What Are The Disadvantages Of Non
Non-hormonal IUDs can make your periods heavier and cause cramping, especially in the first 3-6 months. And you may have some IUD cramps when you first get your IUD. For many people, these side effects get better once your body gets used to the IUD. So if you can stick it out for a few months, theres a good chance the side effects will ease up. Read more about side effects.
Its normal to have some cramping during your period with a copper IUD. But if your cramps are really bad and over-the-counter medicine doesnt help, talk with your nurse or doctor. Its also a good idea to call your nurse or doctor if youre still having bad IUD cramps after a year, or you have pain or IUD cramps when youre not on your period this can be a sign your IUD has moved, and they may want to check to make sure its still in place.
IUDs are one of the most effective and convenient ways to prevent pregnancy, but they don’t protect you from sexually transmitted infections. So use condoms with your IUD every time you have sex to lower the chance of getting or spreading STDs.
How Does An Iud Work
There are two distinct types of IUDs available. Dr. Burroughs explains that hormonal IUDs contain progesterone, a hormone that works to thicken the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for the sperm to fertilize the egg. The lining of the uterus also thins, helping to suppress ovulation. Depending on the type of hormonal IUD, protection typically lasts from three to six years. Certain brands can also be used to treat heavy menstrual cycles, she says.
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Then there’s the copper IUD, which “interferes with the sperm’s viability and ability to migrate,” Dr. Burroughs says. This option provides the longest-lasting contraception available at up to 10 years, and, as she explains, is ideal “for patients who are sensitive to hormones or would prefer a non-hormonal method of contraception.”
No matter which you choose, convenience is one of the biggest advantages of getting an IUD. You don’t have to remember to take a pill every day, refill prescriptions, or schedule doctor’s visits to keep your birth control in check. Both options can easily be discontinued if you experience undesirable side effects or want to get pregnant, too.
What Are The Different Types Of Iuds
An IUD is a small T-shaped device thats placed inside the uterus by a physician. There are two kinds of IUDs: hormonal and non-hormonal/copper.
- Hormonal IUDs release a daily amount of progestin into your uterus. The probability of getting pregnant using this method ranges between 0.1 and 0.2 percent.
- A non-hormonal/copper IUD prevents pregnancy by creating an inflammatory response in the uterus making it impossible for sperm or ova to survive. The probability of pregnancy using this method ranges between 0.5 and 0.8 percent.
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There Are A Bunch Of Iuds On The Us Market And Theyre Not One
Heres a secret: female doctors and family planning providers are way more likely to use IUDs themselves than U.S. women overall. Maybe its because they know the intrauterine device is safe, low-maintenance, and super-effective.
There are two different types of intrauterine devices : hormonal and non-hormonal. There are currently four brands of hormonal IUDsMirena, Skyla, Liletta, and Kyleenaand one brand of non-hormonal IUD, Paragard. You may have heard about the different brands in the media, but, fancy TV commercials aside, whats the difference between them and is one of them right for you?
It Has A High Success Rate
When you use it correctly, hormonal birth control has a high efficacy rate .
The birth control pill is 99% effective when used according to instructions. If you sometimes forget to take a pill, its about 91% effective.
According to the , several other hormonal methods are also over 90% effective with typical use.
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What Can I Do Next
- Read moreMore fromthat R.D. has writtenR.D.
- Browselocal questionsQuestions
I have the Mirena and I just want to point out the the hormone that it has is progesterone only… not estrogen… it works totally differently and does NOT have the same side effects as estrogen . Actually progesterone works to balance out/counter estrogen, so it can actually help manage some estrogen related issues .
My understanding is that ESTROGEN therapies are linked to breast cancer, so the progesterone in the IUD would not be and may even reduce some of that risk.
Can Anyone Get An Iud
Anyone can get an IUDwith a small caveat, says Jennifer Roelands, MD, OB/GYN, and owner of Well Woman MD. “You have to have a normal uterus,” she explains. Some people have what OBs call a “heart-shaped” uterus, for example. If your uterus doesn’t have the standard, round shape, the T-shape of the IUD may not be able to open up and stay in. Also, if you have large fibroids, that may change the shape of the womb, making it impossible to properly insert an IUD.
