Channel 4 viewers praise Davina McCall for getting her coil changed on TV – and say they learnt more watching ex-Big Brother host’s documentary than they ever had from doctors
Channel 4 viewers have praised Davina McCall for getting her coil changed on TV.
The 55-year-old presenter looked at the biggest problems with contraception in an hour-long documentary that aired last night.
As part of her eye-opening Pill Revolution programme, Davina was filmed having her Mirena coil removed and replaced.
The mother-of-three hoped it would help debunk the ‘horror stories’ surrounding the five-minute procedure.
Women have for years been put off getting the coil because of claims it is incredibly painful. Some viewers even claimed the ‘horrific’ pain they endured was worse than childbirth.
Davina McCall looked at the biggest problems with contraception during her hour-long documentary, Pill Revolutionary. During the programme she had her Mirena coil replaced
Davina — shown reacting in real-time — described the fitting as ‘uncomfortable’ but ‘not too bad’ with the gel.
She said: ‘It is not too bad and with this gel, I can barely feel a thing.’
She was given a numbing gel ahead of the insertion, which was carried out by Dame Lesley Regan, one of Britain’s leading gynaecologist and the Government’s women’s health tsar.
Davina hailed the breathing advice given to her, which saw her told to ‘blow out your breath, so it hits the ceiling’ as she removed the coil.
And the ex-Big Brother host did admit to having suffered two painful coil incidents in the past, including one that felt like a ‘scrape’.
Twitter users were shocked to learn that local anaesthetic could be used during the procedure, with some women revealing they were left in tears after being offered just a couple of painkillers.
Some users said Davina was ‘out of touch with the majority of women’ because they were not given the option for anaesthesia
But, according to the NHS, you can ask for it before fitting the device.
Other viewers quickly praised the presenter as many said they had learnt more about contraception in 30 minutes than in their lifetime.
Clinicians also quickly praised the documentary.
One doctor said the ‘powerful’ programme was so important that it ‘could save lives’.
A coil, or IUD, is a small T-shaped plastic and copper device put into your womb.
Davina also talked about the pill and other contraceptive options
A coil, or IUD, is a small T-shaped plastic and copper device put into your womb
The reversible contraceptive, introduced in 1967, helps prevent pregnancy for five to 10 years.
IUDs are more than 99 per cent effective when inserted correctly, according to the NHS.
There is a small risk of infection after it has been fitted — but it can be removed any time.
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