delicate subject - abortion

peachyprice

janninew wrote: »

after my Mum telling me that they hurt to be fitted its put me off - I'm a right wimp!!

Aww, it doesn't hurt that much, wuss :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

janninew

peachyprice wrote: »

Aww, it doesn't hurt that much, wuss :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Yep I'm a wuss - I don't mind admitting it!!

I had a very traumatic birth with my Daughter and I only got through that because it was an emergency and I didn't know it was going to happen (plus I didn't have any choice!) I get nervous at the thought of medical procedures though and don't fancy having some Doctor having a good shufty down below!! :rotfl:

euronorris

Welshwoofs wrote: »

I was also told that they 'don't tend' to fit the IUD in women that haven't had children and the reason I was given was that it was a far more painful procedure if you hadn't ever given birth. They agreed to fit me after I stated that I was happy to take my chances on the pain issue.

Wow. No one said anything of the sort here. I asked about it, they explained how it works, how it would be fitted, it's effectiveness rates and what things to watch out for (it coming out, or displacing etc) and was then given some time to mull over the options.

Once I'd made my decision, they ordered the IUD and a painkiller (suppository) for me to take an hour before insertion and then I made the appointment on the 1st day of my next period. It WAS painful, a kind of pain I haven't experienced before and can't describe it, but it also wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. The doctor didn't say anything about having any trouble getting it in either, so just goes to show that every person and their body is different.

Did you have a painkiller to take beforehand? Not sure that would've made any difference to how your body reacted, but am curious.

heartbreak_star

Yep, I've never given birth and have a Mirena, it was painful to have fitted but I guess I can deal with half an hour of discomfort and a night of cramps for 5 years of protection that's almost as effective as sterilisation.

Next time I'll probably take some painkillers a couple of hours beforehand - and get my partner to drive me the half hour to the clinic. I have no idea how I drove home on my own last time!

The pain itself was...odd. They have to wash your cervix, which feels WEIRD, and measure your uterus before inserting the coil. It's not like any other pain I've ever experienced. I can look back and giggle now though, the nurse was holding my hand and telling me to "unclench my buttocks" the whole time!

HBS x

euronorris

peachyprice wrote: »

If you still want one, go to your local family planning clinic. You don't need to be registered with them, just make an appointment.

I've had 2 c-sections so never given birth and had premmies, but I've had them fitted. Yes it's tricky and more uncomfortable to insert, but it can be done. They couldn't do mine at the GP surgery either, but TBH they didn't really try that hard.

It must depend on the GP so much. I know I'm in NL at the moment, but mine was fitted at the GP's with ease (albeit painful, but easy). And I've never given birth, and my miscarriage all those years ago happened very early on (less than 5 weeks).

He was an older GP though, and has since retired, so maybe it's down to experience

Nicki

Errata wrote: »

Looks like we're heading for the madonna / w h o r e arguement.

How on earth do you get there? No suggestion at all that there is moral judgment on those having sex outside a permanent relationship or promiscuously, or for money.

Just a statement that in my opinion and in the opinion of a lot of people abortion does involve the balancing of rights. Which is why, for example, we currently have a cut off limit of I believe 24 weeks after which point an abortion cannot be carried off.

Again, my personal opinion, which has nothing to do with SEXUAL MORALITY is that where a woman has had a contraceptive failure, or medical grounds or been raped that the balance is more clearly weighted in favour of the woman being able to terminate the pregnancy. But where a woman knows that she does not want children, but isn't prepared to make her best effort possible to prevent this happening, that balance is much less clear cut, and whilst it may still in the end be socially preferable that the woman should be offered a termination, that doesn't mean society shouldn't do everything within its power to encourage these women to take a greater responsibility for their own reproductive health.

I find it interesting to be honest that it apparently isn't even possible to have a reasoned discussion on the subject, without those who have an entrenched position, deliberately distorting your comments and steadfastly keeping their minds closed. I am very far from being a prolifer protesting outside clinics and threatening doctors. I have repeatedly defended the need for abortion and a woman's right to access it. That doesn't mean however that there should not be any thought given by anyone ever as to how to reduce the numbers of women who need to seek this form of help every year. Even those most vehemently pro abortion on this thread, having undergone the procedure themselves, have said that it isn't necessarily a pleasant way to prevent a child being born after all, so possibly not better for either the mum or the aborted baby in the long term if greater investment in contraception techniques or just awareness would help lower the numbers of unwanted conceptions.

