also applied some numbing cream to my cervix before the procedure. She removed my old IUD and inserted a new one. It was so much better! I felt pressure and maybe a pinch, but I couldn’t believe how much better the experience was. I know now that it IS possible to have them inserted without feeling like I’m going to pass out if the practitioner actually takes the time to listen to their patient and also provide medications ahead of time.” — Jenn P. from Washington.
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‘Nobody describes to you how it feels to have your cervix pierced.’
“The gynecologist I saw was really kind; she said it was just going to be a little pinch and it would be over. I was advised to schedule my appointment for whenever my next period was to make it ‘easier.’ Being in that chair, exposed, alone, was hard at 17 just by itself. They finally started the insertion process, and it was agonizing pain. Nobody describes to you how it feels to have your cervix pierced, and honestly, I think it’s because the pain is so bad it’s indescribable.
They realized that they could not get it inserted, so they had to dilate me. This made the pain so much worse. They had a nurse come in to hold my hand while I was fading in and out of consciousness from all of the pain. Finally, it was over. I was still in a lot of pain, though, even though I was slightly relieved.
I had asked the doctor if they were able to give me an ibuprofen to help the pain, which caused her to laugh it off and say that I couldn’t start asking for meds now. I was still in so much pain, and I was so lightheaded and dizzy. I even had to drive myself home in that condition after. The pain persisted for days after.
Now, four years later, getting an IUD was 100% the best option for me when it came to birth control. I recommend it to all my friends who are debating getting one themselves, though I try and make sure that they fully understand what they’re walking into. The way that the medical industry forces women into agonizing pain for simple birth control is sickening. I cannot ever forget that feeling. I am terrified of getting it taken out. The torture is unnecessary, and the fact that doctors still insist that it is not painful is just a testament to how badly women are still being treated today.” — J.H. from Ohio.
‘I was not mentally prepared for that.’
“I got my Mirena IUD through Kaiser. My doctor was wonderful and encouraging (I had a bad experience with my previous doctor through a different insurance that had asked if I had permission from my partner), but they did not warn me about the intensity of the pain during the procedure. This was during COVID, so I had to wear a mask. The nurse had to take my mask off because I was on the verge of passing out, and they couldn’t monitor me well with my face buried in a K95 mask.
Looking back at my consultation, they did hint at it being painful by strongly suggesting I had someone drive me in and strongly suggesting I should take the day off work after, which was contrary to all the advertising I had seen online. Online, it said it was a quick in-and-out procedure … only a pinch. It’s true that it was fast, but I had never been in that amount of pain in my life, or at least I had not been conscious and without drugs for that much pain in my life.
I was given heating pads and told to take three ibuprofen every six hours. However, I experienced debilitating cramps for weeks and then during random times for the next three months. It’s been about three years now, and I’m happy to not have periods or cramps … worth it, but wow. Give a girl a heads-up. I was not mentally prepared for that.” — Coral from Maryland.
‘They had to remove some tissue in order to insert it.’
“April 2017, I had three failed in-office IUD insertion attempts, including the third attempt with dilation medication. For each, I was told it would be ‘a little pinch’ or ‘some cramping.’ It was by far the most horrible pain I’ve ever experienced (I’ve never had children). All three times I screamed and cried in pain and used every expletive in the book at high volume, finally being reminded this was a family clinic and that behavior wasn’t appropriate. They opted to have it inserted surgically. As it turned out, I have a very tiny cervix, and they had to remove some tissue in order to insert it.
Once my body got used to it, it was great. I haven’t had much more than a day or two of spotting until this past February. I started having a heavy period for three days every two weeks and decided it was my body telling me it was time.
At my recent pap, the OB-GYN said that it appeared as though the tissue had grown back and encased the strings, and they couldn’t remove the IUD as an office visit. I just had the surgical removal of the old one and insertion of the new one under full anesthesia.” — Sarah S. from Washington.
‘Everyone deserves the same pain-free experience I had.’
“I got an IUD at 21, and I didn’t feel a thing. My doctor even said, ‘Wow! That’s the easiest one I’ve ever placed.’ For years, I had put it off after reading horror stories online, and it was pain-free. As someone who suffers from PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), the IUD has been life-changing and one of the best decisions I ever made.
My doctor told me to take Tylenol before I came in and gave me a prescription for misoprostol and a numbing shot of lidocaine. When I talk to my friends who had a lot of pain, many of them were not given miso or the numbing shot, and I genuinely believe the miso is what made the difference for me. Everyone deserves the same pain-free experience I had.” — Ariana R. from Texas.