Self-administered lidocaine gel for pain control prior to osmotic dilator insertion: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Clinical guidelines recommend cervical preparation prior to dilation and evacuation (D&E). The most common method used over 16-weeks gestation is placement of osmotic dilators, which can be painful. Paracervical block is effective at decreasing pain with dilator insertion but can be painful itself. We sought to compare pain control with locally applied, patient administered lidocaine gel to lidocaine paracervical block at various time points during dilator placement prior to D&E.