2025 Theses Bachelor's

The Legitimization of Pain in IUD Insertions

Bhatia, Misha

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are among the most effective forms of long-lasting reversible contraception, yet the pain associated with their insertion remains inadequately and inconsistently addressed. This thesis examines how IUD insertion pain has been legitimized in recent years and identifies where it still needs to be, situating contemporary patient experiences within gynecology's broader history of the systemic dismissal of women's pain. The thesis is divided into three parts exploring patient and practitioner perspectives. In Part I, a thematic analysis study is conducted to explore in-depth nulliparous patient perspectives on their IUD insertion experiences. Part II contextualizes the patient experiences within the broader field and current practice of gynecology through interviews with an OB/GYN and OB/GYN resident and a review of current medical and institutional guidelines. Part III bridges the gaps between the patient and practitioner perspectives and highlights the necessity of person-centered care and shared decision-making in the absence of effective pain management solutions. Through exploring the players and perspectives involved in the legitimization of IUD insertion pain, valuable insights are identified to improve the insertion experience. These findings aim to help patients, practitioners, and researchers get closer to having pain adequately addressed for all IUD insertions.

Keywords: IUD insertion, pain, pain management, pain relief, cervical pain, anesthesia, gynecology, obstetrics, medicine, healthcare, women's health, women's health research, birth control, reproductive health, legitimization, medical gaslighting, thematic analysis, qualitative research, biomedical research, medical guidelines, patient perspectives, patient advocacy, person-centered care, shared decision-making, medical practitioners, nulliparous, parity, pregnancy, medical humanities