title: The use of local anaesthesia for intrauterine device insertion by health professionals in the UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain associated with the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) is a known barrier to intrauterine contraception use in the UK. It is good practice for health professionals to discuss pain relief and use with women prior to the insertion of an IUD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and reasons for and against the use of local anaesthesia (LA) for IUD insertion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was undertaken using paper questionnaires to determine LA use for IUD insertion by UK health professionals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, approximately one quarter (n=129) of all respondents use LA routinely, one quarter hardly ever or never use LA, while the remaining half use it sometimes. Use of LA was more prevalent among health professionals who worked in integrated sexual and reproductive health and contraception-only services, compared to general practice. UK health professionals who hardly ever or never used LA for the insertion of IUDs were more likely to be working in general practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this survey suggest that more UK health professionals need to routinely discuss pain relief and offer this to their patients prior to IUD insertion as part of the care pathway for patients who choose to use intrauterine contraception.
authors: Specialty Doctor, Camden Provider Services - Sexual & Reproductive Health, Margaret Pyke Centre, London, UK.
authors: Hannat
authors: H
authors: Akintomide
authors: Robert D E
authors: RD
authors: Sewell
authors: Judith M
authors: JM
authors: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: family planning service provision; intrauterine devices; local anaesthesia use