Management of Women's Pain During Standard Gynaecological Procedures

Abstract

This literature review examines the management of women’s pain during standard gynaecological procedures, specifically concerning pap smears, hysteroscopies, and intrauterine contraception (IUD) insertion. Social media contains multiple reports of women experiencing painful or uncomfortable gynaecological appointments. These reports highlight the need to evaluate how pain is discussed and managed for such procedures. The study focused on two main areas. Firstly, how patients were advised regarding pain and their pain management. Secondly, how procedural pain is dealt with according to existing evidence. A total of 15 research articles were used in a qualitative analysis, specifically a descriptive literature review. Articles were chosen using a range of key words and set time frame. The results were then filtered to a small and most relevant selection. Key findings indicate that in-spite of clear evidence-based guidelines, women are still poorly informed regarding pain management options. Patients are receiving minimal or ineffective analgesia. It is still commonly recommended that women take ibuprofen in advance of a procedure, despite clinical evidence proving it to be ineffective for gynaecological procedural pain. Health care providers are not adequately communicating with patients regarding procedures or discussions on pain management. The communication has been described as inadequate, forcing women to turn to social media for knowledge and advice. Increased use of social media also correlates to a pattern of increased anxiety and pain. In conclusion attitudes towards women’s pain management need to change. Clinicians need to consistently use appropriate analgesia as recommended in guidelines. Communication between the patient and clinician needs to be improved. These aspects, in turn, can lead to a reduction in procedural pain and improved patient experiences.