But beyond that, advances in IUD technology have made the contraceptive device accessible to pretty much anyone with a uterus. There used to only be the copper and a standard hormonal IUD, Dr. Roelands says. “Because of the size, it was hard to put in .” But now, there’s a smaller version of the hormonal IUD available designed for younger women and women who have never had children. You also have a choice in coverage, like three years or five years. “So they’ve actually really made more personalized options available,” Dr. Roelands says.
There’s also no age cut-off for the IUD, Dr. Burroughs adds, so the IUD is suitable for women up to menopause age, when contraception is no longer required.
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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.
Drug Interactions Of Kyleena Vs Mirena
Drug interaction studies have not been conducted with Kyleena or Mirena, which both contain LNG. However, drugs that induce enzymes that process LNG may decrease LNG levels, making the IUD less effective. On the other hand, drugs that inhibit enzymes that process LNG may increase LNG levels, causing more side effects. Due to the local effect of the medication , the drug interactions may not be clinically relevant. Ask your healthcare provider if there are any drug interactions with medicines you take.
The manufacturer of both Kyleena and Mirena recommends that any drug prescribed along with one of these IUDs should be checked for potential drug interactions with LNG.
This is not a full list of drug interactions. Consult your healthcare provider for medical advice.
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Which Iud Is The Right Contraceptive Device For You
The first decision you must make with your doctor is whether you want a copper or a hormonal option. Reviewing the facts below, and discussing them with your doctor, will help you make an informed decision.
If you do choose a hormonal IUD, several factors go into selecting the brand, says Courtney Benedict, a certified nurse midwife and the associate director of medical standards implementation at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
All hormonal IUDs are progestin-only, but the dosing varies, Benedict says. Differences in dosing play a role in how long the IUD remains effective, she says. Plus, dosing concentrations may affect how light or heavy your period is. The higher the dose of hormone, the lighter your period tends to be, although that wont necessarily determine whether you have hormone side effects like spotting, mood changes, or weight gain, she says.
Another factor for choosing an IUD may depend on the one that your health insurance provider will pay for, as well as the one your doctors health system carries, Destephano says.
The decision of whether to get an IUD and which brand is a complex one, Destephano says. Shared decision-making between the patient and her doctor is important. If youre not comfortable with the counseling youre getting from your doctor, get another opinion, he says, noting that ultimately, its up to you to decide which option is best for you.
How Much Does The Copper Iud Cost
As we mentioned, the cost of a copper IUD vs. a hormonal IUD is very similar. The out-of-pocket copper IUD costs can be up to $1,300, which includes the fees for the device itself and any costs associated with insertion, like your office visit, according to Planned Parenthood. But they can also be $0what you will pay depends on several factors, such as your insurance benefits, medical provider, and if you have access to a low-cost clinic.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most people should have access to free contraception. In fact, when it went into effect in 2012, millions of people who had been denied coverage or access to birth control suddenly had it as an optiona game-changer for reproductive rights, per Planned Parenthood.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most health plans are required to cover birth control methods, potentially leaving you with only the costs of the procedure to have the IUD inserted and removed. But, as some people later find out, this is not always the case if you work for a religious employer or non-profit religious organization, according to HealthCare.gov. Therefore, its worth contacting your health insurance plan before making an appointment with your doctor.
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How Much Does It Cost
- This method may be free or low-cost for you
- With Medicaid: Free
- With insurance:Free under most plans. If your plan has a high copay, you may qualify for copay assistance that reduces the cost of the device to $75.
- Without insurance: Depending on your income, you may be able to go to a low-cost clinic to get it at reduced cost or even for free.
The full price of LILETTA can range from $50-$684. There is also an out-of-pocket maximum of $75 with certain insurance plans. To see how this translates over a year, heres what it would cost to pay for LILETTA month-to-month at full price.
- Cost per month over one year: $4 – $57
- Cost per month over three years: $1 – $19
*Note: Without insurance there may be an additional cost for your health care provider to insert or remove an IUD. The average cost for these visits is around $150 to $250, depending on the service. For those with insurance, insertion should always be covered, but removal might not always be covered.
There Is No Best Birth Control
Verma says that healthcare providers have changed the way they talk to their patients about choosing birth control. “When the long-acting reversible contraceptive methods came out, there was a lot of excitement about them and a lot of pushing of these methods,” she said.
