Dutch doctors promise to review guidelines for pain relief in IUD placement

The Dutch Society of General Practitioners (NHG) is going to review the guidelines for pain relief during the insertion of an IUD. The revision comes after the NHG indicated earlier this week that it would not be adjusting the guideline. Reporting on that “caused a lot of commotion in recent days,” which has resulted in the planned revision, an NHG spokesperson said.

“We cannot yet say specifically when the revision will be completed, and we cannot yet make any statements about the changes. But pain relief during the insertion of an IUD is one of the topics that will be reviewed,” according to the NHG.

This spring, the procedure for inserting an IUD was criticized because many women experience severe pain when it is inserted. The Dutch guideline currently only recommends naproxen and paracetamol as pain relief. This month, the American health service CDC adjusted the guideline, whereby certain gels or sprays may also be used to relieve the pain.

In April, Ava, The Dutch client advocacy organization for contraception and abortion, already criticized the Dutch guideline. In an opinion piece in the Volkskrant, the organization pointed out that naproxen and paracetamol “are only partially effective.”

A spokesperson for Ava said she is pleased with the revision. “We are especially pleased that women are being listened to,” she said. The organization said it will wait and see how and whether the guidelines will actually be adjusted.