"When the lidocaine was injected into her cervix, Leah Wells said it felt like fuzzy lightning traveling up her body. In addition to numbing her cervix, the medication made her mouth tingle, and she felt a little stoned. It was during that brief high that Wells' gynecologist inserted an intrauterine device, or IUD. In terms of contraception, an IUD is arguably second to none, as it is more than 99 percent effective. But getting one can come with a cost."
"A study published earlier this year in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill looked at which clinicians were most likely to provide a paracervical block like lidocaine for an IUD. The authors found that 79 percent of the patients who got the local anesthetic were treated by physicians who are board-certified in complex family planning, a gynecological subspecialty that focuses on pregnancy prevention, pregnancy loss,"
An intrauterine device provides over 99 percent effectiveness for contraception but insertion pain varies widely, from mild cramping to searing pain. Local anesthetic via a paracervical block, such as lidocaine, can numb the cervix and cause brief sensations like tingling or lightheadedness while reducing procedural pain. A University of North Carolina study found that 79 percent of patients who received local anesthetic were treated by physicians board-certified in complex family planning, a gynecologic subspecialty focused on pregnancy prevention and loss. Political threats to contraception and abortion access are prompting some patients to prioritize highly effective, provider-dependent methods like IUDs.
Read at Slate Magazine
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