The short explanation
It is a short procedure, usually a few minutes, done during a pelvic examination. Most women feel cramping like strong period pain during and shortly after it, and experiences vary widely — some find it uncomfortable and brief, some find it very painful. Pain relief and how it will be managed are things you can ask about when you book, not only on the day.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Ask about pain relief in advance. What is available differs between places and between clinicians, and asking at the point of the procedure is too late for some options.
- Cramping and spotting for a few days afterwards is expected. Taking the rest of the day gently, and having a pad and simple pain relief ready, is worth planning for.
- Which IUD matters for what happens afterwards. A copper IUD commonly makes periods heavier and more painful, especially for the first three to six months. A hormonal IUD usually makes them much lighter and can stop them altogether, and it is also used as a treatment for heavy bleeding.
- You can ask for a chaperone, you can bring a companion, and you can ask the clinician to stop. Consent continues through a procedure; it is not given once at the start.
- An IUD is one of the methods provided free through government facilities in India, including immediately after childbirth, and can be removed whenever you choose.
- You will usually be told how to check the threads and when to come back. Ask what would mean coming back sooner.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you how much it will hurt for you. The range is genuinely wide and nobody can predict where you will fall in it.
- This cannot tell you which IUD suits you, or whether an IUD is suitable at all. That depends on your history and an examination.
- This cannot tell you what pain relief a particular clinic offers.
- This explanation was written by AskHer's editorial team from the guidance listed under Sources. A clinician registered in India has not signed this version off yet — that is why no clinical reviewer is named at the foot of this page, and it is why nothing here is a diagnosis.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- What pain relief can I have, and do I need to arrange it in advance?
- Which IUD are you suggesting, and what will it do to my periods?
- Can I have a chaperone, and can someone come in with me?
- How long does it take, and what will I feel?
- What should I expect afterwards, and what would mean coming back?
- How do I get it removed if I want to?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Get help the same day
- after an IUD is fitted you develop a fever, severe or worsening pain, or offensive-smelling discharge
- you have severe pain that is not settling with ordinary pain relief
- you think the IUD has come out, or you cannot feel the threads and have had unprotected sex
Book an appointment soon
- you have been putting off an IUD because you are frightened of the insertion
- your periods after a copper IUD are heavier than you can manage
- you want an IUD removed or replaced
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Intrauterine device (IUD) NHS
- Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use World Health Organization
- Contraceptive choices for birth spacing National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Patient information leaflets Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off. That is what the “Editorially reviewed” badge means, and why it does not say “Clinically reviewed”. It was written and checked by AskHer’s editorial team against the sources listed above, and it is queued for a clinician who works in this area.
- Review status
- Editorially reviewed
- Last reviewed
- Last reviewed 25 August 2026
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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