Copper intrauterine device insertion in patients at a teaching hospital: analysis of women's sociodemographic profile and pain assessment during the procedure
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1679-9836.v104i1e-227876Keywords:
Intrauterine Devices, Pain, Pain MeasurementAbstract
Introduction: The intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the most effective contraceptive methods. However, many women have concerns regarding the pain experienced during insertion1. Studies have associated pain intensity with sociodemographic and clinical variables2-4. Objective: To analyze the relationship between clinical and sociodemographic profiles of women undergoing IUD insertion and their reported pain. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study approved by the Ethics and Research Committee under number 5,606,733. Data were collected from September 2022 to July 2023 at a public hospital in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. Women of childbearing age with negative Beta HCG were recruited, while those with proven uterine anatomical abnormalities were excluded based on examinations. The participants signed an Informed Consent Form prior to the procedure, and subsequently completed a questionnaire about their clinical and sociodemographic profiles. After insertion, they recorded their perceived pain on a visual analog scale. Results: Pain perception among the 52 study participants was associated with marital status, age at sexual debut, parity, and history of painful procedures. Unmarried women, those who initiated sexual activity between 16 and 18 years old, nulliparous women, or those without prior painful procedures (surgeries and/or childbirths) reported more intense pain. No statistically significant association was observed between pain perception and variables such as age group, ethnicity, income, contraceptive method use, fear of IUD placement, or prior analgesia. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between pain perception and the intensity of cramps, indicating that higher cramp intensity correlated with greater pain perception during IUD insertion. Conclusion: The pain intensity experienced during IUD insertion was associated with certain study variables, enabling to characterize patient profiles. However, further studies are needed due to limitations imposed by the small sample size.
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