Importance: First-trimester uterine aspiration can easily be performed in the office setting if adequate pain management for the patient is achieved. It is important for clinicians to understand evidence-based approaches for pain control to ensure a safe and efficient procedure.
Objective: This article reviews the literature regarding pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain control options for first-trimester abortion performed in the clinical setting. Preoperative, procedural, and postoperative pain control are all reviewed.
Evidence acquisition: Authors searched the online database PubMed for relevant published literature through January 2018. To identify possible publications for review, the key word "abortion" was paired with the following key words: "pain," "pain-control," "pain management," "aspiration," "paracervical block," "sedation, "non-pharmacologic," and "post-operative."
Results: Optimizing pain control for first-trimester uterine aspiration may involve interventions before, during, and after the surgery. Evidence shows patients benefit from premedication with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a defined paracervical block technique, and an option to use one of several nonpharmacologic interventions.
Conclusions and relevance: Pain management for first-trimester uterine aspiration should be individualized for optimal patient satisfaction. Evidence supports multiple approaches to support this individualization. Targeted interventions before, during, and after the procedure should be offered to improve procedure experience and satisfaction.