Do You Need a Consultation Before Your IUD? Who Should, Who Can Skip It

You can book an IUD insertion with us directly - no consult required. But for some people, a short consultation first - what we call an IUD Planning Visit - makes the whole thing go better, and for one specific situation it's actually required. Here's how to tell which group you're in.

The short version

• Most people can book a direct insertion without a consult.
• We recommend a consult first if you're nervous, have a trauma history, it's your first IUD, or you've had a hard insertion before.
• A consult is required if any pre-medication is involved - whether you want us to prescribe something, or you plan to take your own before you come in.

You can book a direct insertion

If you're comfortable and just want it done, you don't need a separate appointment first - you can schedule the insertion directly. The one thing to know: when you skip the consult, we can't guarantee that specific extras you might want that day - like nitrous oxide or particular supplies - will be on hand. Planning ahead is what lets us have those ready for you.

When we recommend a consult first

These aren't requirements - you can still book straight to insertion - but in these situations a quick visit first usually makes for a better experience:

• You're nervous about it. Meeting first lets us talk through exactly what happens and whether pre-medication makes sense for you.
• You have a history of trauma. A consult lets you meet us, set the pace, and make sure there are no surprises on insertion day.
• It's your first IUD. It's a good chance to ask everything, see the space, and know what to expect.
• You've had a difficult or painful insertion before. In that case we'd likely recommend pre-medication to make the next one easier - and that means meeting first.

When a consult is required

Pre-medication is the one area where a consult isn't optional. It comes up in two ways, and both lead to the same place:

• You want us to prescribe something to take the edge off, like an anti-anxiety pill before your insertion. We can't prescribe to someone we haven't met, so this has to start with a consult.
• You plan to take your own pre-medication beforehand - something you already have. Here's the catch: if you arrive already medicated and we haven't done your informed consent yet, we can't place the IUD that day, because consent has to happen while you're sober and unmedicated. So you'd end up making a second trip anyway.

Either way, the fix is simple: a quick IUD Planning Visit first, and afterward we schedule the insertion with your pre-meds sorted out and ready to go - no wasted visit.

Why the consult helps

Beyond the rules, the IUD Planning Visit is simply where we set you up for the most comfortable insertion possible: choosing the right IUD for you, planning comfort measures and sedation like nitrous oxide, sorting out any pre-medication, and making sure everything you might want is actually available the day of. If you're not even sure which IUD you want yet, that's a great thing to settle here - our hormonal vs. copper comparison is a good starting point.

Bottom line

If you're confident and just want it done, book the insertion. If you're anxious, it's your first one, you've had a rough experience before, or you want something to take the edge off beforehand, start with a consultation - our IUD Planning Visit - it's there to make this easier, not to add a hoop. Either way, we offer real comfort options; you can read more on our IUD page and sedation gynecology page, or book a visit or call (301) 241-8181.