A paracervical block is an anesthetic procedure used in obstetrics and gynecology, in which a local anesthetic is injected into between two and six sites at a depth of 3–7 mm alongside the vaginal portion of the cervix in the vaginal fornices.
[1] In the United States, the paracervical block is underutilized during insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs).
It is as efficient as intracervical block, according to a study on women undergoing vacuum aspiration with lidocaine as anesthetic agent.
[3] The majority of surgical abortions in the United States are performed with a paracervical block with or without the addition of other pain medications.
[5] Addition of ketorolac may offer added benefit of improved pain control.