Category: IUD

An intrauterine (IUD) has become one of the most popular method of birth control due to its advantages and a few side-effects and complications. It has its effiency, reliability and comfort. Since it can be used for many years, an IUD is much cheaper method of contraception compared to other available ones.

Advantages of IUD

First of all it is a device of high efficiency in protecting from pregnancy. It has the effectiveness of 99% if inserted properly. An IUD becomes effective from the moment of its insertion into the uterus. In addition it provides continuous protection from pregnancy for five or twelve years, depending on the type of a device. It is especially comfortable to women, who do not have to care about birth control every time they have sexual intercourse.
Once inserted into the uterus, an IUD cannot be felt by a woman or her partner, therefore gives no inconveniences during sexual intercourse. Women, who do not wish to use a hormonal method of contraception, can choose a copper containing intrauterine device that is as effective as the one releasing hormones. Also it is very convenient to breast-feeding women since the device does not interfere with this period and is totally safe both for a woman and her baby.

A hormone releasing type of intrauterine device also make women’s period bleeding lighter and shorter. It is also said to reduce muscle cramps during menstrual period. In addition, a copper containing intrauterine device can be used as a method of emergency contraception. It is claimed to have the efficiency of 99% if used within five days of vaginal intercourse.

Complications of intrauterine device

As with all methods of contraception there are a few side effects and complications associated with the use of an intrauterine device. A copper containing intrauterine device can cause a harder and more intense bleeding during menstrual period. Although rarely, but to some women this could cause anemia. Additionally, this type of an intrauterine device my cause spotting and more painful muscle cramps during period. A hormone releasing intrauterine device may have the same side effects as a birth control pill, since its side effects are associated with the release of hormones. Although insertion of an IUD is most frequently painless, some women claim it to be painful.

Complications associated with the use of an intrauterine device are said to be rare but possible, therefore women should be aware of all possible complications before choosing this method of birth control. There is a risk of 0.003% of the puncture of the uterus during insertion of an IUD. Usually this complication is noticed by a gynecologist right away. Women should be aware that there is a possibility that an IUD could fell out of the uterus. Usually 7 out of a hundred women using this form of contraception experience the expulsion of an intrauterine device within the first year or the first month after insertion of an IUD . If a woman does not notice it she can become pregnant since she is fertile straight away after the expulsion.

Another complication that is rather rare but still can occur is an infection since normal bacteria of the vagina can get into the uterus during insertion of an IUD and cause a uterine infection. Most infections can be cured with antibiotics but some may need surgical therapy leaving a woman sterile afterwards. There is also a higher risk for inflammatory pelvic disease.

And finally another condition that needs additional attention is an IUD and pregnancy. If a woman becomes pregnant with a uterine device present in her uterus there is a higher risk for ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, inflammatory pelvic disease and preterm labor. If a woman becomes pregnant with an IUD present, this device should be taken out by a gynecologist.

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An intrauterine device (or just IUD) becomes a very popular birth control method , because of its advantages and, as many internet resources claim, only few side-effects. Let’s see how the situation in real is…

Women like IUD due to its efficiency (99%) and reliability – it can not be felt during lovemaking and do not have any effects to libido. Sounds good, isn’t it? But not everything is so perfect like it’s believed to be. Not normal, cramping, heavy period and complicated or even impossible impregnation are very common side-effects of using IUD.

There was made an internet research, wherein one hundred women were asked to tell their opinion about using IUD. 95% of all women emphasized having irregular, heavy, bleeding, long running period, backache and problematical impregnation.  Here is one opinion: “I had my IUD for two months when it cause an infection and had to have a surgery to get it out and now I can’t get pregnant.”

Of course, many women have the same symptoms (backache, pain and etc.) during period without an intrauterine device , so it brought nothing new, except complicated impregnation. It looks like pharmacists (or IUD creators) found a solution constrainedly decrease the birthrate, because nowhere you will find at least one sentence about this side-effect – it’s said that IUD only sometimes may have a negative effect on fertility. But many women using this birth control method pay big attention on the possibility to get pregnant after removing IUD from the uterus and accent having problem with it.

There are two choices – insert IUD and don’t have children in future or select and alternative birth control method, which doesn’t have such a horrible side-effect. Of course, IUD may be a perfect solution for those, who have decided not to have kids anymore, but if you are young, healthy woman, who wants to have a baby someday, think twice before making a decision to use an intrauterine device – it causes scar tissue to form in the uterus, preventing the baby being implanted.

