According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 10% of women aged 15-49 in the U.S. use an intrauterine device (IUD) or other long-term contraceptive implant. The use of IUDs has significantly increased over the past three decades because of their many benefits: high efficacy, affordability, the length of time they last, and not needing to remember to take a pill or get a shot on time is highly appealing to those looking to protect against pregnancy.
Then there’s the sheer number of Depo-Provera lawsuits that allege the birth control shot causes brain tumors, making IUDs a preferred method of pregnancy prevention. But for some, these benefits aren’t enough. There’s a common deterrent that stops many women from getting an IUD: the pain involved with the procedure.
While research varies to an extent, most clinical studies have concluded that more than 50% of women experience moderate to intense pain during IUD insertion. Some studies have found that number to be much higher – closer to 80% – and others have reported that 90% of participants have experienced at least mild pain with IUD placement.
In general, the pain is short-lived, but so intense that it’s often traumatic. Addressing pain management during gynecologic procedures is important, and one company may have the solution. Pain during IUD placement is expected to significantly decrease as a new medical device, Carevix, is set to be rolled out across the U.S. in 2026. Medical providers in Southern California and New York already have access to the device, which is said to be a game-changer for women’s health procedures.
Carevix Expected to Greatly Reduce IUD Pain
Carevix was named by TIME Magazine as one of the best inventions in 2024. Studies have shown that it drastically reduces pain during IUD placement by more than 70%. Research also shows it reduces bleeding during the procedure by more than 80%.
Rather than piercing the cervix like the tenaculum, the current tool used during IUD placement, Carevix, uses gentle suction to stabilize the cervix. As the first-ever suction-based stabilizer, Carevix doesn’t perforate the cervix, which is why feedback has been so positive. Patients have overwhelmingly stated that it eliminated their pain or reduced it to mild. Given that many women decide against getting an IUD because of anxiety and fear surrounding how painful it can be, the rollout of Carevix in the U.S. is expected to have a positive impact on women across the country.
The upcoming widespread availability of the suction-based medical device is quite timely. In May, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released new recommendations on pain management for IUD insertions and other in-office gynecologic procedures. The CDC also updated its practice recommendations for contraceptive use in 2024, noting specific steps should be taken to prepare patients and reduce pain during procedures like IUD placement. The use of Carevix is poised to address decades of severe pain and help medical providers meet these important recommendations from the ACOG and CDC.
Carevix Set to Replace Archaic Medical Device
For centuries, there have been clear gaps in providing quality, equitable medical care for women compared to men. Research has largely been conducted on men, and it wasn’t until the early 1990s that women were formally included in clinical trials. It’s no surprise then that being underrepresented this way has directly impacted the quality of care and led to delayed diagnoses among women, not to mention that women’s pain has been largely dismissed and downplayed by doctors.
A shining example of this disparity is the use of the tenaculum during certain health procedures on women, including IUD insertion, fertility treatments, and endometrial biopsies. The tenaculum was invented in 1889, and the design, which was inspired by bullet extractors used on soldiers in the 1800s, has been mostly unchanged since then. This is alarming given the considerable medical advances and inventions over the past 130 years.
A similar look to scissors, the tenaculum has sharp, pointed hooks on the end that hold tissue in place during procedures like IUD placement. It’s also the source of intense pain and trauma for countless women in the U.S. and around the world. The introduction of Carevix is set to reshape women’s health procedures by replacing the tenaculum forceps.
Alternative Contraceptives Appealing as Birth Control Shot Lawsuits Pile Up
The decreased pain during IUD placement that Carevix is expected to provide may lead more women to choose IUDs as a contraceptive. At over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy and lasting three to 10 years, depending on the type, a low-pain or pain-free IUD insertion procedure is appealing to those wanting to protect themselves against pregnancy. Unfortunately, it’s come too late for some who chose another type of contraceptive, Depo-Provera (the birth control shot), and are now suffering from meningiomas.
Findings from a large-scale research study that was published in the British Medical Journal in 2024 showed a strong connection between prolonged use of the birth control shot and an increased risk of meningioma brain tumors. The results also concluded there’s a 5.6-fold increased risk of developing a meningioma that requires surgery among women who took Depo-Provera.
Combined with decades of similar research findings, there’s been an influx of Depo-Provera lawsuits in the U.S. The first lawsuit was filed in October 2024, and there are over 1,200 birth control shot injury cases as of November 2025. As these cases progress and women learn of the risks, IUDs may become even more popular, especially amidst reports of decreased pain from the new medical device, Carevix.
As research, regulations, and medical technologies continue to shift, staying informed is key. If you have legal questions regarding IUDs, Depo-Provera birth control, or other medical devices, contact Childers, Schlueter & Smith online, via our live chat, or call 1-800-641-0098 for additional information.
