Most people who book an IUD or Implanon appointment at our Broadbeach clinic have already spent time reading about it online. Very often, what they have read is the worst version of the story. Social media rewards dramatic accounts, and a calm, uneventful ten minute procedure rarely gets posted about. The result is that a lot of Gold Coast women arrive genuinely anxious, or delay a decision about contraception for months, based on a picture that does not match what usually happens in a general practice consulting room.
This article walks through the real sequence of events: what the initial consultation involves, what the procedure itself feels like, what pain relief options exist, and what recovery looks like afterwards. It is written by way of general information rather than personal advice, and your own GP will always tailor the discussion to your history.
Long acting contraception is a decision, not just a procedure
Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives, usually shortened to LARCs, include hormonal intrauterine devices such as Mirena and Kyleena, and the contraceptive implant Implanon NXT. When correctly inserted, LARCs have effectiveness rates of over 99 per cent, and they work continuously without requiring a daily action.
That reliability is the reason many people consider them. But the reason a GP will not simply book you straight in for the procedure is that suitability genuinely varies. Your medical history, your bleeding pattern, whether you have migraines, what medications you take, and what you want from contraception over the next few years all feed into which method makes sense. A device that suits one person very well can be a poor fit for another.
Step one: the initial consultation
At Haan Health, the first appointment is a long consultation, not a procedure. Your GP will take a full medical and contraceptive history, ask about your periods and any pain you experience, and talk through the differences between the options. Mirena is effective for up to eight years and Kyleena for up to five, while Implanon lasts up to three years. Each of them can be removed earlier if you change your mind.
This is also the appointment where you should ask the questions you have been rehearsing. Whether you have never been pregnant, whether you can still use tampons, what happens to your cycle, how quickly fertility returns after removal: none of these are silly questions, and a GP who does this regularly has heard all of them many times.
The procedure itself is then booked as a separate appointment. That is deliberate. It gives you time to think, and it gives the practice time to allocate a longer slot with nursing support available.
What happens during an IUD insertion
The insertion appointment itself is usually shorter than people expect. Most IUD insertions take around ten to fifteen minutes, and only a small part of that is the insertion itself.
Broadly, the sequence looks like this:
- Your GP confirms you are not pregnant and answers any last questions.
- You lie on the examination couch, similar to a cervical screening test position.
- A speculum is inserted so the cervix can be seen clearly.
- The cervix is cleaned and the depth of the uterus is measured.
- The device is passed through the cervix in a narrow applicator, then released.
- The threads are trimmed so a short length sits in the upper vagina.
- The speculum is removed and you rest for a few minutes before getting up.
A nurse is generally present, both to assist and to talk you through what is happening. If you want a running commentary, say so. If you would rather not hear the detail, say that too. Either is completely reasonable.
What the procedure actually feels like
Here is the honest answer. Most patients experience discomfort that is commonly described as strong period cramping, concentrated in the moments when the cervix is passed and the device is placed. For many, the sharpest part lasts under a minute.
It is also true that a minority find it significantly more painful than that, and that experience is real rather than an overreaction. Pain during gynaecological procedures has historically been underacknowledged, and current practice in Australian general practice is to discuss it openly rather than to reassure people that it is nothing.
Practical things that make a difference:
- Discuss pain relief before the day. Your GP can advise on simple analgesia and, where appropriate, other options including local anaesthetic to the cervix.
- Do not attend on an empty stomach. Feeling faint is more common when you have not eaten.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home if you can, particularly for a first insertion.
- Tell your GP during the procedure if the pain is more than you expected. Pausing is always an option.
- Book a day when you do not need to go straight back into a demanding shift.
Cramping usually settles over a few hours, though some people notice it on and off for a day or two. Irregular spotting in the first few months is common with hormonal IUDs and is not, on its own, a sign that something has gone wrong.
Implanon is a different experience
The contraceptive implant is a very different procedure and generally an easier one. Implanon NXT is a small flexible rod, roughly the size of a matchstick, inserted just under the skin of the inner upper arm. Insertion is performed under local anaesthetic and takes approximately five to ten minutes.
Most people find that the sting of the local anaesthetic is the most uncomfortable part, and the insertion itself is felt as pressure rather than pain. Afterwards you may have bruising and tenderness in the arm for several days. Removal is also done under local anaesthetic through a small incision and typically takes ten to fifteen minutes.
If you are nervous about a vaginal procedure, this difference matters, and it is worth raising in your initial consultation.
Aftercare and follow up at our Broadbeach clinic
Your GP will provide clear aftercare instructions and arrange a follow up appointment to check everything is in order. This usually happens a few weeks later, and it is a short review rather than a repeat of the procedure.
Contact the clinic sooner if you develop fever, severe or worsening pain, unusual discharge, or if you cannot feel your IUD threads when you check. These are uncommon, but they are worth reviewing promptly rather than waiting.
Our clinic sits at Level 1, 24 Victoria Square, Broadbeach, which is convenient for patients travelling from Surfers Paradise, Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Waters, Bundall, Main Beach, Nobby Beach, Miami, Chevron Island and the wider Gold Coast area.
Costs, Medicare and bulk billing
Cost is a fair question and one that reception is used to answering. There are two separate parts to it. The device itself, such as Mirena, requires a prescription and is dispensed at a pharmacy. It is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which substantially reduces what you pay. The insertion is billed as a GP consultation.
Haan Health offers bulk billing for eligible patients and services. Eligibility can vary depending on the service you are booking and your individual circumstances, so the most reliable step is to call our reception team on (07) 5531 6033 before your appointment and ask what applies to you. Our team will explain any out of pocket cost clearly and in advance, so there are no surprises on the day.
Booking an appointment
If you have been putting off a decision about contraception because of what you have read online, a consultation costs you nothing but a conversation. Our GPs at Haan Health Medical Centre take a patient led approach to LARC services, with time set aside for discussion before any procedure is booked. New patients are welcome at our Broadbeach clinic.
Call Haan Health Medical Centre on (07) 5531 6033 or book online through our appointment page.