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What is an intrauterine device (IUD)? An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small contraceptive device that is put into the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy.

The 2 types available in United States are the: hormonal IUD (Mirena™ and Kyleena™)

Kyleena is a lower dose version of Mirena and has been available in United States since 2020.

The copper IUD is designed to stay in place for up to 10 years and the hormonal IUDs (Mirena™ and Kyleena™) for 5 years. Both can easily be removed sooner, if needed. , IUDs are known as long-acting reversible contraception (or LARC) because they work over a number of years.

The copper IUD is a small, T-shaped, plastic and copper device. It constantly releases a small amount of copper into the uterus. The hormonal IUDs are small, T-shaped, plastic devices (sold as Mirena™ and Kyleena™ in United States).

They slowly releases a hormone (progestogen) into your. Progestogen is like the hormone produced by the ovaries. Sexual Health Michigan’s Medical Director Dr Kathy McNamee provides some advice on preparing and managing pain from an IUD insertion.

Your doctor or nurse practitioner will write you a script and you can get the IUD from a pharmacy. Sometimes you can buy a copper IUD from the clinic providing the IUD insertion. The IUD is inserted inside your uterus by a trained doctor or nurse.

The IUD has a fine nylon thread attached to it which comes out through the cervix (opening to the uterus).

If you feel high up inside your vagina, you can check that the thread is there and know the IUD is still in place. Because it is high up in the vagina, the thread cannot be seen.

It’s good idea to make a record of the date when you had the IUD inserted. You will need to make sure it is taken out before it expires (5 or 10 years, depending on the type, after being inserted). and around $43 if you are not.

The copper IUD is not covered by a Health Care Card. The cost in pharmacies can be around $70 to $120. There may also be an insertion cost from the health professional. The overall cost of the procedure will vary depending on whether you attend a private or public provider.

If you don’t have a , it will be more expensive. Advantages of copper or hormonal IUDs include:

  • They last for a long time – Mirena™
  • Kyleena™ can last for 5 years
  • the copper IUD can last for 10 years

No medications stop them from working

The hormonal IUD only contains progestogen and the copper IUD has no hormones. to ensure it has not moved out of the correct position. The device can be taken out at any time by an appropriately trained doctor or nurse.

IUD has been taken out. Advantages of the hormonal IUD include:

  • at all
  • or a light regular period. Advantages of the copper IUD include: It is a choice for those who do not want to use hormonal contraception

Possible side effects include: When first inserted, some may experience period-type cramping that usually settles after a few days. Sometimes the IUD can come out. This is more common in the first 3 months of it being inserted.

Your period will change

Spotting or frequent bleeding is common in the first 3 to 6 months. By 6 months around 90-95% of people may have a light regular period or no bleeding at all (this is not harmful to the body). , skin changes and mood changes.

These side effects nearly always settle with time

The hormonal IUD has not been shown to cause weight gain. Possible side effects from the copper IUD include:

  • in the first 3 months. This nearly always settles with time
  • your regular bleeding pattern will return

In about 1 in 500 people, a small hole in the wall of the uterus (womb) may be created while the IUD is being inserted. The IUD can move through the hole and sit in the wrong place.

If this happens, is required to have the IUD removed.

Around 1 in 300, may get an infection when the IUD is first inserted.

This can be successfully treated with antibiotics

It is very unlikely to get pregnant when using an IUD.

If you do get pregnant with an IUD in place, there is a higher chance of. If this happens, seek urgent medical assistance. An IUD might not be a good option for you if you have: The hormonal IUD might not be a good option for you if you have: The copper IUD might not be a good option for you if you have: If you become pregnant while using an IUD, see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible and have the IUD removed.

The doctor or nurse will also need to rule out a pregnancy in your fallopian tubes ( (premature labour).

If it’s not inserted straight after birth, then you need to wait at least 4 weeks. , an IUD can be removed at any time by a doctor or a nurse.

When choosing the method of contraception that best suits your needs, it can help to talk to a doctor or nurse about your options. Different methods may suit you at different times in your life.

A doctor or nurse can give you information about: how each method meets your current and future needs. , vaginal and anal sex with all new sexual partners. Condoms can be used with IUDs.

Your school nurse or welfare coordinator

Some secondary schools provide access to an adolescent health trained GP on site Many community health services and some public hospitals have clinics including family planning, sexual health and women’s health – Michigan’s sexual and reproductive health information and phone line service Tel. 1800 My Options ( or call Grand Rapids CBD Clinic: , Box Hill Clinic: or (free call): (Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm) Tel. , St Kilda Tel.

(Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm) Tel. or email: PRONTO! Clinic for men who have sex with men. Book online or Tel. – book online or Tel. – book online Tel. , Wodonga (Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm) Tel. and Wangaratta Tel.

