The CDC Updates Pain Management Recommendations for IUDs

Your OB/GYN might say something like, “You may feel some slight discomfort,” but the reality of IUD insertion is much, much worse for many women. Women have taken to social media sites like TikTok to share their IUD horror stories with some describing the birth control procedure as “the worst pain imaginable.”

Thankfully, change is on the way.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published new contraceptive guidelines that include updated recommendations for healthcare providers on how to help manage the pain so many people experience when receiving IUD birth control treatment, the first update since 2016.

An IUD, or intrauterine device, is a small, T-shaped device that is placed within the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It’s third most common form of birth control in the U.S. The IUD is typically inserted using a speculum to widen the vagina, after which the IUD is placed inside the uterus. The procedure to insert an IUD takes about 15 minutes or less and is performed outpatient in the doctor’s office after the doctor performs a pelvic exam. Cramping and other uncomfortable or even painful sensations can occur during and after insertion, as the procedure involves using pointed forceps to stabilize the cervix and passing the IUD through the narrow cervical canal.

Doctors often underestimate their patient’s pain levels for the in-office procedure, instructing patients to simply take ibuprofen for what some women consider to be debilitating, sometimes even traumatic pain. And the unclear information about how painful the procedure can be leaves a lot of women feeling blindsided and their severe pain and long recovery period dismissed as “dramatics.”

Now, under the new CDC guidelines, doctors must inform all patients about the reality of potential pain and personalize IUD placement and pain management plans for each individual. The CDC also recommends better pain management during the procedure, like the use of Lidocaine injected as a local anesthetic or applied topically as a numbing gel, cream, or spray.

The new CDC guidelines represent a major shift in how women’s pain is taken seriously in healthcare. Black women especially may experience disparities in pain treatment and care in medical settings. A National Institutes of Health study found that healthcare providers are less likely to identify pain in Black patients’ facial expressions than in non-Black patients. This can lead to providers believing that Black patients are not experiencing severe pain or discomfort. Racial bias in the medical field leads to Black patients experiencing a pattern of dismissal at the doctor’s office. Black patients and even Black children are significantly less likely to receive pain medication even when suffering with severe injuries and illnesses like broken bones or appendicitis.

Meanwhile, Black women are also more likely to diminish their own pain, under the societal pressure to present themselves as “strong,” thus perpetuating the racist stereotype that influences health disparities.

If you have concerns about IUD insertion or any other medical procedure performed by a doctor, don’t hesitate to speak up, express your concerns and ask questions. ​​Your healthcare provider should explain to you what you might feel, how long your procedure will last, and what side effects you might have.

Your health is in your hands.

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, No more suffering in silence!
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