Endometrial Aspiration: Less Pain, More Gain

Several techniques can decrease the discomfort of an endometrial aspiration. First, describe the procedure thoroughly, and offer to play a relaxation tape. If you need to apply a tenaculum, ask the patient to cough 6 times while you slowly close the tenaculum around the cervix. The coughing distracts the patient and thereby reduces the pain. When you perform the aspiration, have the patient count backwards from 20 to 0 with you. Not only does the counting distract the patient, but she knows that when she reaches 0, the procedure is finished.
—Susan Green Cooksey, PhD, NP
  Portland, Ore