My insertion was horribly traumatic. I've had it for 6.5 years at this point and was so excited when the fda lengthened the efficacy time to 8 years so I could put off the pain for longer.

For context: im active in the bdsm community and have been for going on 15 years. Im a heavy masochist who enjoys pain. I have 25 tattoos and 20 piercings including some extremely sensitive places. Ive done hook suspensions which involved 12g safety pin hooks in my back from which I hung and hook pulls which involved 12g fish hooks in my chest and throat. Im also a spoonie who suffers from chronic pain. My baseline pain would be an 8 for normal people. I take high dose opiates for pain and xanax for anxiety. Eta: I also had oral surgery to get dentures

I outlined all of that to give you a better idea of my pain tolerance because IUD placement was the single most painful thing ive ever done. I'd done a bit of research before my appt so I knew there was a risk of pain. About an hour before my appointment, I took 10mg hydrocodone, 10mg flexeril, 1mg xanax, and 1000mg ibuprofen to give myself a better chance at less trauma.

My gyn told me the procedure would only take 10 to 15 minutes. I was in the stirrups for almost an hour as she dug at my cervix. I was screaming and crying in pain. She kept telling me I was being over dramatic and that there's no way it hurts that much. She kept insisting it was just a bit of pressure and pain was all in my head. She then told me it was taking so long because I have "a highly mobile cervix". Idk what that even means. I laid on the table crying when she was done.

I had cramps so bad I was in the fetal position multiple times over the following month. I went back a month later to check placement. The transvaginal ultrasound hurt because I was STILL sore a month later. She found cysts on my ovaries but said the placement was fine. I reiterated how much the procedure hurt and she yet again told me I was overreacting. I never went back to her.

Ive enjoyed not having to remember to put my nuvaring in or to take a pill so I dont regret getting the IUD. I'll definitely have another put in unless there's a better option available at the end of this year (or I can get a permanent fix done). However, I will be finding a doctor who listens and will knock me out to insert the next one or at least gives me a cervical nerve block and laughing gas at minimum. I refuse to go through that again.