Res. No. 1061

Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation requiring pain management options be offered to patients undergoing in-office gynecologic procedures 

By Council Member Farías

                     Whereas, Studies have found that female patients and people of color are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed by medical providers and are less likely to be offered pain medication; and

                     Whereas, A 2023 study showed that when researchers scanned TikTok for the top 100 videos with the hashtag #IUD they found that of the videos presenting a patients experience, almost all - 97 percent - highlighted the pain of the procedure and other negative side effects; and

Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women are increasingly turning to the IUD as a form of contraception, with roughly 20 percent of women getting an IUD between 2015 and 2019, up drastically from the 8 percent who used an IUD between 2006 and 2010; and

                     Whereas, A 2023 survey found that only 4 percent of trained physicians in the United States offered an injection of a local anesthetic for IUD insertions, which has been found to be effective for pain relief, and almost 80 percent of trained doctors offered over-the-counter painkillers, which have been shown to be less effective; and 

                     Whereas, Because every patient experiences pain differently during gynecologic procedures, discussing the options for pain management is paramount in building patient-clinician trust; and

Whereas, Building patient-clinician trust has been found to be crucial for delivering effective reproductive healthcare and ultimately providing the best care for patients in the long run; and

Whereas, In May 2025, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released new recommendations urging clinicians to discuss and offer a full range of pain management options during in-office gynecologic procedures-including lidocaine spray, numbing creams, paracervical blocks, nitrous oxide, and sedation; and

Whereas, The CDC also updated its Selected Practice Recommendations in 2024, advising that providers develop individualized, patient-centered pain relief plans, including the use of local anesthesia like lidocaine injections or topical anesthetics during IUD insertions; and

Whereas, Currently, there are no New York State laws that mandate providers to offer or disclose pain management options for in-office gynecologic procedures; and

Whereas, With the New York Metropolitan Area having the highest employment level for Obstetricians and Gynecologists according to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New York City is a national leader in providing access to reproductive health services; and  

Whereas, The 2023 Local Reproductive Freedom Index found that New York City is one of the top three cities in the United States in protecting and advancing reproductive rights across a range of categories including funding and coverage for reproductive health care and the advancement of inclusive policies; and

Whereas, New York must continue to lead on reproductive health care by ensuring it is delivered in a clinically sound, humane, and patient-centered manner; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation requiring pain management options be offered to patients undergoing in-office gynecologic procedures.  

KS

LS 20136

8/21/2025 4:02 PM