Diclofenac for analgesia in assisted conception: a prospective cohort study*

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of diclofenac in pain experience following oocyte retrieval under conscious sedation. Setting: Assisted reproductive unit (ART) in a tertiary care referral centre.
Design: Prospective controlled non-randomized study.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty six infertility patients undergoing IVF or ICSI treatment where included. All patients received pre-ovum pickup (OPU) conscious sedation in form of alfentanil 0.5 mg IV, in addition the treatment group (n=81) received 100 mg diclofenac per rectal 30 minutes pre OPU, the control group (n=55) had no pre OPU diclofenac.
Main outcome Measures: Pain score measurement performed at 30 minutes, one, two, and 12 hours post OPU.
Results: Average pain score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group at each measured time interval.
Conclusion(s): Pre OPU Diclofenac is an effective medication for reducing post procedure pain experience.