I had to Google my own IUD procedure.
My IUD insertion felt like hell. It left me shaking. The second the door closed behind the nurse, ugly, uncontrollable sobs erupted from my chest. I couldn’t move.
Getting an IUD was one of the most traumatic medical experiences I’ve ever had. No one prepared me. I had to Google what to do before the appointment myself.
Planned Parenthood recommends taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen, Advil, or Motrin about 20–30 minutes beforehand. I took 600 mg an hour before — because no one told me anything.
No instructions. No warning. No guidance.
No one mentioned that the IUD might not fit, or that they might need to try a smaller one. That’s what happened to me — while I lay there in pain, confused, and deeply vulnerable.
And after all of that? The nurse inserted the device, giggled (as I felt the void swallow me), and left the room without a word.
It reminded me of being a teenager. Of being used. Of being a victim.
And beyond the flashbacks, it reminded me that this is not rare.
“Why wasn’t I offered sedation? Or even anti-anxiety meds?
Why wasn’t I told anything?”
People with uteruses have been asking — actually, begging — for pain management during IUD insertions and cervical biopsies for years. And the system has largely ignored them.
Only recently has mainstream media even begun to acknowledge this.
According to NPR, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists finally stated in new 2025 guidelines that there is “an urgent need” for better pain control for cervical and uterine procedures.
An urgent need. In 2025.
What the actual hell?
I shook and cried for over an hour. Not just from the physical pain, but from the emotional toll — the fresh trauma, and the old trauma it dragged back with it.
Why wasn’t I offered sedation? Or even anti-anxiety meds?
Why wasn’t I told anything?
This isn’t about complaining. This is about being taken seriously.
Pain management isn’t a bonus. It’s basic care. It helps survivors avoid re-traumatization. It makes procedures safer. More humane. More survivable.
“She looked distraught. Like it had just hit her: They do this to people? And don’t even give them medication?”
When we talk about uterine health, about pain, and about medical neglect.
We’re not being dramatic.
We’re telling the truth.
My mum came to support me during the procedure.
I think she thought she knew what to expect. But the second she saw how much pain I was in — the way they used the tools, the way I cried, the complete lack of care — I saw the deep concern on her face.
She looked distraught. Like it had just hit her: They do this to people? And don’t even give them medication?
Even through her own distress, she helped me get dressed. I was in shock — blank stare, chattering jaw, lost somewhere between pain and disbelief.
But, my mum brought me to my feet, held my hand, and walked me to the car.
She got me Chick-fil-A. She brought me home and let me sleep. She and my dad took care of my fur baby.
I almost passed out on the toilet, and she helped me back to bed.
If I hadn’t had my mum, I would’ve been a hole. A literal void. I felt like the most horrid, broken person on the planet — because of how much it hurt, physically and emotionally.
So: thank you, Mum. I love you. 💜
I’m doing better now. But I’m terrified for tomorrow morning’s poop (sorry, lol), and I’m dreading the day I have to get this thing removed.
Want to read more about IUDs and recent updates on pain management? Here are some pieces I found interesting:
Doctors urged to treat pain for IUD insertion and other procedures
“Countless patients have suffered through in-office gynecological procedures like IUD insertions or cervical biopsies, with nothing more than ibuprofen and white knuckles.” / Published by NPR and written by Sarah Boden on May 20, 2025.
What to Do Before Your IUD Insertion Appointment
“Please make sure you have had something to eat before you come to the Center for your appointment. If you are hungry when we insert the IUD, you may feel faint and can pass out during the insertion process.” / Published by Planned Parenthood of New York City.
IUD Pain Gets the Recognition It Deserves
“Research backs up what many women already know from experience: there are sex-based disparities in how pain is experienced, assessed, and treated. Women are less likely to be offered adequate pain management and more likely to be told their pain is due to anxiety or stress.” / Published by Psychology Today and written by Hannah Holmes Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist on May 17, 2025.
New Guidelines Finally Recommend Pain Relief for Gyno Procedures—Here’s How to Get It
“Last week, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) acknowledged in writing what people with a uterus have shouted from the rooftops for years: In-office gynecological procedures, like intrauterine device (IUD) insertions or cervical biopsies, can be far more agonizing than the “pinch” often promised.” / Published by Self and written by Erica Sloan on May 21, 2025.
Anyway. That’s my traumatic IUD experience. Hope this helps someone feel less alone (or at least more prepared).
Let’s keep screaming until they listen.
Stay soft. Stay angry. Stay loud.
— Kaylirose xoxo <33
P.S. Been through something similar? Want to rage or commiserate? My inbox is always open — I’d love to hear from you.
Note:
All external articles referenced are credited via embedded hyperlinks. Full credit goes to the original journalists and publications whose reporting informed this post.