Pain during gynaecological procedures: research and compassion are key to improving patients’ experiences

Abstract

Women experience varied levels of pain during gynaecological procedures. More research is needed if we want to reduce the risk of severe pain and improve understanding among medical professionals, writes Stephanie O’Donohue The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new recommendations advising clinicians to forewarn patients about the potential for pain during intrauterine device (IUD) placement and to give them options to help manage it.1 For years women have spoken up about their experiences of extreme pain during gynaecological procedures. From smear tests to hysteroscopies, insertions to removals of IUDs, too many women continue to experience unacceptably high levels of pain and poor levels of care, leading to physical and psychological trauma.23 Women shouldn’t be left at risk of extreme pain when accessing these vital services. There still doesn’t seem to be a reliable way of predicting when someone might be more likely to experience extreme pain during gynaecological procedures, or an evidence based understanding of why it happens. In the absence of this knowledge, it’s disheartening that there also doesn’t seem to be a consistent approach for supporting patients …