There have been calls for better pain relief for the insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Hundreds of women have been sharing their experiences of the contraceptive device, often referred to as 'the coil', on social media.
Many are suggesting that some doctors underestimate how painful the insertion procedure can be, and are not offering appropriate pain medication.
One woman described her pain of getting an IUD implanted as "up there with the worst of my life", while another said she "fainted and lost consciousness" during the procedure.
Others have shared their positive experiences, with their GPs providing them with prescriptions for medication in advance of the procedure being carried out.
Dr Vicky O'Dwyer, a Consultant Obstetrician and Director of Gynaecology at the Rotunda Hospital, said she always makes patients aware of the pain relief available to them before they have the coil inserted.
Speaking to Brianna Parkins on Newstalk Breakfast Weekends, she added that how people experience pain is different for everyone.
At the Rotunda, IUDs are implanted at a GP-led clinic or a hysteroscopy clinic.
"People are referred to the [clinic] when it hasn't been possible to put it in if it hasn't been possible at their GP surgery or if it's predicted to be a little bit more challenging," Dr O'Dwyer said.
"In that clinic, we have the option of giving a local anaesthetic and that helps with the pain of the insertion.
"But not everybody needs that: the standard things would be giving ibuprofen and misoprostol, which is the tablet that softens the cervix.
"The second clinic we do it in is the hysteroscopy clinic, and that's usually a Mirena coil for treatment of heavy periods, as well as contraception."
When a woman goes for the procedure in one of these clinics, there are two care assistants present known as 'vocal locals'.
One helps with the set-up for the procedure, while the other chats to the patient, which clinicians have found not only distract her but also reduces pain scores.
Pain relief
As for pain relief, Dr O'Dwyer advises patients to take two ibuprofen at least 30 minutes before insertions.
"Local anaesthetic is also an option - it's not needed for everyone. But the misoprostol tablets are really helpful," she said.
"They soften the cervix, I advise people to take them two hours beforehand, they can be taken orally or vaginally, and that definitely helps.
"I think most GPs, most gynaecologists will give them in advance of a coil insertion."
She added that could insertion "is different for different people", which might explain the discrepancy in recent reports of women's experiences.
"Everyone experiences pain differently, so it's really about giving people the options, whether that's medication, the local anaesthetic, or for some people, the general anaesthetic," Dr O'Dwyer explained.
"It is rare that we have to do it under general anaesthetic but it should be an option.
"What I normally do if I'm inserting a coil, I would say to someone, 'If at any stage it's too uncomfortable, we can stop, there are other options', and I guess for women to know there's options out there and just because they choose to have it done with tablet pain relief doesn't mean they cant choose a different option if it doesn't work out.
"For some women, it doesn't."
Dr O'Dwyer says women considering the coil should speak to their GP, family planning clinic, and friends.
She believes that contraception should be offered for free to all women of reproductive age, including an IUD.
