An IUD is ‘forgettable.’ Make this decision now, and you will have effective contraception for years to come. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) practice updates for IUD use, are the guidelines we follow at Women’s Health Practice. ACOG feels that as a method of contraception there are few contraindications and most of the updates have to do with specific recommendations around special situations. Here is a summary and what it may mean:
- An IUD is immediately effective, that means tonight after your insertion you are protected against pregnancy.
- Insertion timing can be very flexible. You can get your IUDs at any time during the menstrual cycle, and insertion is no more difficult one day verses the other.
- An IUD may be inserted immediately after a miscarriage in the first or second trimester, on the same day as a surgical abortion, and immediately after a medication-induced abortion, and on the same day as first-trimester or second-trimester induced or spontaneous abortion. Medically, it is safe for you to get an IUD immediately after delivery.
- No antibiotic use necessary for insertion, the risk of any infection is very low from an IUD insertion. Insertion is not complex, and current guidelines clarify antibiotic prescription need for insertion and specifically women do not need to take an antibiotic routinely just for IUD insertion, so for those who have trouble with antibiotics you should know you are now less likelihood of getting a yeast infection just to get your IUD.
- As long as you are not testing positive for pregnancy you can get your IUD. Even if you have had unprotected sex that day. You do not need two visits to get an IUD.
- You can get your IUD and your yearly sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a single visit
- IUDs can be used by women with prior vaginal or pelvic infections, abnormal pap smears and menopause.
- Medicated IUDs help control heavy periods.
- Women with a history of ectopic pregnancies can safely use the IUDs. It is not necessary to remove an IUD or implant before its expiration date in women who are menopausal, medicated IUDs are excellent protection for the uterus in women on estrogen.
- Keep up your routine gynecologic care as long as you have an IUD, not much should change. Your pap smear timing and testing if abnormal is not disturbed in any way by having an IUD. If you have a reason to have a cervical or uterine biopsy it can be done around the IUD and your IUD would not need to be removed.
- Most plans cover IUD insertion.
If you would like an IUD call us at Women’s Health Practice
