With Carnegie Women’s Health and Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates both offering nitrous oxide also known as laughing gas for pain management during gynecology procedures and exams, Dr. Fox discusses this topic with Dr. Stephanie Melka in the Healthful Woman podcast titled, “Nitrous Oxide for GYN Office Procedures & Exams: It’s no laughing matter!” Continue reading to learn how it works, what it is used for, and what to expect.
About Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Nitrous oxide is a gas that someone breathes in, working at the level of the brain to decrease anxiety and create a dissociative effect, where people still feel pain but “sort of just don’t care.” There has been a significant effort to incorporate inhaled nitrous oxide into the practices, including in-service training on nitrous oxide oxygen administration, nitrous oxide use, what to do, and what to expect. Before using nitrous oxide in place of other pain medications or local anesthesia, patients have a discussion with their doctor about their options and how they feel about using the medication for managing pain and anxiety during the procedure. “If it’s just for, again, a first-time gynecology visit and you’re somebody who knows that that exam’s gonna be really, really anxiety-provoking or possibly painful for you. You don’t have to arrange this in advance.”
What to Expect Using Nitrous Oxide During Your Appointment
Since nitrous oxide is patient-controlled, patients can decide how much they want to take. With a mouthpiece attached patients can inhale more nitrous oxide by keeping the mask on or remove the mask when they need a break. A nose clip pinches the bridge of the nose to ensure that nitrous oxide and oxygen is directed through the mouthpiece from the gas cylinder. The inhalation anesthetic medicine typically takes two to three minutes to take effect. Patients can remove the mouthpiece once they need a break, and the effects wear off within a few normal breaths. The effects of nitrous oxide usually last about two to three minutes. Because some patients may feel loopy or like they are going to pass out, the mouthpiece is designed to fall away from the face as a safety mechanism. This helps reduce the risk of overdose.
How Nitrous is Being Used for Gynecology Appointments
Originally well known for pain management as dental anesthesia for dental procedures, nitrous oxide is now migrating into other areas of medicine, including gynecology. Patients attending gynecologic appointments may experience pain, discomfort, or emotional distress. Dr. Melka states, “When I’m counseling a patient on an office procedure, which is typically IUD, colposcopy, certain biopsies, I will offer this as a form of pain relief.” If the patient decides to use the colourless gas during their procedure, it is an out-of-pocket expense not covered by insurance for gynecology appointments. There is a small out of pocket cost as this is not covered with insurance but the practice has made it a priority to offer it at an affordable price point for patients. This can help patients avoid taking medications like Percocet or Valium, which may leave them out of commission for part of the day.
Learn More
To learn more about nitrous oxide sedation for minor medical procedures, listen to the full Healthful Woman podcast or contact Carnegie Women’s Health and Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates today by completing the online contact forms.
