After IUD Horror Stories Go Viral, the CDC Finally Releases Pain Guidance
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The pain associated with having an IUD inserted is now part of viral internet lore, after more and more people come forward with their stories. For the first time, federal health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended that physicians counsel patients about pain management before the procedure.
“Before IUD placement, all patients should be counseled on potential pain during placement as well as the risks, benefits, and alternatives of different options for pain management,” the CDC memo released this week states. “A person-centered plan for IUD placement and pain management should be made based on patient preference.”
The CDC guidance offered two major changes in pain management recommendations: that doctors offer lidocaine as a numbing agent (via injection or topical gel) to numb the cervix, and that Misoprostol is not recommended for routine use for IUD placement, except in certain circumstances (e.g., in patients with a recent failed placement).
Back in 2022, Teen Vogue spoke with some of the doctors and patients who were beginning to share their experiences with the invasive procedure.
“The pain was horrific. I’ve had multiple surgeries and hospital visits in my life, but the IUD insertion was something else. It was like a white, hot lightning pain and then I passed out on the table,” Millie Peacock, 30, shared with Teen Vogue.
It’s just one of countless stories shared to social media platforms like TikTok and X about pain and pain management when navigating through the insertion of an intrauterine device.
“Unless you’re living under a rock, you’re aware of the issue,” Dr. Beverly Gray, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University told The New York Times.
The report, published Aug. 8 in the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, further focuses on a patient-centric approach, detailing that patient concerns about anticipated pain represent a barrier to IUD use. The CDC also noted that individual factors influenced by previous experiences including trauma and mental health conditions may also impact pain experienced by the patient.
This updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may lead clinicians to take the pain more seriously and to consider using anesthetics more often, the New York Times reports.
Dr. Eve Espey, chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of New Mexico, told the Times she felt the change was significant, saying "The guidance on this topic has gone from a more provider-centered focus to a more patient-centered focus."
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
