Oral analgesia vs intravenous conscious sedation during Essure Micro-Insert sterilization procedure: randomized,...

To compare the pain reported by patients during the Essure Micro-Insert sterilization procedure using either intravenous conscious sedation or oral analgesia.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Tertiary care ambulatory women's clinic.

Eighty women of reproductive age women requesting permanent sterilization.

Hysteroscopic placement of the Essure Micro-Insert permanent birth control system.

Patients undergoing placement of the Essure Micro-Insert system for permanent contraception were randomized to receive either intravenous conscious sedation, oral analgesia, or placebo. During the procedure, pain scores were recorded using a visual analog scale. Patients in the oral analgesia group reported slightly more pain during insertion of the hysteroscope and placement of the second micro-insert; the groups were otherwise equivalent. They were also equivalent when all visual analog scale scores were combined.

Oral analgesia is an effective method of pain control during placement of the Essure Micro-Insert permanent birth control system.