You May Not Be Able To Get The Copper Iud If You Have Certain Health Issues
Some people arent the best candidates for the copper IUD. Those include people who have uterine issues, like large fibroids, that might affect the IUDs placement. Having an infection like pelvic inflammatory disease is also a contraindication, as is abnormal vaginal bleeding that hasnt been diagnosed, along with a few other issues. If you have concerns about how the copper IUD might work with your existing medical condition, be honest about it with your doctor. Theyll either be able to reassure you that it should be just fine or help you find a different birth control method that makes more sense for your situation.
What Are The Advantages
- Long acting it lasts for between 3 and 10 years depending on the type of IUD
- Reversible you can choose to have it taken out at any time. After that, you will be able to get pregnant
- 99% effective it works very well
- You dont need to think about contraception every day
- Does not affect breastfeeding
- Does not get in the way of sex
- The copper IUD does not contain any hormones
- The copper IUD can also be used as emergency contraception
- The hormonal IUD has a very small amount of hormones and most people have no side effects from this
- The Mirena can help with period bleeding and pain, and most people will have light bleeding or no periods at all.
Studies show that IUDs do not cause pimples, headaches, sore breasts, nausea, mood changes, loss of sex drive or weight gain. There is no evidence of an extra risk of cancer.
What Are The Most Common Non
The most common non-hormonal IUD side effects are heavier bleeding and more cramping during periods for the first few months after the device is inserted. Many women also experience some cramping and bleeding between periods for the first few months after insertion. These side effects are seen with the ParaGard T intrauterine device, which is one of two IUDs available. The ParaGard IUD contains no hormones, while the Mirena IUD does contain a small amount of synthetic hormones.
For some women, non-hormonal IUD side effects include pain and fainting at the time of insertion. An IUD is a small T-shaped device, just more than 1 inch long that is placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The ParaGard IUD is made of plastic and copper. It works by making it difficult for sperm to move, thus making it difficult for eggs to be fertilized and pregnancy to occur. Most studies find that IUDs are more than 99 percent effective, though there is some risk of the IUD being expelled from the body, which can lead to unintended pregnancies.
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How Effective Is It
Really freaking effective.
Copper IUDs are somewhere between 99 and 100 percent effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy. This means that less than 1 in every 100 people using a copper IUD will become pregnant.
Generally speaking, Dweck says people with active pelvic infections or abnormalities of the uterus such as fibroids should avoid IUDs or use them with extreme caution.
Anyone with a copper allergy, intolerance, or metabolism issue should also avoid getting a copper IUD.
Gersh says it also isnt a good fit for anyone who has recently given birth or is breastfeeding a newborn.
The uterus is more prone to perforation which is when the IUD gets pushed all the way through the uterine wall into the pelvic cavity during insertion at these stages, explains Gersh.
Its generally best to wait to get the IUD inserted until after youre done breastfeeding.
How Should Mirena Be Taken
Mirena contains 52 mg of levonorgestrel . Initially, LNG is released at a dose rate of approximately 20 mcg/day. This rate decreases progressively to half that value after 5 years. Mirena must be removed by the end of the fifth year and can be replaced at the time of removal with a new Mirena if continued contraceptive protection is desired. Drug interactions and warnings include potential interactions with insulin, warfarin and steroids. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Mirena should not be used during pregnancy. This device can cause severe infection, miscarriage, premature birth, or death of the mother if it is left in place during pregnancy. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while using the Mirena intrauterine system. Small amounts of progestins such as those in Mirena pass into breast milk. If you have recently had a baby and are breastfeeding, wait until your baby is at least 6 weeks old before you start using Mirena.
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How To Get Copper Iuds In Canada
ParaGard requires a prescription from a doctor. The doctor will ask you about medicine and disease history to understand if copper IUD is a good option.
Once you get the prescription, you can get an appointment with the medical professional to insert the IUD.
During insertion, the doctor will explain all the steps and precautions to be followed. This is the best time to clear all doubts if you have any.
Whats The Insertion Process Like
First, you may be offered numbing cream for your cervix. Next, youll lie down, pants off, and your provider will insert a speculum into your vagina with the help of lubricant.
Your provider will then check the position and size of your cervix, and look for any potential problems with your uterus.
