From Anxiety to Comfort: IUD Insertion, Pain Management, and Patient-Centered Counseling

Panelists discuss how nearly 46% of pregnancies in the US are unplanned. Although this rate has declined, the US still has one of the highest rates of unplanned pregnancies in the world, particularly affecting minority and disadvantaged communities.

Panelists discuss how intrauterine device (IUD) usage rates are increasing but remain low despite the availability of hormonal and new copper options. Obstacles include physician education gaps, patient anxieties about procedures, high up-front costs (especially for the uninsured), and misconceptions about fertility risks that modern IUDs do not pose.

Panelists discuss how physicians should empower and educate patients about intrauterine devices (IUDs) by addressing concerns directly rather than downplaying them, acknowledging pain as a legitimate issue while presenting all available options, and recognizing that IUDs are not appropriate for everyone. No patient should feel pressured to choose this method.

Panelists discuss how developing an effective pain management plan for intrauterine device (IUD) insertion requires patient cooperation, thorough medical history review, comprehensive education about procedures and tools, consideration of individualized needs, planning for interventions like sedation or antianxiety medication (which may not always be available), and implementation of trauma-informed care principles to ensure true informed consent and patient autonomy.

Panelists discuss how physicians consistently underestimate intrauterine device (IUD) placement pain compared to patients’ reported experiences. They emphasize that addressing this disparity requires physician humility, community education initiatives, and adherence to standardized guidelines such as the CDC’s updated 2024 pain management recommendations.