Social media users have been discussing what they believe is the most excruciating physical experience one can endure, and the consensus might surprise you.
Traditionally, the most common suggestions for the most painful experiences are childbirth for women and a severe kick to the groin for men.
While these are indeed extremely painful experiences, some argue that there are situations that can be even more unbearable.
For instance, some research suggests that passing kidney stones might surpass both childbirth and being kicked in the groin in terms of pain.
However, a recent Reddit discussion has highlighted another contender for the most painful experience.
This particular agony is specific to women, and many who have endured it claim it surpasses even the pain of childbirth.
The excruciating ordeal they are referring to is the insertion of an IUD (intrauterine device).
An IUD is a T-shaped contraceptive device placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The British National Health Service (NHS) states that it is 99 percent effective and does not utilize hormones. However, it’s not suitable for everyone.
Women shared their experiences on Reddit, explaining why getting an IUD was particularly painful and venting their frustration over not being warned about the potential pain by healthcare providers.
Some suggested that pain management techniques, such as painkillers or sedation, should be more widely used during the procedure to ease the discomfort.
One user shared: “I’ll preface this by saying that I’ve broken my femur, arm, and hand. I’ve broken a molar in half. I sliced my eyeball. I suffered a third-degree burn on my hand. I’ve had two reconstructive surgeries on my shoulder. I had three holes drilled in my skull and underwent brain surgery.
“My most painful experience was getting an IUD inserted.”
Another recounted: “Yes! I’ve broken my ankle to the point only tendons were holding it together, 2 C-sections, one after hours of labor. But that IUD is the worst! At one point, he was twisting it to get better placement, and I thought I was going to barf.”
A third poster added: “Same for me. They didn’t give me any warning either, ‘just a pinch’ they said. Yeah, a pinch so bad I kicked the doctor in the face to get her to stop, threw up, and blacked out. I had to drive myself home afterward, pulling over every few minutes to puke from the pain. That went on for days.”
Another user noted: “They’ve known for decades many women are under-medicated when getting an IUD, and their complaints of pain are often dismissed. If you’re obese, a smoker, a minority, or whatever the trigger may be, you’ll tend to be treated even worse.
“This is why I constantly compliment and write thank-you notes to my good providers – mostly for treating me like a human and listening to my needs.”
While some recounted painful experiences, others mentioned having no issues with their IUD insertion. It’s crucial to thoroughly discuss the procedure with healthcare professionals before deciding to proceed with it.