There’s never been a wider selection of effective birth control methods available. It can be tricky to find the ideal match for your lifestyle, health needs, and future family planning, but if your chosen method requires high reliability, low maintenance, and reversibility, then an intrauterine device (IUD) may be the answer.
As birth control specialists, the team at Eve Medical of Miami can help you determine if an IUD is a good fit.
Small and T-shaped and made of flexible plastic, an IUD fits into your uterus, preventing pregnancy by changing the way sperm move so they can’t fertilize an egg. An IUD’s form keeps it in place by mimicking the shape of the uterine walls.
Next to birth control pills, IUDs are the most popular form of reversible contraception, and they’re the leading form of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Worldwide, about one in four women chooses an IUD to prevent pregnancy.
All IUDs prevent pregnancy by triggering an inflammatory immune response in your body that impairs sperm motility. Your body recognizes an IUD as a foreign object, responding with a low-grade inflammation that creates a toxic environment for sperm. These will no longer reach your fallopian tubes, preventing egg fertilization from taking place.
In addition, there are two types of secondary action used by IUDs.
IUDs using hormone release technology introduce controlled levels of synthetic progesterone, called progestin, into your body. Progestin causes cervical mucus to thicken, blocking the progress of sperm, while also resulting in a thinner uterine lining to prevent egg implantation.
Copper ions are highly toxic to sperm, adding to the inflammatory environment caused by the IUD and further inhibiting the ability of sperm to travel to the fallopian tubes to fertilize eggs.
Every birth control method has pros and cons. Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of IUDs.
The pros of IUD use include:
IUDs are safe for women who can’t use estrogen birth control methods, as well as for breastfeeding mothers. They don’t affect your milk supply or your nursing baby.
IUDs may not be right if you:
We recommend that you avoid IUDs if you have a history of breast cancer, blood clots, or liver problems, or if you’re allergic to any of the materials in an IUD.
IUDs are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, long acting without additional effort on your part, and completely reversible when you decide you no longer need it. For most women, an IUD is a safe and reliable choice.
Contact Eve Medical of Miami as your partner in family planning. Visits are by appointment only, and you can book with us online or by phone. Make an appointment today.
