IUD Pain Is Real: What ACOG and CDC Just Changed—and Why It Matters

What Every Patient and Clinician Should Know About the 2025 Guidelines for IUD Insertion Pain Management

For years, patients have reported severe pain during IUD insertions—only to be told it's "just a pinch." Now, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued updated guidance that changes everything.

This episode breaks down what’s in the new guidelines, why it matters, and what’s still standing in the way of better care.

What We Cover in This Episode

• What ACOG and CDC now recommend for IUD pain relief
• Why misoprostol is no longer a routine option
• How reimbursement challenges affect what happens in the exam room
• What to do if your provider isn’t aware of the new guidelines
• The role of trauma-informed and shared decision-making models
• Why this shift is critical for women’s health equity and trust

Related Resources

• ACOG Clinical Consensus on Pain Management (May 2025)
• CDC U.S. SPR Update (Aug 2024)

• Resources and episodes on Pelvic Health

• Recommended Books on Hormones and Menstrual Health

🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**