I wanted to start a conversation about IUD's because I get asked all the time about them. Today, it's all about the copper IUD.

Pro’s
-99.2% - 99.4% effective
-one time procedure and expense and then you shouldn’t have to worry about it for a long time.
-non-hormonal

Con's
-if you do conceive you are at a greater risk of an ectopic pregnancy, when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (usually in the fallopian tube).
-doesn’t protect against STI's
-Many women who have the Paragard report heavier, longer flows and painful menstrual cramps.

Side Effects - Anemia, Backache, Bleeding between periods, Cramps, Inflammation of the vagina, Pain during sex, Severe menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, Vaginal discharge.
-You can “expel” the ParaGard from your uterus and may not even know this has happened. More likely if you have never been pregnant, have heavy or prolonged periods, have severe menstrual pain, already expelled one, are younger than 20, had it put in right after birth or second trimester abortion.

How do they insert it?
-You have to go into a health care office. They will insert speculum, clean vagina and cervix with antiseptic, then use a special instrument to align cervical canal and uterine cavity, and another to measure depth of uterus. Then they’ll fold down the arms, place it in an applicator tube, place that tube in cervical canal and place IUD in uterus, then trim string so it doesn’t hang too far down in your vagina.

You may experience dizziness, fainting, nausea, low blood pressure, slower heart rate, and often you will be asked to continue to lay down for a few minutes.

Upkeep:
-After each period you have to check for the string
-Sometimes you will have a check up one month after insertion to make sure it is sitting right and you don’t have any infection.

Go to doctor if you think you may be pregnant, have unusually heavy bleeding, foul discharge, worsening pelvic pain, severe abdominal pain or tenderness, unexplained fever.

Also if it has shifted - you have breakthrough bleeding or bleed after sex, sex is painful for you or your partner, the strings are missing or seem longer, you feel part of the device at your cervix or in your vagina.

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