Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Iud
Although an IUD is an effective method of contraception, there are some things to consider before having one fitted.
Advantages:
- It protects against pregnancy for 5 or 10 years, depending on the type.
- Once an IUD is fitted, it works straight away.
- Most people with a womb can use it.
- There are no hormonal side effects, such as acne, headaches or breast tenderness.
- It does not interrupt sex.
- Its safe to use an IUD if youre breastfeeding.
- Its possible to get pregnant as soon as the IUD is removed.
- Its not affected by other medicines.
- Theres no evidence that an IUD will affect your weight or increase the risk of cervical cancer, womb cancer or ovarian cancer.
Disadvantages:
- Your periods may become heavier, longer or more painful, though this may improve after a few months.
- It does not protect against STIs, so you may need to use condoms as well.
- If you get an infection when you have an IUD fitted, it could lead to a pelvic infection if not treated.
- Most people who stop using an IUD do so because of vaginal bleeding and pain, although these side effects are uncommon.
Are There Any Side Effects From Using The Hormonal Iud
Possible side effects include:
- When it is first inserted some users have period-type cramping that usually settles after a few days.
- Sometimes the IUD can come out. This is more common in the first 3 months of it being inserted.
- Your period will change. Spotting or frequent bleeding is common in the first 3 to 6 months. By 6 months around 95% of users will have a light regular period or no bleeding at all .
- You may experience tender breasts, headaches, skin changes and mood changes. These side effects nearly always settle with time. The hormonal IUD has not been shown to cause weight gain.
The Iud Is Making A Comeback
Later, at home, I took a pregnancy test, the kind with two dark lines for positive. I remember taking those tests over and over, trying for our first. Squinting, willing a second line into existence. I am glad those days are over. I was taking the test because my breasts were hot and sore and my period was late. I was taking the test so I could stop that little worm of worry that kept getting into my throat. I have an IUD there was only a slim chance. Such a wafer of a chance. And besides, my husband and I were done. We were past done. I was just starting to get myself back: Id lost the baby weight and then some I was writing again my days werent filled with the carrying of children. Often, my arms were empty, and that felt like freedom.
Days with my children are both routine and freewheeling, bursting with creativity and mired in drudgery. Every moment feels untidy, unkempt, pre-defined, both beyond my control and demanding of it. My child complained that I was taking too long. I was rushing around my head, planning lunch and naps and maybe a brief, quiet window of writing. Then they bloomed before me, life emphatic, a yes to the question I never even wanted to ask.
Two dark lines.
No, was my immediate response.
Id made the requisite follow-up appointment to have the IUD placement checked. But I never went to that appointment, likely fearing the return of the sadness I felt in that white room, how out of my reach any semblance of control in my life felt.
Yes.
Yes.
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Con: Your Ob/gyn Specialist Must Insert It
You cant just buy an IUD at the drugstore. You need your OB/GYN specialist to put it in place, although it takes only a few minutes. In that regard, the procedure is similar to a getting a Pap smear.
You may experience some cramping right after insertion. Regular over-the-counter painkillers should be sufficient to offer you relief. If you have continued pain, have your OB/GYN specialist remove the IUD so you can choose another method of birth control.
Can You Still Get Pregnant If You Have An Iud
It is still possible to get pregnant with an IUD, however, because sperm are nothing if not determined, as is human life in general. Women with unusually large or small uteri may also be more likely to get pregnant than women with uteri that fit within the range of those tested during development of the IUD.
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Do You Ovulate With Kyleena Iud
Yes, you still continue to ovulate while using Kyleena. How come you still ovulate while on Kyleena? Well, Kyleena prevents pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus that avoids penetration of sperms. It also makes the uterine environment unfavorable for sperm survival. So, as it does not affect your ovulation, you do ovulate with Kyleena IUD in place. Many women who use a hormonal IUD will continue to ovulate, however, their cycle may be disrupted depending on the hormonal dosage of the IUD inserted. This is not very common with Kyleena.
Will I Still Get My Period If I Have An Iud
Most women have some cramping and spotting with IUDs, but this goes away within three to six months. Hormonal IUDs can reduce period cramps and make them lighter. Some of my patients periods went away altogether. Copper IUDs can make periods heavier and cramps worse, but this usually goes away over time.
