CDC issues new guidance on pain management during IUD insertion
The CDC has issued new guidance on pain management for women with IUDs, but does not require them.
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A new medical device coming to the United States could revolutionize some women’s health procedures, such as IUD insertion.
Carevix is the world’s first suction-based cervical spine stabilization device, designed to replace the 100-year-old forceps (sharp-toothed forceps) widely used in women’s health care. Carevix was named one of the best inventions of 2024 by TIME magazine and is now available to healthcare providers in Southern California and New York. The device is expected to be rolled out nationwide starting in early 2026.
As more women turn to intrauterine devices (IUDs) as a form of long-term contraception, Carevix may come as a relief to many for whom the process of inserting these devices has been the most painful of their lives. Clinical studies have shown that suction techniques reduce pain during IUD insertion by more than 70% and reduce bleeding by more than 80%.
This change is a major move to reduce painful and even traumatic experiences in the doctor’s office.
“We’ve had this sense of touch since 1889,” says Andrea Becker, a medical sociologist at Hunter College in New York. “Changing the tools themselves could be revolutionary.”
What is an IUD and why is it usually so painful to have one installed?
An IUD is a small device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. This device comes in two variations: hormonal IUD and copper IUD.
IUDs are more than 99% effective and almost foolproof. You don’t have to worry about forgetting to take a pill or breaking a condom. People with IUDs are protected for 3 to 12 years, depending on the type of IUD.
However, getting an IUD can be painful for some people. The process usually takes just a few minutes, but some people experience severe pain and others feel nothing at all, Dr. Franziska Heydanek, an obstetrician-gynecologist and online health educator, previously told USA TODAY. This process can be excruciating for some people and can cause dizziness and fainting.
Work according to new guidelines
Carevix’s arrival comes after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its recommendations for IUD insertion in August 2024, encouraging the use of lidocaine and pain management tools to help patients.
And the step of changing the actual equipment doctors use is an important step forward, Becker says. In addition to IUDs, this new device is poised to provide pain relief across a variety of fertility and gynecological procedures, including hysteroscopy, embryo transfer, intrauterine insemination (IUI), tubal patency assessment, and endometrial biopsies.
“It’s encouraging to see that the need to update these tools is starting to receive attention,” Becker said. “This signals a shift in the way we think about women’s pain.”
Contributor: Alyssa Goldberg
