Can timing a pain pill make IUD insertion less painful?
NCT ID NCT06853327
First seen Sep 08, 2026 · Last updated Sep 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether taking oral ketorolac, a common pain reliever, at different times before an IUD insertion changes how much pain a person feels during the procedure. Researchers will compare pain scores among three groups: those who take the drug two hours before, one hour before, or right at the start. The trial includes adults aged 18 and older who want an IUD, and uses a placebo to keep the comparison fair.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- oral ketorolac (Toradol), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, given at different times before IUD insertion
- What this could lead to
- If giving ketorolac earlier works better, it could offer a simple way to reduce pain during IUD insertion for many people.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial, and the drug may not reduce pain more than the current approach. Ketorolac also carries risks like stomach bleeding or kidney issues, though a single low dose is generally safe.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 108 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2025
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years or older * Able to consent * Desires IUD insertion Exclusion Criteria: * IUD placement under sedation or oral anxiolytic * IUD replacement (removal with insertion) * Daily narcotic or NSAID use * Contraindications to IUD placement * Current: pregnancy, genital/pelvic infection * Lifetime history: uterine anomaly, pelvic inflammatory disease, allergy to levonorgestrel or copper * Contraindications to ketorolac * Current: weight under 50 kilograms * Lifetime history: allergy to NSAIDs, liver disease, renal disease, peptic ulcer disease, cerebrovascular bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of North Carolina - Hillsborough Campus
Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278, United States
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