Conscious Sedation Is Making Gynecologic Care Safer and More Comfortable for Women
Conscious Sedation Is Making Gynecologic Care Safer and More Comfortable for Women
Regular gynecologic care is an important part of women’s health care. Preventive screenings like pap smears, diagnostic procedures such as hysteroscopies, and birth control options all help keep women healthy and in control of their bodies. But some of these procedures can be uncomfortable or even painful, leading women to avoid necessary care due to the stress and anxiety surrounding unmanaged pain.
What Is Conscious Sedation?
When a patient undergoes conscious sedation, they are given pain and relaxation medications via an intravenous (IV) line in the arm. Unlike general anesthesia, the patient remains awake throughout the procedure. You will feel calm and sleepy but remain conscious and responsive.
“Conscious sedation is a medium level of sedation, where the person is fully conscious and can still talk and communicate with me throughout the procedure about their pain and anxiety levels,” explains , an OB/GYN at 鶹ѧƷ. “It dulls the pain sensation and also helps people feel more relaxed and less anxious.”
The Gynecology Conscious Sedation Clinic at 鶹ѧƷ offers conscious sedation for the following procedures:
- Pap smears
- Routine pelvic exams
- IUD insertion or removal
- Hysteroscopy
- Endometrial biopsy
- Nexplanon insertion or removal
- Dilation and curettage
- Colposcopy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)
- Other minor surgical and diagnostic procedures
鶹ѧƷ has one of the only outpatient women’s health sedation clinics in Utah.
Why Choose Conscious Sedation?
Benefits of conscious sedation include:
- Pain management. Some gynecological procedures have historically been done with little or no pain control. Conscious sedation can help you be more comfortable during uncomfortable procedures.
- Less anxiety. While you remain awake during your procedure, a mild sedative makes you feel relaxed.
- Accessibility. Conscious sedation gives patients the chance to access necessary medical care that they may have avoided due to anxiety and fear of pain. It’s also typically more affordable than general anesthesia, though the cost varies based on the procedure.
- Faster procedures. Since conscious sedation can be administered in an outpatient setting, that means less time spent preparing the operating room and shorter waitlists. According to Jenna Flanagan, MD, an OB/GYN at 鶹ѧƷ, most patients only need to wait two to four weeks to get into the Gynecology Conscious Sedation Clinic, whereas the same procedures in the operating room can have waitlists that are several months long.
- Quick recovery. While you may feel drowsy after receiving conscious sedation and will need someone to drive you home afterwards, most people simply need to rest for the remainder of the day and can resume normal activities the following day.
“From start to finish, the procedure takes about an hour and a half,” Flanagan says. “Whereas if it were done in the operating room, it could take up to four hours. We monitor our patients for about 30 minutes after the procedure, but by the time they leave the clinic, they’re almost back to normal because the medication dissipates rapidly.”
Is Conscious Sedation Safe?
Conscious sedation is absolutely safe, Flannagan says. If you feel nervous about the procedure, you can rest assured that all the providers at the Gynecology Conscious Sedation Clinic at U of U Health have undergone extensive training and meet the required certifications to administer the medications. They monitor vitals through the entire procedure.
Flanagan says her team communicates with patients throughout the process about pain and anxiety levels. Medication can be administered based on patient needs to ensure comfort and tranquility.
“People will come in with preconceived ideas of what the procedure will be like and often tell me how amazing their experience was and that they’re so happy they did it,” Flanagan says. “For me and my staff, that is really rewarding because we are allowing people to have good experiences with health care and medical procedures.”
While most people are candidates for conscious sedation, you may be at a higher risk if you have one of the following conditions. However, these can be discussed with the team before your procedure to determine safety:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Respiratory diseases, such as uncontrolled asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Bleeding abnormalities, such as anticoagulation
- Active infections
- Recent or current cardiac issues
- Active alcoholism or opioid use disorder
- Prior anesthesia complications
If you are between the ages of 16 and 80 and need a gynecologic procedure, talk to your primary care provider about obtaining a referral to utilize conscious sedation. This safe method helps make important women’s health procedures a little less intimidating, allowing more people to receive the care they need.
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