Who Is An Iud Right For
IUDs are a good birth control option for many girls and women. However, IUDs aren’t recommended for someone:
- with PID or an active STD infection
- who is already pregnant or may be pregnant
- who has problems with her uterus, like a disease or malformation, or has abnormal bleeding
Experts recommend IUDs as a good birth control option for younger women and teens because they last for many years, need no daily care, and are very effective at preventing pregnancy.
What To Expect At Your Placement Appointment
How is Skyla placed?
Skyla is placed by your healthcare professional during an in-office visit. First, your healthcare professional will examine your pelvis to find the exact position of your uterus. Your healthcare professional will then clean your vagina and cervix with an antiseptic solution and slide a slim plastic tube containing Skyla through the cervix into your uterus. Your healthcare professional will then remove the plastic tube and leave Skyla in your uterus. Your healthcare professional will cut the threads to the right length.
You may experience pain, bleeding or dizziness during and after placement. If your symptoms do not pass within 30 minutes after placement, Skyla may not have been placed correctly. Your healthcare professional will examine you to see if Skyla needs to be removed or replaced.
Do not use Skyla if you:
- are or might be pregnant Skyla cannot be used as an emergency contraceptive
- have a serious pelvic infection called pelvic inflammatory disease or have had PID in the past unless you have had a normal pregnancy after the infection went away
- have an untreated genital infection now
- have had a serious pelvic infection in the past 3 months after a pregnancy
- can get infections easily. For example, if you:
- have multiple sexual partners or your partner has multiple sexual partners
- have problems with your immune system
- use or abuse intravenous drugs
Iud Removal & Pregnancy
Once your IUD is removed, you are no longer protected against pregnancy.To protect yourself against unwanted pregnancy, you can have your doctor insert another IUD immediately after removing your old device, or you can use another form of contraception altogether. You should discuss the various contraception options available to you with your doctor.
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Mirena Or Kyleena Iud Post Insertion
You can expect to have some cramps and bleeding/spotting in the first few months but may be worse in the first 1 2 weeks.
Treat the cramps with ibuprofen or Tylenol.
The hormone is like progesterone, it does not contain estrogen, and is about one fifth the dose in birth control pills, only so it seldom causes hormonal side effects. Uncommon hormonal side effects may include headache, acne, mood changes, ovarian cysts, increased vaginal discharge or breast pain. These symptoms often subside in the first 6 months.
Irregular bleeding/spotting can occur for 3-6 months after the insertion of a Mirena or Kyleena. Some users stop getting regular menstrual bleeding, this is a very safe side effect that some women enjoy.
Copper Iuds And Missed Periods
If you choose a hormonal IUD, missed or the complete cessation of periods could occur depending on the brand you choose. However, copper IUDs and missed periods are quite rare. This is because copper IUDs dont release hormones, but small amounts of copper. Because they work differently at preventing sperm from fertilizing eggs, copper IUDs dont cause missed periods. If you have missed your period and are using a copper IUD, contact your doctor immediately.
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Are There Any Problems With Iuds
The most common side effects of the IUD include:
- irregular bleeding for the first few months
- with the copper IUD, heavier periods with more cramps
- lighter and shorter periods with some kinds of progestin IUDs
- PMS-like symptoms such as moodiness, headaches, acne, nausea, and breast tenderness with the hormonal IUD
Rare problems include:
Expulsion. An IUD can come out of the uterus by accident . Sometimes a woman doesn’t know this has happened. If an IUD comes even part of the way out, it does not protect against pregnancy. A woman can check that an IUD is still in place by feeling for the string . After someone has an IUD inserted, she’ll need to go back for a follow-up visit to check that the IUD is properly in place.
Perforation of the uterus. There’s an extremely small risk that an IUD might push through the wall of the uterus while it is being put in.
Pelvic inflammatory disease . There’s a very low risk of infection from bacteria getting into the uterus during IUD insertion. Most such infections happen in the first 20 days after placement of the IUD.
