You Need To Know About All 5 IUD Options
According to Ob-Gyns Reproductive rights took a hit on Friday after the US Supreme Court dismissed a landmark 1973 trial, Roe v. Wade, who protected a person’s right to an abortion in the country. In the news, people are looking for more information and wondering what options they have to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy. Some people may also consider long-term birth control methods, such as the IUD or IUD, which is a highly effective, long-lasting, reversible form of birth control that can protect a pregnancy for many years. But when it comes to birth control, the possibilities seem endless.There are so many options in the IUD category alone. Deciding which method is best for you, while weighing efficacy rates, side effects, hormone levels, and life expectancy, becomes a long-term contraceptive personality test. “IUDs work by interfering with the ability of the sperm and egg to fuse,” says Dr. Gil Weiss, an obstetrician at the Association for Women’s Health Care in Chicago and an associate professor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “And each of these cartridges does it differently. The good news is that all types of IUDs have comparable success rates.No one is considered better or safer than the other, so you really can’t go wrong once you’ve decided to use an IUD. The choice is a matter of personal preference. Globally, approximately 14.3% of people of childbearing age use IUDs. DRWeiss compliments the IUD on its low maintenance costs and success rate. “The IUD is inside you and it doesn’t depend on human behavior,” she says. “You get an IUD inserted by your doctor and you know it’s there to do its job. Plus: “It’s very affordable in the long run. After a few years, it becomes cheaper than birth control pills,” she adds.
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What are intrauterine devices?
An intrauterine device (IUD) is a type of birth control device that is inserted through the cervix into the uterus. At the end are small threads that extend through the cervix and into the vagina, letting you know the IUD is still in place. It is a form of reversible contraception that can last from three to 12 years. However, the contraceptive can be removed at any time to restore fertility. is over 99 percent fective, making it one of the most effective birth control methods on the market.According to Planned Parenthood, less than 1 in 100 women will become pregnant while wearing an IUD. Much of the success of this method lies in its ruthless and persistent nature. You don’t have to think about taking it like the pill, which is only 91 percent fective, or using it properly like condoms, which have an 85% success rate, according to Planned Parenthood. The IUD works by itself, whether you pay close attention or not.
Essentially, they’re the best of both worlds: high-potency birth control you don’t have to think about, said Sherry Ross, MD, ob/gyn and author of She-Ology: The Definitive Guide to Intimate Health. Period. (sigh of relief, anyone?)
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What is the difference between a hormone IUD and a copper IUD?
There are two categories of IUDs: hormonal and non-hormonal.Which one is right for you depends on personal factors such as For example, how regular and crampy your periods are, how your body reacts to hormones and how long you want to be on birth control.
The
non-hormonal IUD, also known as a copper IUD, has a small copper wire wrapped around the device. It has no hormones and can last up to 12 years. The copper IUD “makes the environment hostile to fertilization of the egg and sperm,” a doctor says.
Among highly effective daily contraceptives, it is also currently the most effective emergency contraceptive when used within five days of unprotected intercourse. Once worn, you are protected for years, unlike Plan B or other birth control pills that are only good for one use.
The second class of IUD releases a hormone called progesterone. Depending on the IUS, the contraceptive method may vary. In one scenario, some hormone IUDs tend to “thicken the mucus, making it harder for the egg and sperm to connect,” A doctor says.
Another way IUDs work is by preventing ovulation, which reduces or eliminates menstruation in some women, A doctor explains.
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Are there any disadvantages when inserting spirals?
Between the consultation, the operation and the adjustment phase, “IUDs require a little more strength,” a doctor explains. And worst-case scenario, if you don’t like the IUD, removing it will require a visit to another doctor.
For some women, especially those with children, this is a minor inconvenience; for others, it can be very painful, especially if the doctor needs dilators to open the cervix wider. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing where you will end up.
The good news is that the worst passes in minutes and the entire visit shouldn’t take longer than half an hour, says Dr.Horse. The bad news: While everyone is different, according to Planned Parenthood, cramping or spotting can occur three to six months after onset. Fortunately, removal is usually fairly easy and painless, and requires a quick visit to the doctor, he added.
A doctor recommends his patients take ibuprofen two hours before arrival to minimize pain. She also recommends having realistic expectations about the procedure, saying, “It’s very important to know what’s going on.” It’s also possible to numb the area with a local anesthetic to make the insertion process more comfortable.
It should also be noted that while IUDs are an extremely effective form of birth control, they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Now that the facts are clear, it’s time to choose the right IUD for you. Read on to discover five different ways to achieve maintenance-free, long-term protection.
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Paragard
- How it works: Paragard is the only non-hormonal IUD brand in the United States.S.It’s wrapped in skinny copper, which reasons an inflammatory reaction on your body.This facilitates save you sperm from getting thru your cervix, and any little swimmers that do make it up there are neutralized through the copper ions, that are poisonous to sperm.
- Side effects: The infection resulting from the copper blocks sperm, yes, however also can boom menstrual bleeding, each the period and the flow, a doctor says.He adds that other side effects include anemia, increased cramps, and occasional spotting.
can make periods a bit crampy or heavy at first, but over the long term it works very, very well and doesn’t cause more severe period cramps, a doctor says.
You may have heard that your friend’s IUD caused her to gain weight, fall out or even lose her hair. There’s no evidence the copper IUD causes weight gain, a doctor says.
- How long does it last: According to a doctor keeps the device 12 years.
- Who it is best for: Women who want to avoid synthetic hormones for whatever reason, have normal to light bleeding and want the longer lasting option.
- Who Should Avoid: If your cramping and bleeding is already heavy, a non-hormonal IUD probably isn’t for you, a doctor says.
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Mirena
- How it works: Mirena contains 20 micrograms of levonorgestrel, a synthetic form of progesterone, daily. This type of IUD contains the highest dose of progesterone, notes Dr. White.This hormone thickens the lining of the vagina, thins the lining of the uterus, and can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg, preventing sperm from attaching to and fertilizing the egg.
- Side effects: Because it thins the lining of the uterus, the most common side effect is a much shorter period or no periods at all, a doctor says. Other problems can include nausea, breakthrough bleeding, ovarian cysts, and mood swings.
And the production of the hormone progesterone is not so good for your skin.It doesn’t make things worse, but it doesn’t necessarily make things better. according to dr Weiss, this side effect only occurs in 10 percent of women with hormonal IUDs. Hair loss is sometimes caused by the effects of progesterone on a person’s hormone levels after a few months.
- How long: Seven years, according to Mirena’s website.
- Who is it best for: Women with very heavy periods.
