Doctors Now Urged to Offer Pain Relief for IUD Insertions and Cervical Procedures

A new set of guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that clinicians provide better pain management options for in-office uterine and cervical procedures—including IUD insertions and biopsies. The move follows years of patient complaints and growing awareness that pain has been under-addressed in gynecology. ACOG now calls for clinicians to have clear, upfront discussions with patients about the potential for pain and to offer options like paracervical blocks or lidocaine-based treatments. The guidelines also acknowledge disparities in pain treatment, especially for Black patients and women, and encourage shared decision-making. Experts say this shift reflects a broader change in medicine and social expectations, fueled in part by patients sharing their experiences on social media.

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Source: NPR