Please see our blog: Inserting an IUD with the Least Pain Possible
- Just a quick read on social media tells the story that IUD insertions can be terribly painful and scary.
- If done correctly, It should not be!
- I have learned from inserting more than 2000 IUD’s, that the best way in my experience, is to select the correct IUD, maximize the use of pain medication and local anaesthetic beforehand and to use ultrasound to make sure the IUD is correctly positioned.
- This approach is very effective, to the point that many patients tell us that they only felt mild cramping and almost no pain.
- What do we do to make it easier? IUD insertion 101:
- We choose the correct IUD (see our previous IUD blog), taking into consideration information about your periods: are they light, heavy and/or painful. You choose which one you want after we discuss all the options with you using a diagram with information.
- Know the size, position and shape of the uterus beforehand. (if the size of your uterus cavity, where the IUD goes, is small, we won’t recommend a larger IUD)
- We always insert the IUD during a period: You call us on the first day of the period and we insert the IUD within a few days. This avoids inserting an IUD when there may be an early pregnancy. Also, when you have a period, the cervix is often a little softer and open, This makes the insertion easier and safer.
- We email information beforehand to remind you to take medication such as Advil and Tylenol 1 hour before.
- Drink fluid such as Gatorade before the IUD is inserted. The fluid prevents you from feeling faint after the procedure. This can sometimes happen due to nerve stimulation when the IUD goes in. (Fainting can occur especially if you are already a little dehydrated from not drinking enough beforehand.)
- We give you freezing / local anaesthetic into the cervix, to make the insertion much more comfortable and often without pain. The IUD is then inserted in a very controlled methodical way.
- If the IUD needs to be repositioned or replaced because it is not in the correct position, we can do it straight away, knowing that you already have the local anaesthetic in place. So much easier, safer and better tolerated!
- We do an ultrasound there and then without you having to move, to see if the IUD is in fact in the correct position. It is not uncommon that I think the IUD went in well, only to see on ultrasound that it is not in an ideal position.
- A misplaced IUD can increase your risk of pain, or pregnancy or perhaps an ectopic or tubal pregnancy.
- In 2022, there should be no guessing or just hope, that the IUD has been inserted into the correct position. An ultrasound tells us immediately where it is and if it should be repositioned or replaced, which I do immediately.
- You can go home feeling reassured and safe that the IUD is in the correct position.
- We monitor you afterwards for about 30-60 minutes to make sure you are not feeling dizzy, lightheaded or in pain. We give you tea while you relax in the recovery area!
- We will see you again after about 3 months, to review how you are doing, do you have any problems or side effects, and to check that the IUD is still in the right place.
To sum it up:
- I believe that IUD’s are an excellent and reliable form of contraception and a great way to help make heavy and painful periods a thing of the past.
- The key is choosing the correct type and size IUD and to use adequate medication and local anesthesia.
- We see you again in a few months to make sure everything is okay and to check that the IUD hasn’t moved.