If everything is good to go, theyll fold the T arms of the IUD down, insert the IUD into a teensy tube, and slide the tube into the speculum.
Next, theyll use that tube to push the IUD past your cervix and into your uterus.
When they remove the tube, the arms will release. Viola!
All IUDs have a string that hangs down from the uterus into the vagina your provider will snip the string so its no more than an inch long.
In case you were wondering: That whole shebang usually takes less than 10 minutes.
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How Will Your Periods Change On The Hormonal Iud
A hormonal IUD makes use of a hormone called progestin, which is the synthetic form of progesterone, and releases it into your body.
It prevents pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus, making it difficult for the sperm to get through the uterus and reach the egg.
Some people use a hormone releasing IUD to ease menstrual symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding and long lasting periods. In fact, some doctors or nuses sometimes recommend this IUD for this purpose.
The most popular hormonal birth control products on the market are Mirena, Skyla, Liletta, and Kyleena. They remain effective for up to 3-5 years, depending on the brand.
After 3 months following IUD insertion, you will probably begin to have lighter and shorter periods. For some women, periods may even go away completely.
However, aside from its impact on periods, hormonal IUDs are also associated with other potential side effects. These include:
- acne
- mood changes
- back aches
The changes in your periods while on the hormonal intrauterine device might make you wonder if youre pregnant. Even if this is a rare circumstance for IUDs, which are known to be 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, it can still possibly happen.
And if it does, it will more likely be an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg grows outside a womans uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. This type of pregnancy can potentially be dangerous and needs immediate medical attention.
Possible Side Effects Or Disadvantages Of The Iud
- Both types need to be put in by a trained doctor or nurse.
- You may have extra upfront costs and difficulty accessing a clinic to insert the IUD.
- When it is first inserted some users have period type cramping that usually settles after a few days.
- Your vaginal bleeding pattern will change. Spotting or frequent bleeding is common in the first 3 6 months.
- Sometimes the IUD can fall out. This is more common in the first 3 months of it being inserted.
- The hormonal IUD can cause side effects for a small number of users, including headaches, changes to your skin, sore/tender breasts and mood changes.
- In about 1 in 500 users, the doctor or nurse makes a small hole in the wall of the uterus while inserting the IUD. The IUD can move through the hole and sit in the wrong place. You would then need keyhole surgery to have it removed.
- Around 1 in 300 users get an infection when the IUD is first inserted. This is usually successfully treated with antibiotics.
- It is very unlikely to get pregnant when using the IUD. If you do get pregnant with an IUD, there is a higher chance of ectopic pregnancy. This means that the pregnancy may settle in the fallopian tubes .
Family Planning Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which our offices stand and in the regions in which we provide our services. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
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The Copper Iud Is Hormone
Since the copper IUD doesnt contain hormones, you can use it in situations where other kinds of birth control may not be a fit. For instance, it might be a good choice for breastfeeding people, Taraneh Shirazian, M.D., assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells SELF. This is because theres a slight chance that estrogen, which is in forms of combined hormonal birth control like the pill, patch, and ring, may impact your milk supply, according to the ACOG.
Due to its lack of estrogen, the copper IUD may also offer an advantage for some people who have health conditions that can get worse when exposed to this hormone, such as people with a history of blood clots, or high blood pressure , Dr. Shirazian says.
If youre not able to tolerate hormones for some reason, definitely mention that to your doctor when trying to find which type of IUD is right for you.
How Does An Iud Work
IUDs are small, T-shaped devices that a medical professional places in the uterus.
The device prevents pregnancy by making it harder for sperm to fertilize an egg, though the mechanism for how this happens depends on the IUD type whether it’s hormonal or non-hormonal.
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What Its Like To Have A Copper Iud
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Every body is different, and people have a huge variety of experiences with the copper IUD. We reached out for personal stories, and hereâs what you had to say.
There are many different brands of copper IUD worldwide, and many of these stories mention the specific brand. Some brands may only be available in certain countries, and may vary slightly in size and how many years they are approved for use.
Safe For Use In A Wide Range Of Women Including Women With Certain Medical Conditions
Before starting Paragard, you should share your full medical history with your healthcare provider to find out if Paragard is right for you.
