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Syncope and profound bradycardia associated with intrauterine contraceptive procedures
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  1. Aisling Baird1,
  2. Jane Dickson2,
  3. Mary Jensen3,
  4. Martin Talbot4
  1. 1Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Liverpool Community Health, Central Abacus, Liverpool, UK
  2. 2Community Specialist, Contraception and Sexual Health, Greenwich Community Health Services, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  3. 3Associate Specialist in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Centre for Contraception and Sexual Health, Victoria Health Centre, Glasshouse Street, Nottingham, UK
  4. 4Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine/HIV, Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Aisling Baird, Liverpool Community Health, Central Abacus, Citrus House, 40–46 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 5SF, UK; aisling.baird{at}liverpoolch.nhs.uk

Abstract

There has been recent interest in this Journal concerning the occurrence of profound bradycardia with impaired consciousness during insertion of intrauterine contraceptive devices or systems. Questions have been raised regarding the requirement for medication for reversal of the condition, the role of the nurse practitioner in the light of this, and the effects upon sexual and reproductive health care service delivery. We present three cases where this condition affected patients under our care and suggest that although very infrequent, it is important. Medication for treatment and staff trained to administer it should always be available.

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests Dr Jane Dickson is the current Vice-Chair of the FSRH Clinical Standards Committee.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.