Pain Care During Intrauterine Device Insertion: Nurses Taking the Lead

Pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion is often inadequately managed, as both a consequence and a reflection of systemic and historical gaps in women's pain care. Although IUDs are safe, effective, and widely recommended, narratives emphasizing pain and trauma combined with real experiences of inadequate pain management can discourage uptake of IUDs. Evidence-based pain management strategies are available but underused. This article identifies current approaches to pain care and equips nurses with actionable strategies to improve practice. Beyond individual impact, nurses can lead team-based and systems-level changes that standardize pain discussions, expand education about pain management for patients and providers, and increase access to effective pain care.