If you've been researching IUDs, you've probably seen a range of experiences online — from "it was nothing" to "worst pain of my life." The honest answer is that IUD insertion is uncomfortable for most people, and for some it's genuinely painful. But here's what often gets left out of that conversation: it doesn't have to be.
Why IUD Insertion Can Hurt
During IUD insertion, your provider opens the cervix slightly and passes the IUD through the cervical canal into the uterus. The cervix has nerve endings that respond to stretching, which is what causes the cramping sensation most people feel.
For some people — especially those who haven't had a vaginal delivery, or those with a tilted uterus or cervical stenosis — the cervix needs more dilation, which can increase discomfort.
The procedure itself typically takes under five minutes. But those few minutes can feel very different depending on what your provider does to manage your comfort.
What Most Providers Offer (and Why It's Not Enough)
At many gynecology practices, the standard recommendation is to take 600–800mg of ibuprofen about an hour before your appointment. Some providers offer a topical numbing agent on the cervix.
For a lot of patients, that's not enough. And that gap between what patients experience and what providers offer is a big part of why so many people dread IUD insertion — or avoid it entirely, even when it's the best birth control option for them.
What We Do Differently
At Metro Area Advanced Practice Healthcare, we've built a comfort protocol specifically for IUD insertion that includes four layers of pain management:
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) — You breathe it in through a mask during the procedure. It creates a feeling of calm and relaxation, reduces pain perception, and wears off within minutes.
TENS therapy — A small device applied to your skin that sends gentle electrical pulses to block pain signals. Many patients say this makes a significant difference in how the procedure feels.
Heating pads — Applied to your abdomen during the procedure to relax muscles and ease cramping.
Cervical block — A local anesthetic injected near the cervix to numb the area before insertion. Similar to the numbing shot you'd get at the dentist.
All four are available for every IUD visit — just let us know what you want during your consultation. TENS therapy, heating pads, and cervical blocks are offered at no extra charge. Nitrous oxide is available for a $50 fee, which covers the cost of a new single-use mask required by law for each patient.
What to Expect at Your Visit
We start with a consultation — either in office or via telehealth — to discuss which IUD is right for you and plan your comfort protocol. On procedure day, we get you settled, apply comfort measures, and walk through exactly what will happen before we begin.
The actual insertion typically takes under five minutes. Afterward, you rest briefly while the nitrous oxide wears off, and most patients drive themselves home.
The Bottom Line
IUD insertion doesn't have to be something you dread. With the right comfort measures, most patients describe the experience as "way better than I expected." If anxiety about pain has been keeping you from getting an IUD, know that there are practices — like ours — that take your comfort seriously.
Ready to learn more? Book a Sedation Gynecology Consultation to discuss your options, or read about our sedation gynecology approach.