Sharhonda Blue.Photo:Courtesy Sharhonda Blue
Courtesy Sharhonda Blue
A TikToker from San Antonio is making an apology.
Shay Blue, 32, posted women’s health videos onTiKTokusing her expert knowledge as a gynecology physicians assistant. In 2020, she shared a video about IUD insertion to ease the worries of her followers, calling the pain “a little crampy.” An intrauterine device is a form of birth control implanted in the uterus, which some women find painful.
“I have a very low pain tolerance. I’m a wimp. I cannot take pain. So I will say that the IUD insertion depends on your pain tolerance. But, I do want to apologize for misleading people into thinking that it was just a little bit of pain.”
“It’s a pain you can’t even describe unless you’ve had kids,” she shared, emphasizing the stark contrast between her expectations and reality. “I remember afterwards getting up and just trying to get myself together, and then I felt like I was going to pass out. I had that type of pain. So I was like, ‘Oh, man, this is not a little crampy.’ ”
Having firsthand experience has reshaped Blue’s approach to patient counseling, placing a firm emphasis on procedure details, especially pain management.
“With my experience being as uncomfortable as it was, it made me really try to emphasize education when it came to IUDs,” Blue says. “One thing that I try to do is counsel and over explain what it is and the entire procedure, especially pain. So that’s something that I really try to harp on because people aren’t thinking about the pain when they just wantbirth control.”
Blue continues to advocate for thorough patient education and believes that pain management options should be offered for IUD procedures. She says patients might want to consider a different provider if pain management is not offered.
“I think my biggest thing that I want people to take away is that you have options and you should not be in a lot of pain during procedures,” she says. “And if you are, you have the right to stop the procedure. Don’t be afraid to speak up.”
source: people.com
