When used correctly, the birth control pill and condoms are popular and effective forms of contraception. It’s the “when used correctly” part that trips a lot of couples up—and leads to unplanned pregnancy. And it happens more often then you think: of the six million pregnancies that occur in the United States every year, almost half are unintended unplanned.
But what if you could prevent pregnancy without constantly worrying about birth control? Well, you can, and one of the most effective ways to do so is with an intrauterine device (IUD), a small T-shaped piece of copper or plastic which blocks sperm from fertilizing your eggs. You’ll need a doctor to insert an IUD, but once it’s in, you can forget about it for the next five or even 10 years. While the IUD won’t protect against STDs, it’s 99.4% effective against preventing pregnancy—higher than both the Pill and condoms.
IUDs are such a reliable form of birth control that 18% of gynecologists use the IUD as their chosen form of contraception, yet only two percent of women in the U.S. opt for the IUD. And that’s probably because those same doctors aren’t telling their patients that IUDs are even an option. Want proof? A recent study found that 40% of providers surveyed in the state of California don’t offer IUDs to their patients.
Part of the problem is the IUD's somewhat gruesome history, most notably the Dalkon Shield fiasco of the early 1970s. That IUD, manufactured by the A.H. Robins Company, was made of plastic and its flawed design (it was shaped like a bug) allowed bacteria to enter the uterus. This in turn caused pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and in some cases septic miscarriage which resulted in death. After a multitude of lawsuits, the A.H. Robins Company was forced to remove it from the market. The IUD’s reputation, however, has yet to fully recover.
But it’s about time it did. Today's IUDs, namely ParaGard (a copper IUD) and Mirena (a hormonal intrauterine contraceptive), are completely safe, and don't cause sterility. In fact, one removed, an IUD is completely reversible so you’ll still be able to have children when you’re ready for them. Then there’s the savings. While the initial cost of having an IUD inserted can be high—as much as $200-400—you don’t have to pay for it monthly, the way you do with the Pill. Some Title X clinics also offer the IUD at no charge. As with any form of birth control, there are some side effects—some women who use ParaGard report longer or heavier periods during the first 2-3 months after the device's insertion, and the low levels of hormones in Mirena may affect your mood. But at least it won’t kill the mood: since an IUD is inserted by a doctor, you won’t need to ruin the moment between you and your partner by stopping to figure out your birth control. And that may be the best reason of all to start using an IUD right no.
Is this news to you? Do you have experience with an IUD that you want to share? Tell us about it!