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Empathy Through Pain Control: Lidocaine Paracervical Block for IUD Placements

Expanding the Use of Paracervical Block for IUD Placements and Adding a Compassionate Care Assessment

Who can join

Ages 18 to 50 · Women · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Ability to provide informed consent
2. Women IUD placement for contraception or heavy menstrual bleeding
3. Ages 18-50
4. English-speaking
5. Participants must not have a past medical history of substance use disorders, pain disorders, use of prescription pain medications or are found to be pregnant

Exclusion Criteria:

1. No history of vaginal delivery
2. Current use of prescription pain medication prior to procedure. Over-the-counter medications such as those containing ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, or naproxen are allowed.
3. Diagnosed chronic pain condition
4. Current pregnancy
5. Known allergic reactions to components of the local anesthetic
6. History of an IUD placement
7. Current substance use or history of substance use
8. Known contraindications to IUD, such as unexplained vaginal bleeding

About the study

The goal of this research study is to learn more about how different uses of a numbing medication might affect pain levels while getting an IUD placed. The investigators are also studying participants opinions of their clinicians' empathy.

The investigators are inviting patients who arrive at their clinic visit seeking an IUD.

Usually, at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), for patients who have never delivered a baby, clinicians use a buffered paracervical block for before IUD placement. The purpose of this research study is to investigate whether a "buffered" (2 cc of sodium bicarbonate, 18 cc of 1% lidocaine) paracervical block (numbing medication given on both sides of the cervix) is effective in reducing pain during IUD placement in individuals with prior C-sections, the difference between buffered and unbuffered for nulliparous patients, and whether a medicated gel reduces pain with the paracervical block.

What is being tested

• Buffered Lidocaine (drug)
• Sham Comparator (other)
• Unbuffered lidocaine (drug)
• Xylocaine jelly 2% (drug)
• Surgilube (drug)

Sponsor: University of California, San Diego · Participants: 204 · Started: Jun 4, 2025

Contact the study team

• Marisa Hildebrand, MPH · Phone: (858) 657-8745

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06960317

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Acute Pain

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.