ParaGard T 380A is a T-shaped intrauterine device that contains copper and is used in birth control . It is a non-hormonal method of female contraception. It is about 3 cm long and is produced of both copper and plastic. Tiny thread is added to the device, which helps on removal of this type of IUD.

Paragard IUD

Only doctors should insert Paragard IUD into the uterus. This device is effective in birth control straight after its insertion into the uterus. Since it can be left without removal for up to ten years, the price of the device is quite high, fluctuating from $400 to $500 in the United States of America. Paragard IUD is an effective, non-hormonal, long lasting and reversible form of birth control available now.

The action of this device as a method of birth control is not entirely known. Since it does not contain any hormones, copper IUD does not affect ovulation. Paragard IUD is known to kill sperm due to antispermicide effects of copper. This device also changes the uterine lining so that it becomes thinner, and hence, uterine cavity becomes more hostile for sperm and unavailable for implantation of an egg. It also acts as a stimulating agent for prostaglandins that inhibit production of certain hormones needed to assist pregnancy.

The efficiency of Paragard IUD

The efficiency of Paragard IUD is considered to be high, reaching about 90%. Some claim that failure rate is 1% for users, who are comfortable with this type of IUD. However, clinical studies have shown that the possibility that this device falls out the uterus during the first year of use is 5%. And even though, Paragard IUD may be left inside for up to ten years, many women stops using it sooner due to side effects.

This type of intrauterine device is a reversible form of contraception. Women are able to conceive right after removal of IUD.

Should a woman become pregnant with Paragard in place, the device should be removed to prevent possible complications of pregnancy. Removal of an intrauterine device may be sometimes complicated leading to miscarriage or even surgical abortion. If IUD is not removed, long-term effects to fetus are not yet known.

Am I suitable for copper IUD?

Not every woman is suitable for using this form of birth control. First, a woman should have had at least one pregnancy before inserting the device. Her uterus should be normal in shape. Post-pregnancy or post-abortion intrauterine infection during the past 3 months is a contraindication for this method of contraception. It is strictly not recommended to insert an IUD if a woman has a history of previous acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Other contraindications are uterine or cervical cancer, Wilson’s disease or allergy to any of the components of the device, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, and cervical infection.

A woman should consult her health care professional to find out whether she is suitable or not for having Paragard IUD. Women should also know that this device does not protect against any sexually transmitted diseases, therefore additional measures should be used for that.

Paragard IUD side effects

Like all method of birth control, Paragard IUD has certain side effects and possible complications that women should be aware of. The most common side effects include longer and heavier menstruation for several months after insertion. In addition, women also experience spotting. These side effects usually disappear in several months after beginning of use. But a woman should contact a doctor in case of severe menstrual bleeding or if she misses a period, since it might be due to pregnancy.

One of the most serious complications associated with the use of an IUD is perforation of the uterus. Luckily, it is a very rare case. Expulsion of the device is rather frequent and is more likely to appear in younger patients. Pelvic inflammatory disease is also a possible complication due to Paragard, like other IUD’s. Other complications include backache, vaginal discharge, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or even infertility . If any complaints occur a woman should contact her doctor immediately in order to avoid these complications.

Even though there are possible side effects and complications associated with this device, and it efficiency in birth control is not as high compared to hormonal methods of birth control, Paragard IUD is probably one of the most popular non-hormonal methods of contraception these days.

The intrauterine device (IUD ) is a safe and effective method of birth control used by many women worldwide. Copper IUD may be used for ten years after insertion, whereas hormone releasing IUD’s expire after 5 years of use and must then be removed or replaced.

There are different reasons for the IUD to be removed. Most often they are removed at the expiration date. All IUD’s both copper and hormone releasing IUD’s must be removed at expiration date. The use of these devices after expiration date may lead to different complications and even infertility in some women.

Reasons for IUD removal

The most frequent reason why the intrauterine device is removed before its use expires is pain and bleeding. This happens usually within the first year of use. Other reasons include intrauterine infection, expulsion and pregnancy due to the method failure. Also, a woman can decide to have her IUD removed when she wants to discontinue using contraception in order to become pregnant.

In menopausal women the intrauterine device is usual to be removed within one year after disappearance of menstruation . No developed complications have been reported, in cases where IUD has not been removed.

Just as the insertion of intrauterine device the removal of this contraceptive method must be performed by a health care provider, including a midwife or nurse, who is trained to do it. It is not a complicated procedure and is performed routinely. The health care provider may remove this type of birth control device at any time. Bear in mind that it might be easier to remove IUD during menstrual bleeding, though it is not that hard to remove it at any other time.

