Reasons given by UK health professionals against and for the use of local anaesthesia for intrauterine device insertion
| Reasons given | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Reasons against the use of LA | |
| In my experience, IUD insertion could be painful but the pain only lasts a short time (LA not required) | 27 (19) |
| In my experience, IUD insertion could be painful but does not require LA | 16 (11) |
| In my experience, LA administration takes time, which prolongs the procedure itself | 16 (11) |
| In my experience, more pain is caused by LA administration than the IUD insertion procedure | 16 (11) |
| I have not been trained to use LA for IUD insertions | 9 (6) |
| LA is not available in the centre where I work | 9 (6) |
| There is no evidence that suggests LA is effective for pain with IUD insertion | 7 (5) |
| In my experience, LA is not effective | 5 (4) |
| In my experience, IUD insertion is not painful | 5 (4) |
| There are no facilities for LA administration in the centre where I work | 4 (3) |
| LA is expensive for the centre where I work | 3 (2) |
| Current evidence suggests that available LA is not effective for pain with IUD insertion | 3 (2) |
| Reasons for the use of LA | |
| I use LA if the IUD insertion is painful for the patient | 5 (4) |
| I use LA when IUD insertion requires dilatation | 4 (3) |
| I use LA if the patient is anxious | 4 (3) |
| I use LA if the patient requests it | 4 (3) |
| I use LA if the patient is nulliparous | 3 (2) |
IUD, intrauterine device; LA, local anaesthesia.