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You Missed Your Period
If you have an IUD, then you know some of its less than thrilling side effects, the biggest one of which is bleeding. And if your IUD is copper, it can cause heavy bleeding, as was found in the study, Side effects from the copper IUD: do they decrease over time? But while your period might get heavier , a missed period is often a marker of pregnancy, the Cleveland Clinic reported, whether you have an IUD or not.
How Easy Is It To Get Pregnant With An Expired Iud
IUDs have expiration dates. If you keep one in longer than the suggested amount of time, you have a slightly higher chance of pregnancy. But it’s still less than 1%. You probably won’t have any side effects if you keep an IUD in after it expires, but we need more research to safely recommend this option…. see more
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Myth: Who Can Use The Method
Many women do not want to use the IUD because they incorrectly believe that the IUD should not be used by women who are young or who have not had children.
Fact: IUDs are safe for a wide range of women
There is no minimum or maximum age requirement for using the IUD. An IUD should be removed after menopause has occurred at least 12 months after her last monthly bleeding. There is also no requirement that a woman must have children to use the IUD. A history of pelvic infection or multiple sex partners make the choice of an IUD inappropriate for such women.
The myth that young women and women without children cannot use IUDs stems from fears about a higher risk of expulsion in these women and fears about a higher risk of infection in these women.
Expulsion is more likely in certain circumstances, such as young age at insertion . Some studies also have found a higher rate of expulsion among women who have no children. The additional risk of expulsion, however, is not sufficient to deny IUDs to women in these circumstances, because the advantages of the IUD outweigh the risks of expulsion.
when
How Do I Get An Iud
Make an appointment at Family Planning.
Read our ‘Getting your IUD’ page so you feel ready for your appointment. If you have any questions, write them down to ask the nurse or doctor. If you’re not sure about whether an IUD is right for you, you may want to book an appointment before the IUD is put in to talk about your options.
If it’s not possible to put in the IUD at your first appointment, another appointment will be made for the IUD to be put in.
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Is It Possible To Get Pregnant With An Iud
The IUD is considered a highly effective form of birth control. Still, there is a very small risk for unwanted pregnancy, and it is possible to become pregnant with an IUD. The failure rate of IUDs may be as low as 0.02%, meaning pregnancy could happen in about 1 out of every 5,000 people with an IUD.
The Truth About Getting Pregnant When You Have An Iud
Getting pregnant with an IUD is exactly how things arent supposed to go. After all, if you decide to get an IUD, the entire point is to have an incredibly reliable form of contraception that allows you to control whenif everyou get pregnant. But getting pregnant with an IUD can happen in some extremely rare occasions.
Track athlete Sarah Brown knows this firsthand. In July 2016, just four months after giving birth, Brown was training in hopes of making the U.S. Olympic track team for the 1,500 meter run. Brown didnt plan to be pregnant while training for the Olympics, but her copper IUD failedjust as she was running her best race times ever.
I went from crushing workouts to, all of a sudden, in the second interval of a workout, I thought I was running in sand. Racing wasnt fun anymore, Brown told New York magazines The Cut in 2016 when she was training. It was really frustrating because we had concentrated so hard on doing things right, and I didnt feel like I had overtrained. It was like, Why is this happening? Whats wrong with me?
Brown eventually took an at-home pregnancy test that was negative, but a few weeks later, she went to see her doctor who determined that Brown was, in fact, pregnant. Browns IUD was removed, and her daughter was born in March 2016.
So, how likely is it that getting pregnant with an IUD will happen to you the way it happened to Brown?
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Risks Of Pregnancy With A Coil
If youre tested positive for pregnancy with a coil inside, these could be your risks. After categorizing you in the high-risk pregnancy, the Gynae might suggest removal, but will do it only if it falls within the guidelines.
a) If the coil is in a complicated position, the chances of removal are low, but the chances of miscarriage are high.
b) The possibility of the coil rupturing the sac thereby leading to miscarriage is again high.
c) The chances of getting an infection in the uterus due to the coil can lead to miscarriage.
d) The chances of losing the baby in the second trimester due to infections and complications are high.
e) The chances of giving birth to a pre-term baby i.e. between 24 weeks 28 weeks are high. If you have delivered a pre-term baby, the rate of survival of the baby is critically low.
f) Even if youve moved two trimesters with little problems , the chances of an infection with a coil inside is exponentially high.
g) From the beginning of the pregnancy to the removal of the coil or the birth of baby, whichever comes first, the pregnancy is declared to be high-risk.
h) The stress, the confusions, the infections, the number of visits to the doctor, the possibility of intimacy everything will be overwhelming during such pregnancy.