It is important to reduce the risk of infection by taking regular infection prevention measures. The health care specialist grasps the threads at the external exit with ring forceps and then slowly and gently pulls them away from the uterus, avoiding the breakage of the string. If it is not possible to move IUD , the practitioner should stop traction and find out the reasons why the device is stuck. In case an IUD is deep in the uterus, hysteroscopy may be needed for safe removal of it.

If it is the removal of an expired IUD, a new one can be inserted immediately after removal, if a woman wants to continue this mean of birth control .

An intrauterine device, mostly known as an IUD, is a flexible device that protects from unexpected pregnancy when inserted into a woman’s uterus through the vagina. An IUD is one of the most popular methods of birth control among fertile women worldwide. Some statistics claim that approximately 15% of all fertile women in the world choose an intrauterine device to protect from pregnancy. This is an effective, comfortable and long-term method of contraception for fertile women.

An intrauterine device is an old method for birth control. It has proved its efficiency and relevancy throughout many years. These new intrauterine devices have a high safety in usage. They give fewer complications and side effects . High efficiency, comfort and safety have made an intrauterine device one of the most common methods for birth control. Since it can be used for many years, an intrauterine device is a much cheaper method of contraception compared to other available ones.

IUD types

There are two major types of an IUD. An intrauterine device can be a non-hormonal or hormonal type of contraception. The first one is a t-shaped device made out of flexible plastic and holds copper in it. The second type contains hormones, such as levonorgestrel or progesterone, which are constantly released by a device. A copper containing IUD is an older and more popular form than the one containing progestins. Another part of both types of an intrauterine device is two threads hanging down into the vagina. These threads are easy for a woman to feel and check whether an IUD is in the right place.

How to use Intrauterine device?

Women should be aware that an intrauterine device can be inserted only by a gynecologist who also should decide whether this particular method of contraception is relevant in each individual case. Although an IUD is possible for use for any woman who is older than 20 years, there are still some gynecological or obstetrical restrictions that women should be aware of. Women who have multiple sexual partners or an increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases are not suitable for the use of an intrauterine device. Also women who have HIV or AIDS are not to use an IUD. Also women who are pregnant or trying to conceive are not suited for an IUD. Other gynecological conditions during which women should choose another method for birth control are abnormal positions of the uterus. The uterus could be too far back or forward in the pelvis or it could be deformed making it impossible for insertion of an intrauterine device. If a woman had certain uterine or vaginal infection she could also be not suitable for the use of an IUD. Since an intrauterine device causes a more immense bleeding during menstrual bleeding it is not recommended to women who have anemia.

Women who had never been pregnant or given birth to a baby have usually a smaller uterus. This makes it difficult to insert an intrauterine device; therefore such women might have to choose another method of birth control. In addition, a smaller uterus might cause a higher risk for the expulsion of an IUD. Therefore gynecologists tend not to recommend intrauterine device for birth control to women who had never been pregnant. However, since it is very individual a woman should ask for medical advice in such case.

IUD – the efficient birth control method

An intrauterine device is efficient in protecting against pregnancy right from the beginning of its insertion into the uterus. Depending on the type of an IUD it can be used for constant contraception for up to twelve years. A copper containing IUD can provide with continuous birth control for twelve years, whilst a hormone releasing device is usually effective for up to five years. Most women are able to use this method of contraception during all of their reproductive years, if there are no gynecological or obstetrical restrictions.

The effectiveness of an intrauterine device is provided with a combination of different actions. Scientists say that an IUD inhibits sperm migration in the female genital tract and alters the movement of an egg. Due to these two mechanisms conception is made impossible, since an egg and sperm cannot meet each other in the upper female genital tract. Both types of IUD use these mechanisms. In addition, a hormone releasing IUD alters cervical mucus thickening it and making it a natural barrier for sperm. Both copper containing and hormone releasing intrauterine devices change the endometrial lining of the uterus in such a way that it is difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.

It is important to know that an intrauterine device does not provide any protection against sexually transmitted diseases, although it is very efficient in birth control. Most doctors do not recommend using an IUD as a method for birth control for women, who have multiple sexual partners. Such women should choose another type of contraception.

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1. Guide to overcoming infertility, miscarriage & enjoying successful pregnancies.
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Get a book about IUD Intrauterine Devices – A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References

Intrauterine device is a reversible form of birth control, which means that it protects against unexpected pregnancy while it is inserted in the uterus, and a woman id able to become pregnant straight after the IUD has been removed.

When is pregnancy possible?

