see also:

• gynaecology

• occasionally a couple may present to ED with severe uterine pain after attempting intra-uterine fertilisation (IUF) at home.
• they may have watched how the IVF professionals do it and after failed professional attempts decide to try it themselves using syringe and catheter which the spouse inserts into the cervix to inject semen.
• inevitably this will cause severe uterine cramping pain as the uterus attempts to eject the high load of prostaglandins.
• what they have failed to understand is that prior to attempting such procedures, the semen must first undergo a process of “washing” to remove dead sperm, bacteria and prostaglandins.
• the home process thus also increases risk of introducing infection and causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

• essentially the management is primarily pain control as for dysmenorrhoea and thus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) +/- opiates and opioids will be the mainstays of Rx.
• it is also prudent to commence a course of antibiotics such as Augmentin Duo Forte to minimise risk of endometritis and subsequent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• once pain is under control, most can be safely discharged home and advised not to attempt it again!