Improving IUD Insertion Experience for Teens and Women
Official title: Improving IUD Insertion Experiences: Evidence Synthesis and Stakeholder Input to Inform a Randomized Trial
Funded at Rand Corporation · NIH-11354399 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new grant aims to make IUD insertions more comfortable for women and adolescents by pulling together existing evidence, listening to patient and clinician experiences, and modeling costs to guide a future patient-friendly trial.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rand Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Monica, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $502,997 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD122270-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354399 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adolescents and women considering or currently using IUDs who may experience pain during insertion or have concerns about pain management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not considering IUD use or not facing insertion-related pain would be less directly affected.
What this research studies
This project reviews best practices for managing pain during IUD insertion, asking what works best in real-world clinics. It then interviews 40 women and adolescents and 25 clinicians to learn what matters most to patients and providers. Finally, it uses simulation to compare the costs and practicality of different pain-management approaches in typical care settings. The outcome will inform the design of a future trial focused on patient-centered pain relief during IUD insertion. The work combines evidence synthesis, stakeholder input, and economic analysis to shape better care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more comfortable IUD insertions and higher uptake among teens and adults who avoid the method due to pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that targeted pain-management strategies can reduce discomfort, but real-world implementation and cost considerations need further study.
Where this research is happening
-
Rand Corporation
Santa Monica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: James, Kortney Floyd — Rand Corporation
- Study coordinator: James, Kortney Floyd
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.