I readily confess by the way that I have never had an abortion, but I have had 2 miscarriages, and a D and C, which I suspect are reasonably similar in terms of trauma to the body. I also have such a severely retroverted and bicornuate uterus that my coil had to inserted under General Anaesthetic with the help of a hysteroscope after 3 failed and painful attempts to insert it in the normal way. And I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that if all other methods of contraception were inappropriate for me for some reason, I would have no hesitation in having another coil fitted in the same manner and endure a small amount of shortlived pain, rather than leaving myself at a greatly increased risk of a medical or surgical termination in the future.

patacake58

marywooyeah wrote: »

Person One I have already stated if you don't choose to believe me that's up to you but have asked you to please stop belittling my experience.

I wish it wasn't true but it is. I am no medical expert about needles or cannulas, I can only describe what happened to me. I don't know how many more times I need to tell you explain that I recieved an apology from the hospital

My baby died and I have spent years grieving for him. It took four years before I even felt ready for counselling and I am still awaiting a referral for further help. Please stop because you have no idea what I have suffered and your continued nasty comments are ignorant and upsetting.

Lets just stop and think a minute.
Mary wanted to pray for someone and got absolutely hammered by negative comments because the person is an athiest.
She apologised and said she wouldn't pray if it was going to upset the person which ,imo, was very big of her.
If you dont believe her story you are fully entitled not to.
But please leave the girl alone now, she's gone through enough.
Lets show a little bit of compassion and humanity.

Welshwoofs

euronorris wrote: »

Did you have a painkiller to take beforehand? Not sure that would've made any difference to how your body reacted, but am curious.

No painkiller beforehand here, no. As soon as she realised I had an off-set cervix/uterus she used an anaesthetic gel, but in all honesty it was still horrendously painful. She tried to fit one and couldn't (it got bent during the attempt) and she finally managed on the second one. I've got a fairly high pain threshold but apparently I was white as a sheet and literally in a cold sweat - the poor doctor didn't actually want to try again after the first attempt but I was insistent that I'd come that far and wanted it over with. There was alot of blood and I nearly passed out when I got off the couch.

However I know I wasn't a usual case...my inner 'layout' simply made things difficult and once the one fitted was expelled, the GP said they'd not attempt another go.

patacake58

Errata wrote: »

So nobody checked your details, confirmed you were a patient, took your BP, temperature, and bloods? And nobody in the anaesthesia room spoke to you and asked you to confirm who you were and your details?

Maybe none of these people actually asked her if she wanted to keep her baby?

Welshwoofs

Nicki wrote: »

But where a woman knows that she does not want children, but isn't prepared to make her best effort possible to prevent this happening, that balance is much less clear cut, and whilst it may still in the end be socially preferable that the woman should be offered a termination, that doesn't mean society shouldn't do everything within its power to encourage these women to take a greater responsibility for their own reproductive health.

With all due respect though, mistakes happen even when people make their 'best effort'. I had no idea that illness or certain medications could lower the effectiveness of the pill and I'd bet my backside that a fair number of women don't. It'd also be fairly easy to know that in theory, but not make the connection at the time....e.g. if you have a sudden bout of food poisoning and spend your day throwing up you may not automatically think "Oh that will have stopped the pill working!"

I'm quite sure there are some people who are absolutely perfect and diligently read all the small print on the package insert and always remember to look into whether another medication they're taking may have an impact or always remember to take extra precautions if they've been throwing up. But as we all know...not everyone is perfect.

And I can say without a shadow of a doubt, that if all other methods of contraception were inappropriate for me for some reason, I would have no hesitation in having another coil fitted in the same manner and endure a small amount of shortlived pain, rather than leaving myself at a greatly increased risk of a medical or surgical termination in the future.

I haven't seen anyone saying that NO forms of contraception would be suitable for them (or anyone), but it's certainly the case that not ALL forms of contraception are suitable and that GPs won't prescribe some forms of contraception to some people. For me the only choices are condoms or the pill and that's not because I'm precious, it's because my GP practice won't prescribe any of the others.