New campaign to improve pain management during IUD procedures

Pain shouldn’t be part of the plan

An IUD, also known as the coil, is a form of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). It’s a small, plastic T-shaped device that is fitted into your womb (uterus) by a specially trained doctor or nurse to prevent pregnancy.

For most people, IUD fitting or removal causes only mild discomfort. However, some individuals can experience pain – often linked to a lack of discussion about pain management options before the procedure.

The College of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) has launched a campaign aimed at improving experiences of IUD insertion by raising awareness of the pain relief available and providing more information on the fitting process.

There are two types of IUD:

Hormonal IUD – which releases the hormone progestogen

Non- hormonal IUD (Copper IUD) – which contains copper which is toxic to sperm

Both types are highly effective and can provide reliable contraception for several years without daily attention, making them a very popular choice.

Since 2021, national guidance has stated that pain relief options should be discussed and offered to anyone who is having an IUD fitted.

In Devon sexual health clinics for example, you will be offered a range of pain relief during your IUD procedure including anaesthetic spay, gel and injections. An assistant will support the patient and reassure where needed. They also recommend taking paracetamol and ibuprofen (or naproxen) before your procedure if you are able to.

C0SRH has put together a pain relief toolkit featuring short videos on what to expect during a procedure, and how to manage pain relief. The toolkit also includes personal stories from people sharing real experiences, helping to reassure others that the reality of an IUD fitting is often much better than expected.

Finding the right contraception to suit your needs and lifestyle is important and people are encouraged to seek information and discuss options with healthcare professionals. You can find out more about IUDs, as well as other contraception methods in our contraception section.

Dr Aziza Sesay is one of the contributors to toolkit and shares a video walking you through what to expect at an appointment. It also highlights the main points of discomfort to expect.

You can view the whole ‘Pain shouldn’t be part of the plan’ toolkit here.