What About Insertion While On Your Period
Going to the gyno while on your period may sound like a nightmare , but many doctors actually prefer to insert an IUD while youre bleeding.
Though an IUD can be inserted any time, your cervix may be more open and soft while youre on your period.
It also ensures youre not preggers, which is a big one, because getting an IUD when youre pregnant can result in:
- miscarriage
Hormonal IUDs are also immediately effective if inserted while youre on your period. Otherwise, they can take up to a week to start working.
Copper IUDs are immediately effective whenever theyre inserted, because the copper itself prevents pregnancies.
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Hormonal Vs Copper Iuds
A copper IUD may make you crampier and your period heavier and longer, but these symptoms usually go away after a few months.
A hormonal IUD may make your period lighter and shorter or nonexistent for as long as youre using it. Skyla, Kyleena, Liletta, and Mirena are the big four brands you should know.
What Is A Copper Iud
A copper IUD is a non-hormonal birth control that comes in the form of a small piece of flexible plastic shaped like a T that has copper wire wrapped around the base. There is currently only one brand of copper IUD allowed in the U.S., which is called ParaGard. It is usually placed within the uterus and left for 8 to 12 years. Many women choose copper IUDs because they offer a long-term solution for preventative pregnancy.
The copper IUD works by constantly releasing a small amount of copper into the uterus. The copper IUD works by stopping the sperm and egg from connecting, as well as changing the lining of the uterus. The constant release of copper makes it difficult for a fertilized egg to stick to the uterine lining. Copper IUDs are sometimes used as an emergency contraceptive because of their effectiveness. The copper metal in the IUD is toxic to sperm therefore, they wont have a chance of fertilization even if they end up reaching the egg.
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Mirena And Other Forms Of Contraception Dont Affect The Onset Of Menopause
Mirena partially suppresses ovulation the release of an egg from its follicle to stop you from getting pregnant. Stands to reason that releasing fewer eggs will make the ones you have last longer and make you go into menopause later, right? Wrong.
Even if you dont ovulate, you steadily lose follicles as you get older. Mirena or any other type of contraceptive doesnt seem to affect the time it takes to get to menopause.
Other Causes Of Period Changes
Even though we know that copper IUDs can often cause periods to be heavy, lengthy, or irregular it doesnt necessarily mean its the only cause. There are a few different reasons why you could be experiencing heavy, long , or irregular periods. Some of these include:
- Hormone issues
- Adenomyosis
- Uterine fibroids or other uterine growths
If youve recently had a copper IUD removed, you may be used to heavy, long periods as well as bleeding in between cycles. Although two conditions: uterine fibroids and adenomyosis could contribute to painful, heavy periods.
Both fibroid and adenomyosis symptoms could be mistaken for copper IUD side effects. However, its important to consult your doctor or a fibroid specialist if your symptoms are interfering with your daily routine.
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Kyleena And Your Period
Your periods are likely to change while using Kyleena. During the first 3 to 6 months, bleeding and spotting days may increase, and your period may become irregular. Some women have heavy bleeding during this time. You may also have cramping during the first few weeks.
Once your body adjusts, monthly bleeding usually decreases. Kyleena contains a small amount of a hormone that may reduce the monthly thickening of your uterine lining. This thinning of the uterine lining can reduce monthly bleeding.
Over time, your periods are likely to become shorter and lighter, or they may stop entirely. When Kyleena is removed, your periods should return.
About 12 out of 100 women stop having periods after 1 year of Kyleena use. If you do not have a period for 6 weeks during Kyleena use, call your healthcare professional.
Hrt Wont Act As Contraception Though
HRT contains estrogen and progesterone. Birth control pills contain estrogen and progesterone. Both should prevent pregnancy, right? Nope.
