IUDs: Minimal Maintenance, Maximal Protection

Women who don’t want to take a pill every day, use a patch or take a timeout for contraception during intimacy may want to consider an IUD.“Women have so many options today,”.

“I would encourage women to consider their lifestyle and desire for family planning and then talk to their doctor about contraception,”.  “Mirena is recommended for women who have had at least one child, but only you and your doctor can decide if it’s right for you.”

The Mirena® IUD is a “T”-shaped, soft plastic intrauterine device that regularly delivers a small amount of hormone in the uterus for up to five years. It is 99 percent effective – more dependable than taking the pill. But among women who want to conceive and have it removed, 80 percent are pregnant within a year.

It can also be used to treat heavy periods for women who choose an IUD.

Women who don’t want to or can’t use hormones may want to consider the ParaGard® IUD. Its plastic construction is similar to the Mirena, but ParaGard is wrapped in natural copper to prevent conception rather than emitting a hormone. Another difference is that it lasts for 10 years, twice as long as Mirena.

ParaGard is like the five-year IUD in that it is more effective at preventing conception than the pill. Both can be inserted by your doctor during an office visit.

“Only you and your doctor can determine if an IUD is right for you and which is best. If an IUD is something you’d like to consider for birth control, be sure to bring it up with your WHMC physician, who can discuss the pros and cons as well as any possible side effects.”

For an appointment with a WHMC physician to discuss your options, call 248.932.9223