What to Expect During an IUD Insertion, According to Ob-Gyns

The first thing to know is that you won't get your IUD inserted during the first appointment you make. First, you'll schedule a time to talk with your ob-gyn or care provider about your overall health and the consent process, says Erica Cahill, MD, an ob-gyn and cohost of "The V Word" podcast. Once you've gone over all your birth-control options and officially decided on an IUD, you'll make an appointment for the procedure.

Below, Dr. Cahill laid out what you can expect from the insertion process when you go in for that second appointment. In all, IUD insertion is quite quick; it only takes a couple of minutes from start to finish.

"Everyone's body is different, and everyone's experience of pain is different," Dr. Cahill says. You can't be 100 percent sure whether the IUD insertion will be painful for you until it happens, she says, but there are a few common factors that appear to be linked with pain upon insertion. You might be more likely to feel pain if:

You may be less likely to feel pain upon IUD insertion if:

It's hard to know how an IUD insertion will affect you, even if you've had it done before, since your body can react differently. For that reason, many doctors recommend having someone ready to drive you or help you get home afterward.

In the first 24 hours after your insertion, you can expect cramping and some light bleeding, Dr. Cahill says. Your uterus is pretty much trying to get rid of the IUD at this point, which is what brings about those cramps and any pain you might feel, but those symptoms should begin to ease after that first 24-hour period.

After that, it can take "anywhere from three weeks to three months for the IUD to really 'settle' in your uterus," Dr. Cahill says. "During that time, it is normal to have some cramping and irregular bleeding," which can range from light spotting to heavier bleeding.

One scary side effect you may have heard of is known as the "vaso-vagal reaction": feeling lightheaded or fainting right after the IUD insertion. This can actually happen anytime someone touches your cervix (not just during an IUD insertion) because the nerves in your cervix are connected to the vagus nerve, which controls your heartbeat.

"Sometimes touching the cervix can make your heartbeat slow down suddenly, giving you a lightheaded feeling," Dr. Cahill explains. In rare cases, your heartbeat can decrease to the point of passing out. When you hear of people fainting from an IUD insertion, it's from this nervous-system reaction, not from the amount of pain. Your care provider knows about this potential reaction going in and will have you lie down for a few minutes after the procedure until you feel OK to sit up, Dr. Cahill says.

After the procedure is over, there are a few symptoms you should keep an eye out for. Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

Pay attention to anything that just doesn't feel right to you, Dr. Cahill says. Don't hesitate to call your doctor if you have questions.

Insertion experiences vary widely, and there's no way to sugarcoat it: for some people, the pain is extreme. "I thought I was walking out of the doctor's office after getting my first IUD but rejected that option on account of my legs not working afterward," POPSUGAR writer Hilary White writes in a personal essay on her IUD insertion. "In a haze of cramps and irrational 'is someone stabbing my uterus' thoughts, I also contemplated crawling out."

POPSUGAR writer Jenny Sugar, on the other hand, writes that "my insertion could be summed up as 10 full seconds of not-quite-as-excruciating-as-labor-but-pretty-damn-painful cramps." (Here's what the removal process was like for her as well.)

"I actually didn't think it was that painful at all," contributor Maggie McCracken writes. "The implantation went well, the discomfort was minor, and I walked out of the office feeling great." She notes that anxiety over the IUD's placement eventually led to her decision to get it removed.

"Though I felt a deep cramping in my stomach during the 30 seconds the actual insertion lasted (and hollered out a string of profanities like Steve Carell in the '40-Year-Old Virgin' waxing scene), the whole process was about as long and painless as a pap smear," contributor Corinne Sullivan shares about her own experience.

Bottom line: the pain from IUD insertion can range from slight to excruciating cramps, and not knowing which way your insertion will go can lead to major anxiety. Though we can't predict exactly what you'll feel, there are a few ways you can prepare and go in with as much comfort and confidence as possible.

If you're worried about pain or side effects of IUD insertion, ask your provider what you can do to minimize discomfort. Here are some strategies Dr. Cahill suggests:

To reduce the pain of IUD insertion, your doctor may also recommend taking ibuprofen beforehand or even give you a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) shot and anesthetic shots to your cervix to help manage the pain.

Beyond that, a lot of the prepping for your IUD insertion is mental. Do you know what to expect? Do you have all your questions answered? Talk to your care provider about ways you can make the environment as comfortable as possible, both before and after the procedure. "I would encourage people to prepare to be very low-key after their IUD insertion," Dr. Cahill says. "Don't make big plans afterward, as you may just feel like lying down."

Though there are a few factors that can help predict whether you'll feel pain during the insertion, there's no way to know exactly what it'll be like for you. That's understandably frustrating, and the stress of not knowing can make your nerves even worse beforehand. It's not easy, but one of the best things you can do is relax. "Most of the buildup before the insertion is anxiety related," says Jenn Conti, MD, ob-gyn and cohost of "The V Word" podcast.

For many people, the convenience and effectiveness of an IUD ends up being worth the pain of the insertion, as rough as it can be. Ask questions, be prepared, and make yourself as comfortable as possible, Dr. Conti says. "Bring your headphones, deep-breathing skills, and anything else you find helps you relax, and you'll be just fine."

Your healthcare provider will likely offer you a follow-up appointment about a week after your insertion to make sure your IUD is in the right spot. "We do this exam with either a speculum to directly see the strings or sometimes an ultrasound to see that the IUD is in the right place inside the uterus," Dr. Conti says. This is also a great chance to ask any questions you might have about the IUD and its side effects.

You can also check on your IUD strings yourself, something you can do as soon as you're up to it after the insertion. To do so, wash your hands and insert your first two fingers into your vagina, as far as they can go. "Move them around until you can feel something that feels like super-fine fishing line," Dr. Conti says; those are the strings. "They're often curled up around the cervix, so you may have to sweep behind or in front of it with your fingers a little."

Dr. Conti recommends checking your strings about once a month. If you can't feel them, there's no need to panic; research shows that not everyone is able to successfully feel their IUD strings. However, if you could previously feel the strings and can't anymore, that's a reason to schedule a checkup, Dr. Conti says. The strings could be curled too tightly or could have receded a bit into the cervix, or it's possible that your IUD has moved around in your uterus or perforated the uterine wall. You should also schedule a checkup if you notice a sudden change in your bleeding pattern, Dr. Conti says. (For example, if you had lighter periods on a hormonal IUD and they've suddenly gotten heavier.)

As for how long it takes for IUDs to prevent pregnancy (i.e., how long you should wait to be sexually active again), Dr. Conti says the copper IUD is effective right away. If you had your hormonal IUD (such as Mirena, Liletta, Kyleena, or Skyla) inserted within seven days of the start of your period, it's also effective immediately. "Otherwise, you should use a backup method like condoms for the first seven days," Dr. Conti says.