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Risks From Pregnancy With An Iud
While pregnancy with an IUD is uncommon, it can be dangerous for the pregnant person and the fetus. In some cases, a pregnancy with an IUD may result in an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy is a rare condition in which the egg attaches to tissue outside of the uterus, such as the lining of the fallopian tubes. If this type of pregnancy isnt removed, it can cause tears, bleeding, and even death.
Becoming pregnant with an IUD in place increases your risk of:
- Infection of the fluids and tissue around the fetus
- Slow growth of the fetus
- Early membrane rupture
- Low birth weight
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Ways To Avoid Getting Pregnant On An Iud
Though the possibility is less, there are always exceptions. So, it is better to get a few checks done even with a 99% accurate IUD in place.
What Are The Signs Of Pregnancy With An Iud
Pregnancy with an IUD typically has the same symptoms as a normal pregnancy, including breast tenderness, nausea, and fatigue. If you’re experiencing symptoms of early pregnancy and have missed your period, take a pregnancy test and contact your health care provider.
It’s important to catch an IUD pregnancy early because of certain health concerns. At-home pregnancy tests, while very accurate when used after a missed period, can’t detect a pregnancy as early as a blood test in your doctor’s office or lab, so your provider may want you to come in for testing to be sure.
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Will I Get My Period With An Iud
Concerned that a missed period means you became pregnant with an IUD? Dont fret just yet, says Cristina Perez, M.D., an OB-GYN at the Womens Specialists of Houston at Texas Childrens Pavilion for Women. About 25% of menstruating people stop having their period while on Mirena , she says.
The other type of IUD, ParaGard, relies on copper to prevent pregnancy. ParaGard has no hormones, Dr. Perez explains, so if youre using it, you should still be getting your period as long as youre not pregnant. Either way, if dont get your period as expected and you could be pregnant, its a good idea to contact your doctor and take a pregnancy test, just in case.
Using An Iud After Giving Birth
An IUD can usually be fitted 4 weeks after giving birth . Youll need to use alternative contraception from 3 weeks after the birth until the IUD is put in.
In some cases, an IUD can be fitted within 48 hours of giving birth. Its safe to use an IUD when youre breastfeeding, and it will not affect your milk supply.
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What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy happens when a pregnancy develops outside your uterus. For example, it can happen if a fertilized egg starts to grow in your fallopian tube.
Ectopic pregnancy is rare but serious. If left untreated, it can cause internal bleeding and infection. In some cases, it can even be fatal.
If you get pregnant while using an IUD, the device raises the chances that your pregnancy will be ectopic. But if you have an IUD, your risk of getting pregnant in the first place is low. In turn, your overall risk of ectopic pregnancy is also low.
According to scientists in the International Journal of Womens Health , ectopic pregnancy affects an estimated 2 out of 10,000 women with a hormonal IUD each year. It affects an estimated 5 out of 10,000 women with a copper IUD each year.
In comparison, more than 1 out of 100 sexually active women who dont use birth control will have an ectopic pregnancy over the course of a year.
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There is no age requirement for an IUD. People of varying ages have IUDs placed to prevent pregnancy and in some cases control abnormal bleeding. Once an IUD is placed, you will be given a card and information about when it needs to be removed. As with all forms of contraception, there are some risks.
Certain risk factors, such as a higher risk of STIs, risk of perforation, and slightly increased risk of ectopic pregnancy are important to consider when deciding if an IUD is right for you. While incredibly low, the risks are always important to consider. If you have questions about whether an IUD is right for you, chat with your primary care provider about your situation.
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How Fertile Are You After Iud Removal
Your IUD can be removed whenever you are ready to become pregnant. Once it is removed, you may be immediately fertile. How fertile are you after IUD removal and how quickly you can become pregnant depends on the type of device you have, but in most cases, you are fertile enough to become pregnant within the same month the IUD is removed.
