I've posted about my experiences with IUDs across multiple platforms over the years. Without fail, people in my comments say the same thing: their IUD insertion was traumatizing. As a resesrcher studying gender violence, I've concluded that the pursuit of s*xual and reproductive freedom in a female body cannot come without trauma. We are traumatized by birth control side effects, medical gaslighting, surgical procedures without sedation, and assault. We've normalized the violence.