Most data suggests that a woman regains fertility immediately after the removal of IUD. Some claim that pregnancy is possible after one month after the removal of this device from the uterus. Women should be aware that there are certain differences between a copper and hormonal IUD and should discuss all the pros and cons with the doctor prior to insertion of this contraceptive device into the uterus.

Most studies suggest that generally women are able to regain fertility after the removal of IUD after the same period of time, compared to other birth control methods .

Certain variations

Intrauterine device is known to have certain risk and side effects that could interfere with the ability to get pregnant after the device is removed from the uterus. These conditions are very rare but still possible and, therefore, women should be aware of them before choosing the appropriate mean of birth control .

Incase perforation of the uterus occurs a woman may have a lower chance of becoming pregnant. There is a greater risk for pelvic infection when IUD is in the uterus. If such condition occurs, the tubes may be injured decreasing the chance to become pregnant afterwards. If a woman uses hormonal IUD, menstrual period may be delayed after removal of the device, causing a delay in fertility regain.

Mirena is levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. It is a hormonal birth control method for women. Mirena IUD, like other IUDs, is a T-shaped device. The difference is that it contains of 52 mg levonorgestrel (progestogen hormone), which is constantly released directly into the uterus at the amount of 20 µg/day. Its contraceptive effect lasts for up to five years. This IUD should be removed not later than 5 years after insertion.

Mirena IUD

Levonorgestrel is a chemical form of a progestogen hormone, which in natural form is one of the most essential female sexual hormones. In vivo it is provided by the ovaries. Birth control pills – both combined and progestogen only – also consist of levonorgestrel.

Levonorgestrel is responsible for contraceptive effect of Mirena IUD. It has three mechanisms of action, which enables Mirena IUD to be highly effective in birth control . Levonorgestrel thins the uterine lining, thickens the cervical mucus and inhibits sperm mobility.

It does not have any effects on the ovaries but some users may experience absence of ovulation.

The efficiency of Mirena IUD

Mirena IUD is highly effective in birth control. Its effectiveness is up to 99.9 %, a failure rate being 0.16 per 100 women per years of use. It is nearly as effective as tubal ligation or vasectomy. Contraceptive effect is reversible, and 80 percent have been able to become pregnant within 12 months after removal of the intrauterine device .

To be able to use Mirena IUD, a woman must have had at least one previous pregnancy. No history of previous pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the main requirements for eligibility for this type of intrauterine device. Mirena does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Contraindications of using Mirena IUD

Pregnancy, cervical dysplasia, genital infections, uterine or cervical cancer, undiagnosed abnormal bleeding are the main contraindications for the use of this IUD. In addition, women who have or have had breast cancer should not use it either. Women, who have a history of icterus, headaches and migraine, hypertension, leukemia, heart disorders, should consult their doctor about other options of birth control .

How to insert Mirena IUD

Mirena IUD should be inserted into the uterus at the doctor‘s office seven days of the onset of period or straight after first trimester abortion. A doctor should check for infection before inserting the device. The cervix should be inspected to determine the size of a uterine device.

Follow ups are recommended after insertion of Mirena IUD . First examination should be scheduled in two weeks. Regular check ups should be performed every three months to consult about bleeding, weight gain, lower abdomen pain, headache and other side effects. Mirena IUD is to be taken out after five years of use. It is best to remove the device during period, since removal of Mirena at other times of the cycle may require the use of additional birth control methods .

Mirena IUD side effects

Even though Mirena IUD is an effective and easy to use method of contraception, just like all hormonal birth control options, it has possible side effects. Since the active ingredient levonorgestrel affects the uterine lining, one of the most common side effects is irregular bleeding and spotting during the first 3 – 6 months. The number of such days continuously diminishes and even 20 % of Mirena users have no bleeding at all by the end of the first year of use. Therefore, a woman should consult a doctor about possible changes in the menstrual pattern to be ready for such effects.

Other possible side effects include lower abdominal pain, nausea, weight gain, headaches, back pain, irritability and others. But these are quite uncommon side effects, and the advantage of this device higher. There is also a low risk of ectopic pregnancy, and therefore, it is recommended to not insert Mirena IUD to women who have a history of ectopic pregnancy. The risk of infection is slightly higher, compared to women, who do not use this device, and therefore additional measures should be taken to protect against STD‘s.

The cost of Mirena IUD is about $300. If you are not satisfied with current method of contraception and considering about Mirena IUD, consult your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of this device. And if you are a good candidate for this device and decide to use it, you might be actually happy to keep your life simple.