The green whistle (Penthrox) is now available at all Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs.

It’s a safe, fast acting and dignified pain management option available for free for IUD insertions and removal.

The rollout was a promise made by the Allan Labor Government – and now delivered – following the release of Victoria’s landmark Inquiry into Women’s Pain.

The report highlights the near-universal experience of significant or severe pain during IUD procedures. It revealed:

• for too many, IUD insertions were completed without adequate pain relief options available
• women were told they would only have minimal discomfort and some cramping manageable with paracetamol, only to experience severe pain

Rolling out the green whistle at all 20 hubs is just one way of giving women and girls control of their own care.

More than 11,000 women and girls used the free or low-cost services across the network of hubs last year.

Nearly 40 per cent of hub patients were concession card holders, with most living in the regions.

The hubs offer a range of services including contraception, medical abortion and referrals for surgical abortion, as well as testing, early diagnosis and treatment of STIs.

Labor expanded these hubs right across Victoria because only Labor invests in health.

For more information, please visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/sexual-and-reproductive-health-hubs.