Let me paint you a picture of what it’s really like to get an IUD in 2025 – spoiler alert: the technology for the procedure might be modern, but the administrative systems feel straight out of 1995.

The Paper Trail Saga

Picture this: You decide to be proactive about your reproductive health, make an appointment for an IUD placement, and what arrives in your mailbox? A thick packet of paper forms. Yes, actual paper. In 2025. As someone dealing with PMDD and recently weaning off sertraline, this antiquated approach was already testing my patience.
 
Let’s be real – most OB-GYN patients are women of childbearing age, likely juggling careers, families, and their health. You’d think medical practices would cater to this demographic with modern solutions like online portals for paperwork. But no, here I was, filling out forms by hand like it’s the pre-digital era.

The “15-Minute Rule” Fiasco

My first attempt at this appointment? A complete waste of time. I arrived exactly on time, only to be told the doctor wouldn’t see me because I wasn’t 15 minutes early. No one had mentioned this requirement when scheduling. As someone who values their time and had left work for this appointment, I was livid. Time is money, and this felt like a profound disrespect for both.

Take Two

After consulting with my NP and cooling down, I decided to give it another shot. Guess what arrived in the mail? The same massive packet of paperwork. Again. I dutifully filled it out (again), determined to make this work.

The Actual Appointment

This time, I was determined to be 15 minutes early. The office was on the fourth floor, and in a moment of questionable judgment, I opted for the stairs when I saw the elevator was occupied. Picture this: already anxious about the appointment, now out of breath, and kicking myself for leaving my water bottle behind.
 
Once I handed over my carefully completed paperwork, I watched as they manually entered everything into their system. The irony of waiting while they digitized information I could have entered directly wasn’t lost on me.

The Waiting Game

The waiting room became my temporary home. After the paper-to-digital transfer, there was more waiting. Then came the urine sample debacle. After multiple calls of my name from a receptionist who couldn’t be bothered to make eye contact or wave, I discovered they’d “forgotten” to collect a urine sample. Never mind that I wasn’t pregnant and the relevance wasn’t explained – I was led to the bathroom like a kindergartner.
 
The nurse’s rapid-fire instructions blurred together and what followed was almost comedic, if it hadn’t been so frustrating. Picture trying to write your name and birthdate legibly on a half-inch square label with a community Sharpie (let’s not think about how many “pee-pee fingers” had touched that marker). Then there’s the two-way door system for sample drop-off – a relic that belongs in a museum of outdated medical practices. No light system, no button to press – just a door that could pop open at any moment from the other side, potentially catching you in a compromising position. More evidence that patient dignity wasn’t a priority in the design of these systems.
 
And this was followed by – you guessed it – more waiting.

The Procedure Itself

When the actual IUD placement finally happened, it was intense. The doctor shared important information, but their delivery felt rushed – probably from having given the same speech thousands of times. Here’s the raw truth: it hurt like hell, and there was more blood than I expected.

What Needs to Change

1. Healthcare systems need to modernize their administrative processes
2. Clear communication about appointment requirements (like the 15-minute rule)
3. Respect for patient time and the modern realities of working women
4. Better preparation information about the physical experience

What You Should Know

If you’re planning to get an IUD:

• Confirm ALL appointment requirements when scheduling
• Bring water and snacks
• Wear comfortable clothes
• Plan for the entire process to take hours
• Have pain relief ready at home
• Clear your schedule for the rest of the day

Moving Forward

Despite the bureaucratic hurdles and physical discomfort, I’m hopeful this was the right choice. But this experience highlights how much our healthcare system needs to evolve. In an age where we can order groceries with a finger tap, why are we still dealing with paper forms and arbitrary rules that seem designed to frustrate rather than serve patients?
 
Stay tuned for updates on how this journey unfolds. And maybe, just maybe, by the time I need this IUD replaced, healthcare administration will have caught up with the 21st century.