If you’ve been on social media lately, you know that pain management for women has been a hot-button issue. Some women are frustrated about the lack of options for pain and anxiety during procedures like IUD insertion. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
“The patient’s priority of comfort and care should be at the center of the whole conversation,” says Dr. Sarah Pollock, an OB/GYN at Atrium Health Women’s Care Eastover OB/GYN.
Advocate for yourself.
When it comes to anxiety and pain management at the OB/GYN’s office, communication is everything — you don’t have to worry in silence.
Dr. Pollock recommends talking to your provider about any pain or anxiety concerns you have before your appointment, whether it’s at a pre-procedure visit or via a message in your patient portal.
“Pre-medication has been shown to be much more helpful for some procedures,” she says.
But even when you get to the actual appointment, it might not be too late. Tell your provider if you’re nervous about pain or the procedure before they get started.
“You need to advocate for yourself — that’s really important,” Dr. Pollock says.
Know your options.
There are lots of choices for pain management before, during and after in-office procedures, from prescription to over-the-counter medicines and even local or general anesthesia.
Some medications do require the patient to have a driver to take them home, but many are used in-office with minor or no side effects whatsoever.
“With its patient-centered approach to care, Atrium Health Women’s Care is focused on putting our patients at the center of all we do” Dr. Pollock says. “(We can do) Whatever a patient needs to make them feel most at ease.”
That’s why Dr. Pollock is launching a new program at Eastover OB/GYN’s Morehead location that allows patients to use nitrous oxide for procedures that might be uncomfortable or painful.
“It’s something we feel there was a deficit in for the in-office options for pain management for our patients,” she says. “Urology has been using it for a while, and dentists. We’ve had great responses from patients who tell us they wish they would’ve had it before.”
If you’ve ever used nitrous oxide at the dentist, the experience will be similar. Patients breathe into a mouthpiece and as the medicine kicks in, they’ll feel decreased anxiety and perhaps even a slight euphoria. The effects wear off quickly and won’t require someone else to drive you home from the office.
“It’s not a strict pain management tool but I do find that for patients who have discomfort that makes them tense, it helps relax the pelvic floor, which makes the procedure more comfortable,” Dr. Pollock says, adding that patients like how the medicine is self-administered. “The medication is in their own hands.”
It’s not just for IUD insertions. Dr. Pollock says patients can request nitrous oxide for any procedure that has a potential for discomfort:
endometrial ablation in-office, colposcopy (when a small camera is used to look inside the uterus) or even Pap smears and pelvic exams.
The bottom line.
You should feel in control of your own health, especially when it comes to pain and anxiety. Talk to your doctor about what would make your OB/GYN experience better for you.
To learn more, visit Atrium Health Women's Care Eastover OB/GYN. To schedule an appointment, call 704-446-7800.
