Midwife shows exactly how a contraceptive IUD is removed

Ahh, female contraception. One of the most hotly-debated and often misunderstood daily complexities endured by millions of 21st century ladies everyday.

And on the subject of the arduous realities of modern womanhood, a video has gone viral for showing exactly what many are forced to face when their IUD (intrauterine device, or copper coil) is removed.

Warning: this may not be for the fainthearted...

Posted on social media by a midwife named Sarah - who goes by the username @midwifemama on TikTok - the clip not only sheds light on how this small copper T-shape that a doctor or nurse puts into your womb is able to prevent a pregnancy, but also how it is eventually removed from the body.

For those who need a refresher in sex education, an IUD releases copper into the womb which alters the mucus in the cervix to make it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg.

In the clip, the IUD can be seen being removed from the uterus using what appears to be ring forceps, which attaches to the threads of the IUD.

The arms of the coil fold up and the IUD can then be removed out of the cervix and then the vagina. In many cases, it can take as little as five minutes to remove an IUD.

People were quick to comment on Sarah's video, sharing their own experiences of having their coil removed.

One person wrote: "Can confirm. Just got mine out two months ago and it hurt way more being put in than them taking it out. Takes two seconds to come out."

While another said: "When I tell you my insertion was PAINFUL but the removal was seriously NOTHING, please believe me. I had so much anxiety about it, don’t waste your time."

And a third added: "Omg I’ve been putting off getting mine out because I’m scared of the pain lol."

The video comes after women have been sharing their experiences of having an IUD fitted, with many describing the pain as 'excruciating'.

Last year, a petition was launched calling for better pain relief for IUD insertion and removals. The petition, launched by Lucy Cohen, details some of the 'extremely painful' and 'almost unbearable' pain women experience as a result of IUD procedures.

Lucy wrote: "Almost 1500 people have so far shared their experiences with me. On a pain rating scale of 0-10, 43 per cent of respondents rated their pain as a seven or higher.

"I would like to see the following: Better expectation management of what the insertion and removal of an IUD entails. Without fully explaining the real potential pain, how can consent truly be given?

"More pain relief options as standard including gas and air, sedation and muscle relaxants. Not everyone will choose to have additional pain relief, but I strongly feel that for those who want it, it should be administered - and that real consent can only be given once all risks, including that of extreme pain, have been explained."