According to CDC recommendations, Paragard may be used with no restriction in over 20 preexisting characteristics and medical conditions including but not limited to:
- Breast cancer
- Cystic fibrosis
- Headaches including migraines with and without auras and menstrual migraines
- History of bariatric surgery
- History of high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Hypertension
- Inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease
- Ischemic heart disease
- Risk factors for cardiovascular disease including smoking
- Multiple sclerosis
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How Soon Does An Iud Start Working
The IUD begins working to prevent pregnancy as soon as it is inserted, but full protection is believed to take about seven days in some cases, depending on when in the menstrual cycle it is inserted. If you have an IUD inserted within seven days of ending your menstrual period, it should be effective right away. At any other time in the menstrual cycle, you should use another method of birth control for the first week after insertion.
If You’re Under 16 Years Old
Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16.
If you’re under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist will not tell your parents or carer as long as they believe you fully understand the information you’re given and the decisions you’re making.
Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under 16. They’ll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they will not make you.
The only time a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you’re at risk of harm, such as abuse.
In these circumstances, the risk would need to be serious, and they’d usually discuss it with you first.
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Pro: Its Ready When You Are
Having an IUD means that as long as youre practicing safer sex, you can be spontaneous without worrying about pregnancy. Your IUD offers reliable contraception for years at a time. The copper IUD starts working instantly.
Hormone-releasing IUDs should be removed and replaced every 3-10 years, depending on the brand. The copper-wrapped IUD can stay in place and offer continuous protection for up to 12 years.
The Copper Iud Doesnt Protect Against Sexually Transmitted Infections
When it comes to birth control, only internal and external condoms can prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections. If youre using the copper IUD and are at risk for STIs , youll still need to use some form of protection like condoms or dental dams. You should also get tested regularly. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendations for your STI screening schedule, depending on your circumstances.
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How Much Does It Cost To Get A Copper Iud
The cost of getting a copper IUD inserted can vary depending on your health insurance. Some insurance companies cover the entire costs of copper IUDs, and others provide only partial coverage. If youre not sure whether youre covered, you can contact your insurance company, or your doctor may be able to do this for you.
Thats everything you need to know about copper IUDs. If you still have questions about different birth control options or copper IUDs in particular, your doctor can give you advice for your specific situation.
British Columbia Specific Information
Birth control can help prevent pregnancy. There are many types of birth control available. Speak with your health care provider to help decide which type is right for you and your partner.
Hormone-based birth control contains hormones such as estrogen and progestin. Certain medications may make your hormone-based birth control not work properly or not at all. For more information, see HealthLinkBC File #91a Hormonal Contraception and using other medications at the same time.
Emergency contraception helps to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, or failed birth control. For more information about emergency contraception, see HealthLinkBC File #91b Emergency Contraception .
Birth control cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections , but using a condom will reduce your risk. For more information about birth control and sexual health, visit Options for Sexual Health and Smart Sex Resource. To learn more about STIs, see our HealthLinkBC Files – Sexually Transmitted Infections Series.
You may also call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse or pharmacist. Our nurses are available anytime of the day, every day of the year. Our pharmacists are available every night from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
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Perforationthe Iud Attaches To Your Uterus And/or Busts Through
Yeah, a plastic or copper wrapped device busting through the wall of your uterus is as bad as it sounds. And painful. It can also lead to scarring, damaged organs, infection, infertility and some big-time surgery. The risk appears to be higher for breastfeeding women. Yeah, like postpartum wasn’t hard enough. < eye roll>
Perforation is thought to be more of an issue during placement than the IUD migrating and passing through the uterine wall. What does that mean for you? If you’re getting an IUD then you want the pro to place it! That means a health care provider who does these on the daily. Planned Parenthood or a gynecologists office is where I recommend my patients go when they’ve decided to get an IUD.
What’s the risk of perforation?
The risk of perforation is about 1 in every 1,000 IUDs that are placed. Low risk, but you can make it even lower by having it placed by someone with experience. If you’re really concerned, talk to your doctor about the position of your uterus and any other individualized risk factors that could contribute.
Bleeding and pain come with the territory when you place an IUD in your uterus, but excessive pain, increased bleeding or not being able to feel the strings is a sign that perforation may have occurred. When it comes to IUDs, if you suspect anything is wrong, get to your doctor immediately. A quick ultrasound can help them see what is going on and at the least, give you peace of mind that everything is ok.