SAN FRANCISCO – Intrauterine device insertion can be a painful experience, especially for nulliparous women, but the quest for an intervention to reduce pain has yielded disappointing results.

A new study, however, suggests that nitrous oxide improves women’s satisfaction with respect to pain management during the procedure.

In a video interview at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Lauren D. Thaxton of the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, discusses the results of her randomized, controlled, double-blind trial comparing nitrous oxide and oxygen with oxygen alone in 80 women aged 13-45 years. Women receiving nitrous oxide didn’t have lower visual analog scale pain scores than those receiving oxygen, but did report significantly greater satisfaction with pain management, she said.

Dr. Thaxton reported having no financial disclosures.

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