But these days, Verma and her colleagues have largely shifted their approach toward talking to women about all their birth control options , and then helping them decide which one best fits their lifestyle.
What works for some might not work for others, Verma said. “No one can tell you what’s doable for you.”
This resource was created with support from Evofem Biosciences.
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Why Hormonal When I Can Go Non
This mostly depends on personal preferences – unless your doctor suggests one over the other based on medical reasons. As stated above, there are benefits and disadvantages to both. Here are some pros and cons that IUD users have mentioned for their reasoning behind their own choice.
As your birth control best friend, we’ll tell you the hard truth.
Tough love, honey.
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Does not protect against STIs |
Does not protect against STIs |
How Are The Hormonal Iuds Different
All the hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy by releasing a very small amount of a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel each day. The progestin acts locally in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Compared to folks using the pill and some other hormonal methods, those using hormonal IUDs have much less hormone in their blood. Hormonal IUDs dont contain estrogen, so they typically have fewer hormonal side effects than methods that do contain estrogen.
Many people who start using a hormonal IUD have irregular bleeding for the first 3-6 months after placement. This bleeding is usually more like spottinglight and not painful. But you may not be able to predict your periods for the first several months, so wear black underwear! After 6 months, some hormonal IUD users get very light periods or no period at all. Because of the different amounts of hormone, a woman using each IUD has a different chance of her period going away after one year: 20% for Mirena, 12% for Kyleena, and 6% for Skyla. If not having a period every month would make you sick to your stomach worrying that youre pregnant, you might prefer a non-hormonal IUD.
So, what are the differences between the hormonal IUDs?
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Pregnancy When Using An Iud
If you become pregnant while using an IUD, see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible and have the IUD removed. The doctor or nurse will also need to rule out a pregnancy in your fallopian tubes .
If the IUD is removed, you can choose to continue or terminate the pregnancy .
If the IUD is not removed and you continue with the pregnancy, there is a higher risk of miscarriage or delivering the baby early .
Efficacy In Pregnancy Prevention
IUDs offer long-term protection against unwanted pregnancy. Copper IUDs have an efficacy rate of 99.2% and can last up to 10 years.
Hormonal IUDs have an efficacy rate of 99.8% and can provide protection for 3-5 years depending on the brand.
To learn more about the benefits of IUDs for pregnancy prevention, book an appointment online or over the phone with The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group today.
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How Effective Is The Mirena Iud
Mirena® is more than 99% effective. Out of 10,000 women who use Mirena® for birth control, approximately six may get pregnant unintentionally. Outside of abstinence , IUDs are significantly more effective than most common forms of birth control options:
- Shot : 94% effective .
- Pill, patch, and vaginal ring: 91% .
So Which Iud Should I Choose
If you have a heavy menstrual cycle, hormonal IUDs are one way to help decrease the length, flow, and associated pain of your cycle. “They can even stop your period altogether,” Dr. Roelands says.
Copper IUDs, on the other hand, have a tendency to make your periods heavierand this is the leading reason many people stop using them, according to 2018 research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. That’s why they’re not recommended for girls and women with heavy baseline menstrual bleeding.
As for the hormonal IUD, it does not increase the risk of blood clots or stroke, Dr. Roelands says. That can make it a suitable option for women disqualified from using other hormonal methods like the pill or the patch, such as women over 35 who smoke, have a history of heart disease, or get migraines.
While the hormonal IUD contains a lower hormone level than other methods like the pill, some women can experience side effects like headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes, and ovarian cyst formation. But generally, patients report milder side effects due to the lower level of hormones that’s localized in the uterus.
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Natural Ways To Prevent Pregnancy
Dr. Jones and I use the fertility awareness method to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Science says you can only get pregnant when youre ovulating. When you understand your body and the signs of ovulation , you can work with your body and partner to prevent pregnancy naturally.
Scientific Ways to Track Ovulation
3 Primary Benefits
Resources
Myth #: Iuds Prevent Pregnancy By Causing Abortions
Fact: IUDs dont work by causing abortions. In most cases, they simply prevent fertilization from ever occurring in the first place. The copper in non-hormonal/copper IUDs works as a spermicide by killing/damaging sperm before it can fertilize the egg. IUDs containing the hormone progestin thicken the cervical mucus, and this prevents the sperm from entering the uterus.
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