IUD removal under general anesthesia?

[Anonymous]

I have to have general anesthesia for an upcoming surgery and y’all have me scared now. “Severe respiratory depression”…yikes! But no, I wouldn’t be doing it for an IED removal. Perhaps “conscious sedation” is a better option, or anti-anxiety like Ativan for the procedure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to have general anesthesia for an upcoming surgery and y’all have me scared now. “Severe respiratory depression”…yikes! But no, I wouldn’t be doing it for an IED removal. Perhaps “conscious sedation” is a better option, or anti-anxiety like Ativan for the procedure.

Yeah, this is all about relative risk. If you need the surgery, you need the sedation.


For IUD removal I wouldn’t go to that unless other methods have been exhausted, primarily cognitive strategies from a therapist. It’s painful, but you know it’s coming and that it will be brief. She should be able to manage fear of that and endure the procedure.

[Anonymous]

If you have nausea from it, you might have a vagus nerve reaction. Basically pain over a certain level (or with shock, like from seeing bleeding) makes me puke and nearly pass out. It’s way less scary and a lot more manageable now that I know what it is. I don’t know why no one told me about it until the L&D nurse.

[Anonymous]

Cervical pain is one of those things that seems to vary a lot among individuals but for me it's one of the most painful experiences I have ever had, and I have had childbirth with no drugs. The pain of having my cervix opened was beyond anything I have ever experienced. It wasn't traumatic for me, but I am an adult who has given birth, but I can see how it would be for a kid. Anyway, I wouldn't minimize it and I would tell her you'll make sure she has adequate pain control for removal. That could take a lot of different forms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to have general anesthesia for an upcoming surgery and y’all have me scared now. “Severe respiratory depression”…yikes! But no, I wouldn’t be doing it for an IED removal. Perhaps “conscious sedation” is a better option, or anti-anxiety like Ativan for the procedure.

Have you had general anesthesia before? You will sign a whole bunch of waivers indicating you understand the risk. In reality it doesn’t happen very often and that’s why it’s so carefully monitored during the entire procedure but it is most certainly the number one risk associated with that intervention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting it out is super easy. It’s less uncomfortable than a Pap smear. I’ve had 3 IUDs over the years and while getting them in wasn’t fun, removal was truly no big deal.

Listen, it's different for everybody.

Just because it was nbd for you does NOT mean her DD will have the same experience.

No one is disregarding her daughter's experience. They are helping her figure out the percentages behind the risk calculation. OP and her daughter have to figure out what level of risk vs. what level of discomfort they are willing to accept. PPs are telling OP that the discomfort from removal is not nearly as high as placement. From there, they can make their decision. But if they are removing and then placing a new IUD, they may want to take action. People are suggesting anti-anxiety meds as a less risky (an expensive) option than general anesthesia. OBGYNs might not even do general anesthesia in their office and it would have to escalate to a hospital.

OP has to figure out if the goal is "feel no pain" or "not worry and be anxious."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IUD removal is very quick. Maybe asking for Valium or something similar would help?

F that. Women's pain should be taken seriously. If the majority of men get a colonoscopy under anesthesia, why can't women get an implant removed under the same guidance?

So stupid.

1) removal is far less painless 2) general anesthesia is very dangerous. I would argue it’s not appropriate for either procedure.

Yeah definitely not the same. Also her daughter doesn't have to get an IUD. That's why it isn't recommended for women that haven't given birth. Just pick a different method.

Actually, the IUD of the last 10-15 years is highly recommended for women who haven’t given birth. It is one of the most effective forms of birth control and very safe. They come in smaller sizes for youth. Please don’t spread reproductive health misinformation.

For pain, many recommend taking a pain reliever before or anti-anxiety if necessary.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/children-iuds-deemed-safe-for-teens-040813

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's why it isn't recommended for women that haven't given birth. Just pick a different method.

not anymore, grandma!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's why it isn't recommended for women that haven't given birth. Just pick a different method.

not anymore, grandma!

'not anymore' what? Are you saying that women can give birth under general anesthesia? Vaginal birth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to have general anesthesia for an upcoming surgery and y’all have me scared now. “Severe respiratory depression”…yikes! But no, I wouldn’t be doing it for an IED removal. Perhaps “conscious sedation” is a better option, or anti-anxiety like Ativan for the procedure.

I don’t know, I’d want general anesthesia if I was having an IED removed. I’d be worried about it exploding! Probably wouldn’t bother for an IUD removal, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IUD removal is very quick. Maybe asking for Valium or something similar would help?

F that. Women's pain should be taken seriously. If the majority of men get a colonoscopy under anesthesia, why can't women get an implant removed under the same guidance?

So stupid.

1) removal is far less painless 2) general anesthesia is very dangerous. I would argue it’s not appropriate for either procedure.

The bolded above is not necessarily true. “General anesthesia” can also refer to “twilight anesthesia” which is what many dentists use and is not as dangerous as true general anesthesia.

[Anonymous]

Ask for valium and laughing gas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's why it isn't recommended for women that haven't given birth. Just pick a different method.

not anymore, grandma!

'not anymore' what? Are you saying that women can give birth under general anesthesia? Vaginal birth?

You’re wrong about IUDs not being recommended for women without children. They are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's why it isn't recommended for women that haven't given birth. Just pick a different method.

not anymore, grandma!

'not anymore' what? Are you saying that women can give birth under general anesthesia? Vaginal birth?

You’re wrong about IUDs not being recommended for women without children. They are.

Yep. Plus they’re extremely effective and can have less hormones the the pill.

[Anonymous]

My insertion was extremely painful. I didn’t pass out but definitely yelled and got that sweaty nauseated feeling. The removal was virtually painless. I would want some kind of sedation if I got one inserted again.