Small new space at LHSC offers big relief for women’s health care

New room at LHSC offers pain relief during women’s gynecological care, with shorter appointments and faster recovery. CTV London’s Reta Ismail reports.

A new space at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is changing the way women undergo common gynecologic procedures by offering both comfort and choice.

The Women’s Minor Procedure Room, the first of its kind at LHSC, is designed specifically for outpatient procedures such as IUD insertions, biopsies and gynecologic exams, but with one major difference.

“It is the first for us here in London, which we’re very pleased to have as part of our opportunities for our patients to access,” said Dr. Erin Lovett, an OB/GYN at LHSC.

The room offers moderate intravenous sedation — similar to what’s used during a colonoscopy, allowing patients to remain awake but relaxed throughout their procedure.

“Patients have the opportunity to receive a small IV placed by one of our nurses,” Lovett said. “During their procedure, they receive a combination of a pain medication as well as a medication that helps to calm and relax.”

The setup is simple: just a physician, a nurse and monitoring tools. But the impact is significant.

By reducing pain and anxiety, the approach helps patients avoid the operating room entirely, freeing up busy surgical suites and increasing efficiency across the hospital.

“Unfortunately, women’s health has not been overly studied,” Lovett said. “There’s been a common misconception that things are deemed to be pain-free, when in fact they’re not. So this allows patients to receive the pain control that they require and that they deserve.”

Most appointments last under an hour, and recovery is quicker than with traditional surgical procedures.

LHSC says it plans to expand the services offered in the new room in the months ahead.