Does Getting an IUD Hurt? An Ob/Gyn Tells the Truth
The pain varies from person to person, but here’s the general process.

Most women tend to get a little nervous when it comes to anything involving a speculum, so it’s understandable to have a few questions about what to expect at an IUD insertion. First and foremost, will it hurt?
The answer: It depends. While some women say getting their IUD was a little uncomfortable, like getting a Pap or dealing with some garden-variety menstrual cramps, others describe the procedure as an intense pain, says ob/gyn and maternal fetal medicine specialist Kecia Gaither, MD. This varies from person to person, regardless of the type of IUD (hormonal or non-hormonal).
How IUD Insertion Works
To help ease the pain, your doctor will probably recommend you take an OTC painkiller an hour or two prior to your IUD insertion. Some doctors might ask you to make your appointment for the first or second day of your period, which makes insertion easier. (Don’t worry about the timing; your ob-gyn has seen it all.)
Here’s what happens when you get the IUD. Your doctor will insert a speculum in the vagina and might use a numbing medicine around the cervix (that should make things a bit more comfortable down there). Then, the doc will use a special inserter to get the IUD through the opening of your cervix and into your uterus.
This process often takes less than five minutes, but most doctors will have you lie down for a while, perhaps with a heating pad. It’s normal to feel dizzy or nauseated immediately after insertion. Once you feel comfortable standing up and moving about, you should plan to head home and rest for a day or two. (Finally, a Netflix binge with zero guilt.)
What's the Recovery Like?
Whether or not you experience cramping following insertion, the good news is that it should only last a day or two, and those over-the-counter painkillers should bring relief. And the best part: In some cases, your IUD can be kept in for up to 12 years (depending on the type), so any temporary discomfort will pay off for months and years to come. Otherwise, you can have a doctor remove it at any time.
And remember, while the IUD is one of the most effective methods of preventing pregnancy, only condoms can protect against STDs. Consider using both methods if you are not in a monogamous relationship and do not know the STD/HIV status of your partner.
Dr. Gaither, an ob-gyn and maternal fetal medicine specialist, is director of perinatal services at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, a member of NYC Health + Hospitals System in Bronx, New York.
00:00.000 --> 00:01.570
[MUSIC]
00:01.570 --> 00:03.492
What does it feel like to get an IUD?
00:03.492 --> 00:04.580
Does it hurt?
00:04.580 --> 00:09.640
[MUSIC]
00:09.640 --> 00:14.238
It's not a walk in the park, but
the pain varies a lot among my patients.
00:14.238 --> 00:19.440
To put the IUD in, a doctor inserts
a speculum into your vagina.
00:19.440 --> 00:22.020
And then uses a special catheter,
00:22.020 --> 00:27.260
to put the IUD through the opening of
your cervix, and into your uterus.
00:27.260 --> 00:30.350
The process usually takes
less than five minutes.
00:30.350 --> 00:34.750
Most people get cramps, or feel a little
pain when the IUD is being inserted.
00:34.750 --> 00:39.420
For some women, it can be very mild,
for others, it can be intense.
00:39.420 --> 00:42.990
I tell my patients to take
ibuprofen before they come in.
00:42.990 --> 00:46.700
Doctors may also use a numbing
medicine around the cervix
00:46.700 --> 00:48.640
to make things less painful.
00:48.640 --> 00:52.640
Some women feel dizzy, or
feel like they might faint afterwards, so
00:52.640 --> 00:54.080
it's best to take it easy.
00:54.080 --> 00:58.780
Go home, relax, sit on the couch and
watch some TV or movies.
00:58.780 --> 01:04.848
[MUSIC]
No pain, no gain: The IUD insertion process. Washington, DC: Bedsider, 2016. (Accessed on September 18, 2017 at https://www.bedsider.org/features/690-no-pain-no-gain-the-iud-insertion-process.)
What happens during an IUD insertion? Washington, DC: Planned Parenthood. (Accessed on January 1, 2021 at https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud/what-happens-during-an-iud-insertion.)