A Pilot Study to Understand the Adolescent Pain Experience During Contraceptive Implant Insertion.

PURPOSE: In adolescents, concrete thinking may present as avoidance of an immediate, painful or uncomfortable experience despite long-term benefits, which may affect contraceptive choice. In this pilot study, we sought to better understand the pain that adolescents and young adults experience during contraceptive implant insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cohort study, we surveyed 30 adolescents and young adults at their implant insertion visit about pre-procedure anxiety and pain experienced during lidocaine injection and Nexplanon™ placement. RESULTS: The average pre-procedure anxiety (Visual Analog Scale-Anxiety) score was 40 ± 29 mm. The average pain reported during lidocaine injection was 19 ± 21 mm and 6 ± 11 mm for implant insertion. Pre-procedure anxiety was not associated with pain during lidocaine injection (P = .61) or implant placement (P = .85). CONCLUSION: Pain scores were low with both lidocaine injection and implant placement. Pre-procedure anxiety did not predict pain during lidocaine or implant placement. Patients considering an implant should be reassured by these data.