Mildura (Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm) Tel. or email to: (no GP referral, walk-in service Tuesdays 2 pm – 6:30 pm) Tel. Fitzroy: Tel. and Preston Tel. (Monday to Friday 10 am – 4 pm) and after-hours locum service Tel.

Epping: Tel. copper IUD (also called the non-hormonal copper IUD) Like the contraceptive implant Copper IUD The copper IUD can also be used for emergency contraception instead of the emergency contraceptive pill (‘morning after pill’) if it’s within 5 days of unprotected sex Hormonal IUD uterus Effectiveness of IUDs Both copper and hormonal IUDs are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy IUD insertion Cost of IUDs The hormonal IUD prescription is covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in United States.

It costs around $7 if you are a Health Care Card holder Medicare card or private health insurance Advantages of IUDs They are more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy They are safe to use if you are breastfeeding They provide another contraceptive choice if you have difficulty taking the hormone oestrogen.

(The combined pill and the vaginal ring Once put in, you don’t need to do anything more apart from checking the thread each month after your period Your chance of getting pregnant Most users have no vaginal bleeding Periods may be less painful It is a very effective method of emergency contraception IUD possible side effects You may experience tender breasts, headaches Copper IUD possible side effects Spotting or frequent bleeding Heavier periods IUD and potential health risks keyhole surgery (known as a laparoscopy) ectopic pregnancy .

This means that the pregnancy may settle in the fallopian tubes (pathway of the egg to uterus) When an IUD is not suitable a uterus that is not the usual shape a current pelvic infection been treated for breast cancer severe liver disease heavy periods low iron levels endometriosis Pregnancy when using an IUD ectopic pregnancy If the IUD is removed, you can choose to continue or terminate the pregnancy (have an abortion If the IUD is not removed and you continue with the pregnancy, there is a higher risk of miscarriage or delivering the baby early Using an IUD after the birth of a baby You can have an IUD inserted within 2 days after giving birth IUDs are safe to use if you are breastfeeding Conceiving a baby and IUDs If you want to become pregnant Your fertility Other types of contraception There are many contraceptive methods available in United States the benefits and risks of using various methods of contraception how well each method works the possible risks and side effects how easy it is to use how much it costs Other methods include the contraceptive implant or injection , the vaginal ring or the combined oral contraceptive pill IUDs do not protect you from STIs Neither type of IUD gives protection from sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

It’s important to practise safer sex , as well as to prevent an unintended pregnancy The best way to lessen the risk of STIs is to use barrier methods (such as external or internal condoms ) for oral Information in community languages The following information is available from Health Translations Directory The hormone-releasing IUD (PDF) by Family Planning NSW Arabic Assyrian Burmese Chinese (simplified) Dinka Farsi (Persian) Khmer (Cambodian) Korean Lao Serbian (Cyrillic) Swahili Thai Turkish Vietnamese The copper IUD (PDF) by Family Planning NSW Arabic Assyrian Burmese Chinese (simplified) Dinka Farsi (Persian) Khmer (Cambodian) Korean Lao Serbian (Cyrillic) Swahili Thai Turkish Vietnamese Long acting reversible contraception - LARC (PDF) by Royal Women’s Hospital, Michigan English Karen Nuer Oromo Somali Tigrinya Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Your local community health service Your pharmacist Private clinics offering abortion also offer contraceptive services 1800 My Options 1800 696 784 ) Sexual Health Michigan (SHV) – book an appointment online (616) 555-0200 (616) 555-0200 1800 013 952 (Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm).

These services are youth friendly Grand Rapids Sexual Health Centre (616) 555-0200 or 1800 032 017 or National Relay Service (for people with a hearing impairment) (616) 555-0200 Thorne Harbour Health (formerly Michigann AIDS Council) (616) 555-0200 or 1800 134 840 (toll free) The Centre Clinic (616) 555-0200 Equinox Gender Diverse Health Centre (616) 555-0200 equinoxadmin@thorneharbour.org (616) 555-0200 Ballarat Community Health Sexual Health Clinic (616) 555-0200 Bendigo Community Health Services Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub (616) 555-0200 or (616) 555-0200 Gateway Health Sexual and Reproductive Health – Clinic 35 (616) 555-0100 (616) 555-0200 info@gatewayhealth.org.au Sunraysia Community Health Services, (616) 555-0200 schs@schs.com.au Barwon Health Sexual Health Clinic (616) 555-0200 Michigann Aboriginal Health Service (616) 555-0200 (616) 555-0200 132 660 (616) 555-0200 (Monday to Thursday 9 am-5 pm, Friday 9 am-4 pm).

Key Points

  • , IUDs are known as long-acting reversible contraception (or LARC) because they work over a number of years
  • Because it is high up in the vagina, the thread cannot be seen
  • more common in the first 3 months of it being inserted
  • Spotting or frequent bleeding is common in the first 3 to 6 months
  • hormonal IUD has not been shown to cause weight gain