Painless Depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injections using the 'pinch technique'

This study was done to see if pinching the skin, prior to injection of DMPA, would reduce the pain of the injection, as suggested by the gate theory. Seventy-eight patients scheduled to receive DMPA for contraception were enrolled into a randomised controlled trial. The injections were given in the gluteal region, with 39 receiving a pinch before and during the injection, while 39 others received the injection only. They were all asked if the pain was severe. Six of 39 patients in the pinch group were positive for severe pain while 15 of 39 in the injection only group were positive (P = 0.02). This simple technique appears to be useful to ensure compliance for the DMPA injection.