Pronounced: in-trah-U-tah-rin dee-vice in-sur-shun
An intrauterine device (IUD) is a type of temporary birth control for women. A small device is placed in the uterus by a healthcare professional. There are 2 types of IUDs:
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Most women can become pregnant when the device is removed.
An IUD is inserted to prevent pregnancy. The hormone-releasing IUD may also help to treat:
Problems from the procedure are rare. Your doctor will review possible problems of the procedure and having an IUD such as:
There is a chance that you can get pregnant with IUD. This pregnancy may have problems such as miscarriage, premature labor, or delivery. The fetus may also develop outside the uterus. This is called an ectopic pregnancy.
An IUD is not the best choice for every woman. IUD insertion may not be ideal for women with:
A hormone-releasing IUD may not be a good choice for women with:
A copper IUD may not be a good choice for women with:
Tests may be done to check for pregnancy or infection.
Ask someone to give you a ride home after the procedure.
Local anesthesia is used. It will numb the area to ease discomfort. You will be awake.
You will lie on an exam table with feet in foot holders. A speculum will be inserted into the vagina. It will make space so the doctor can work. The cervix and vagina will be cleaned.
The T-shaped IUD will be folded and placed into a tube. The tube will be passed through the vagina to the uterus. The IUD will be released in the uterus. It will open and sit in the upper part of the uterus. A thing string will hang down from the device into the vagina. The tube and tools will be removed.
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It will take about 5 minutes to insert.
You may feel cramping or mild discomfort while the IUD is being placed. The doctor may recommend medicine such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen an hour before the procedure.
Medicine may be given to ease discomfort. You can leave once you are ready.
Copper IUDs will work right away.
Hormone-releasing IUDs may take some time before they are effective. Other forms of birth control should be used until the IUD takes effect.
IUDs do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Call your doctor if recovery is not going as expected or if any of the following happen:
Office on Women's Health
http://www.womenshealth.gov
Planned Parenthood
http://www.plannedparenthood.org
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca
Committee on Practice Bulletins-Gynecology, Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Work Group. Practice Bulletin No. 186: Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Implants and Intrauterine Devices. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Nov;130(5):e251-e269
Intrauterine device. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/device/intrauterine-device-iud/. Updated October 23, 2019. Accessed October 30, 2019.
Intrauterine device. US Department of Health and Human Services website. Available at: https://www.hhs.gov/opa/pregnancy-prevention/birth-control-methods/iud/index.html. Updated May 2, 2019. Accessed October 30, 2019.
IUD. Planned Parenthood website. Available at: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/iud-4245.htm. Accessed October 30, 2019.
Last reviewed March 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG Last Updated: 10/30/2019
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