Intrauterine Device (IUD)
From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality
Commonly known as IUDs, intrauterine devices are a reversible prescription method of birth control. They are small shapes of plastic that contain copper or a hormone and are inserted in a woman’s uterus. They usually work by preventing fertilization of the egg, but they may also be able to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg.
Insertion of the IUD is usually done by a clinician during menstruation, to insure that the woman is not pregnant. There is some pain during insertion, but it is usually no worse than menstrual cramps. The IUD is effective: only 3 women out of 100 who use it will get pregnant in a year, and it is effective for a whole year.
It does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases, so it is best used by women who have one partner or who are willing to use a condom in addition to the IUD. There is a string that hangs from the IUD through the cervix, permitting the woman to check to make sure it is still in place. If a woman wants to become pregnant, she can ask her clinician to remove the IUD at any time.
The copper IUD is one of the most effective forms of birth control available and it is the most popular reversible birth control method in the world. Most women adjust to the IUD with few problems, but potential side effects might include cramping for a brief period after insertion, and it is not unusual for women’s periods to be heavier and last longer (less so with IUDs containing hormones). In rare cases the IUD can cause complications which could be life-threatening, and one brand of IUDs had to removed from the market because of severe health problems that occurred with it. For that reason a clinician will ask a woman to sign a consent form which states that she is aware of the potential dangers before inserting the device.
The uterus can push the IUD out. This is most likely to occur during the first few months after insertion, and it is also more likely to happen in a woman who has not had a child. Pregnancy could occur during this time, which is why it is necessary to check the string from time to time.
Because the IUD must be inserted by a clinician, the cost ranges for $150 to $300 for private doctors in the United States . For this price, the IUD protects a woman from pregnancy for one year, though again she may want to supplement the device with condoms if she has multiple partners.
Although it happens rarely, it is possible to become pregnant although an IUD is properly in place. If a woman using an IUD misses a menstrual period, she should see her physician immediately. A pregnancy with an IUD in place can lead to serious complications from infection or from implantation of the pregnancy outside the uterus, in the fallopian tubes (see ectopic pregnancy).