Each type of pill works in different ways. Birth control prevents pregnancy by overriding your bodys hormone release to stop you from ovulating. HRT replaces some or all of the estrogen your body used to make, but it wont stop you from ovulating.
So if youre not fully in menopause, you can still get pregnant while on HRT.
To prevent pregnancy, you have two options:
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Hormonal Birth Control May Mask Your Symptoms Entirely
Hormonal IUDs like Mirena can make periods lighter. Some women with IUDs stop getting a period altogether. If your periods do stop, it can be hard to tell whether youre in menopause.
Mirena can also cause a few symptoms that look a lot like menopause, including mood swings and irregular periods.
But an IUD shouldnt affect other menopause symptoms. It only releases progesterone, not estrogen. As your estrogen level naturally drops, you can still expect to have menopause symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and flushed skin.
A few other symptoms can pop up that make you wonder whether youre going through menopause or second puberty.
These symptoms can be due to the hormone progesterone in Mirena:
- tender breasts
How Does An Iud Work
The copper-coated IUD prevents pregnancy by not allowing the sperm to fertilize the egg. It may also make it harder for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus.
An IUD coated with progestin works in a similar way, but also thickens the cervical mucus and thins the uterine lining. In some cases, it stops . This prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg and implanting.
A progestin IUD also can be used to help reduce blood flow for girls who have heavy, painful periods .
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Getting Contraception During Coronavirus
If you need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. Only go in person if asked to.
It might not be possible to have an IUD fitted or replaced at the moment.
IUDs are normally used for 5 or 10 years, but can be left in for longer.
If your IUD is due to be replaced and you do not want to get pregnant, use condoms or the progestogen-only pill for now.
How To Tell If It’s Still In Place
An IUD has 2 thin threads that hang down a little way from your womb into the top of your vagina.
The GP or nurse that fits your IUD will teach you how to feel for these threads and check that it’s still in place.
Check your IUD is in place a few times in the first month and then after each period, or at regular intervals.
It’s very unlikely that your IUD will come out, but if you cannot feel the threads or think it’s moved, you may not be protected against pregnancy.
See a GP or nurse straight away and use additional contraception, such as condoms, until your IUD has been checked.
If you have had sex recently, you may need to use emergency contraception.
Your partner should not be able to feel your IUD during sex. If they can, see a GP or nurse for a check-up.
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Tell Me More About Mirena
Mirena is a hormone-releasing intrauterine device thats placed in your uterus to prevent pregnancy or treat heavy periods . It looks like a tiny T and works by releasing small amounts of the progestin hormone levonorgestrel directly into your uterus.
Having a hormonal IUD is great for those who dont want to worry about remembering to take a pill or get a shot. It can also help lessen or eliminate your period.
IUDs last for several years, and the Mirena can be left in for 5 to 6 years, depending on whether youre using it mainly for heavy flow control or to prevent pregnancy.
Does It Hurt To Get An Iud
Most women feel cramping or mild discomfort during the insertion process. If you do feel pain, it usually only lasts a moment. After the IUD is inserted, you may feel dizzy or faint. I recommend taking an ibuprofen before your appointment. Making sure that your appointment lands during the last days of your period, when your cervix is naturally open, can reduce discomfort.
The process to put in an IUD begins like a pelvic exam. A speculum, the metal instrument used during a pelvic exam, is inserted into your vagina. This opens your vagina to allow access to your cervix. A small tube with the IUD in it is inserted through your cervix. The IUD arms are bent back in the tube and open once its in your uterus. The process usually takes less than five minutes.
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What To Do And Look For At Home
- You may have some cramping or a small amount of vaginal bleeding that may last several hours to several days after the IUD removal. You may use a sanitary pad or a tampon if you need to until the bleeding stops.
- It can take up to 3 months after the IUD removal for your normal menstrual cycle to return.
- After removal of your IUD, you no longer have birth control. It is important to talk to your health care provider about another method of birth control if you do not wish to become pregnant.