GYN exams and procedures can be uncomfortable and stressful for many women. Trying to relax can be difficult during pelvic exams or treatments, and some women may avoid visiting a gynecologist due to anxiety. If you are one of the women who experiences pain, discomfort, or anxiety during GYN visits, you may want to consider asking for Pro-Nox™, a mild sedation option we offer at Cookeville Gynecology & Urogynecology. The analgesia system is a way to effectively manage pain and relieve any anxiety you may feel before and during gynecologic exams and procedures.

This inhaled analgesic is a combination of two different gases: nitrous oxide and oxygen. You’re probably already familiar with nitrous oxide, which is also called laughing gas. Dentists and other health care providers use nitrous oxide to help patients relax and stay comfortable during all kinds of minor, minimally invasive or noninvasive procedures. When combined with oxygen, nitrous oxide helps manage pain and anxiety while allowing you to stay awake and aware. This will allow office procedures such as office hysteroscopy, IUD placements, and vulvar or cervical biopsies to be accomplished with the least amount of discomfort possible.

Pro-Nox™ isn’t general or local anesthesia; it’s a relaxant that helps you stay calm during your procedure. The system uses a breathing mouthpiece to deliver the mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen to you during exams or procedures. When using this system, you remain awake during your procedure and are able to respond to your provider and follow any instructions given to you. Because the system features on-demand delivery, you only receive a dose of nitrous oxide when you breathe in through the mask or mouthpiece. Many people enjoy this self-administration feature because it allows them to control exactly how much pain medication they receive. This ensures that you have the right amount of anxiety reduction to keep you relaxed, comfortable, and pain-free throughout your treatment.

It’s important to be able to get back to your normal routine as quickly as possible after an office procedure, and that’s what makes the Pro-Nox™ system such a good choice for managing pain and anxiety. Unlike other pain medications, your body doesn’t alter or change the nitrous oxide compound after it enters your bloodstream. As a result, the nitrous oxide is quickly and easily exhaled through your lungs. The effects wear off within minutes after you stop using the system. It is completely eliminated from your system in 5-10 minutes. This helps you get back to your life quickly and without further disruption. Nitrous oxide has been as a safe, effective analgesic for more than 100 years, and it’s helped people around the world get through minor medical procedures in greater comfort.

Some women report feeling drowsy, light-headed, nauseous, or a little silly while using nitrous oxide. Due to some of these possible side effects, a member of our team will always be in the room while you are using nitrous oxide. These side effects should go away quickly when you stop breathing the nitrous oxide. If you do not find nitrous oxide helpful or do not like the way that it makes you feel, it can be stopped at any time.

Yes, you cannot use nitrous oxide if you:

• Cannot hold your own mouthpiece

• Have a known vitamin B12 deficiency

• Are currently pregnant

• Have received a narcotic medication within the past 2 hours

• Are using oxygen

• Have a history of pneumothorax or air embolism

• Have a middle ear occlusion or ear infection

• Have had eye surgery with intra-ocular gas injection within the last 6 weeks

• Have severe abdominal distension or intestinal obstruction

• Have other medical conditions identified by your provider that place you at risk

This approach is available any time a patient requests. No special appointment is needed. No labs or testing is required prior to using Pro-Nox™. It can be used for most office procedures including but not limited to IUD insertion, IUD removal, office hysteroscopy, vaginal probe ultrasound, endometrial biopsy, colposcopy, cervical or vulvar biopsies. It can be used for patients who have significant fear of pain or a prior history making gynecologic exams difficult or stressful.

There is a fee required to cover the cost of the disposable items used and the cost of gases. This is not covered by insurance.