Unless you’ve been putting all your group chat notifications on “do not disturb” mode for years, there’s a good chance you’ve heard horror stories about IUD insertion from a friend, sister, or co-worker. While there are gaps in research regarding pain in people with uteruses (not surprisingly), up to 78% of people who have never given birth experience moderate to severe pain from having their IUD fitted. Some studies estimate that it does.
In general, IUDs are a very reliable method of contraception, and certain types can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years. But there is no standard pain management method for the procedure, which involves inserting a small T-shaped instrument deep into the uterus, and your gynecologist will probably give you ibuprofen beforehand to deal with the cramps. Just instruct them to do so.
These days, reproductive health clinics like Tia offer a wellness-centered option, acupuncture, combined with IUD placement to relieve pain and calm patients. But is that enough to overcome the pain? We spoke to experts in reproductive health and traditional Chinese medicine to find out.
First of all, why aren’t there painkillers available for IUD procedures?
Inserting an IUD is no joke. Your health care provider uses a long surgical instrument called a tenaculum to insert the IUD past your cervix and into your uterus. The cervix has nerve endings from three different nerves, and when these are attacked, pain can occur in the cervix and pelvic region, says Dr. explains Dr. Sonia Bahrani, author of Dr. Sonia’s Guide. To overcome pelvic pain. Needless to say, going to the gynecologist can be emotionally difficult and especially stressful. “Insertion procedures can be scary and painful, especially for patients who have had past trauma, anxiety, or negative experiences with IUD insertion or gynecological procedures,” says Tia’s Chief Clinical Officer, her MPH, FNP. – said Jessica Horwitz of C.
However, most clinics do not provide painkillers, anesthesia, or muscle relaxants when you come in to have an IUD fitted. One hypothesis is that medical professionals don’t always take women’s pain seriously, but this is an even bigger problem for Black women and other marginalized communities. Tia published a recent study that concluded that 48% of all women and 58% of black women have had their symptoms ignored or dismissed by a doctor. The same thing is not happening with reproductive health procedures for men. “We don’t do a prostate biopsy and just give you ibuprofen beforehand,” says Dr. Bahrani.
Tia offers the drug misoprostol, which opens the cervix and makes it easier to insert an IUD, especially for people who have difficulty inserting it for a variety of reasons, Horwitz said. But having more options for relaxing your body and mind before getting an IUD is one of the reasons Tia has incorporated a service that includes both acupuncture and her IUD insertion back-to-back. It’s one.
How does acupuncture work before IUD insertion?
You won’t feel any pain from the needles, I promise. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific pressure points. “This tells the brain to release the hormone beta-endorphin, which is our body’s natural opioid,” Horwitz explains. This may reduce pain, inflammation, and cramping that may occur during IUD insertion, and the feel-good hormones may ease pre-surgery anxiety. Acupuncture may also reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, according to Dr. Bahrani.
