Nitrous Oxide for Pain Management of First Trimester Surgical Abortion

Nitrous Oxide for Pain Management of First Trimester Surgical Abortion

The purpose of this research is to study the effect of nitrous oxide on pain felt by women having a surgical termination at less than 11 weeks compared to pain felt by women receiving oral pain medications.

This study has important implications in the field of pain management for surgical abortion. While NO is administered in some outpatient clinics for surgical abortion, its effect on pain has not been systematically studied in a randomized controlled trial in women undergoing first trimester surgical abortion under local/oral analgesia. Expanding pain management options for women undergoing abortion confers significant public health benefits.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years old or older,
• elective pregnancy termination at gestational age of less than 11 weeks,
• speak English
• candidate for an in-clinic procedure.
• desire local anesthesia, ibuprofen, Vicodin and Ativan (the usual treatment in our clinic) for managing pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• no medical problems preventing the use of nitrous oxide
• no allergies to nitrous oxide, lidocaine, vasopressin, ibuprofen, Vicodin or Ativan
• significant active upper respiratory infection
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• intoxication
• use of street drugs