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Fear of discomfort associated with intrauterine device (IUD) placement is common, particularly among nulliparous women. To assess whether a 20-mL paracervical block (18 mL 1% lidocaine buffered with 2 mL sodium bicarbonate) would alleviate pain, researchers conducted a randomized trial in 64 nulliparous women (age range, 18–45) receiving either a 52-mg levonorgestrel or a copper IUD. In the intervention group, 2 mL of buffered lidocaine was injected at 12 o'clock in the anterior lip of the cervix before tenaculum placement; the remainder was injected into the vaginal fornices equally at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions. In the nonintervention (sham) group, blinding was maintained by injecting 2 mL of buffered lidocaine into the anterior lip of…