Added: 02/27/2006 |
Intrauterine System IUD: Uses and EfficacyAn IUD is a small, T-shaped device that contains either copper or a hormone to avert pregnancy by preventing the fertilization of an egg. Currently, there are three types of intrauterine system IUD: The Copper IUD; the Progesterone IUD, containing the female hormone progesterone; and the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System (LNG IUS), containing the potent progestin hormone LNS. The intrauterine system IUD includes a progestogen hormone. It works mainly by thickening the mucus made by the cervix which forms a "mucus plug" in the cervix.
This stops sperm getting through to the uterus (womb) to fertilize an egg. The progestogen also makes the lining of the uterus thinner. This makes it unlikely that a fertilized egg will be able to attach to the uterus. It may also have some effect on the ovary, and ovulation may not occur (the release of the egg each month).
Two visits are usually required to obtain an intrauterine system IUD. At the first visit, the clinician will review your medical and social history, perform a pelvic exam to confirm the size, shape, and position of your uterus, and perform lab tests that are needed. At the second visit, the IUD will be inserted into the uterus through the cervical opening.
The insertion is done during your menstrual period unless you are using a hormonal method of birth control. The actual insertion takes only 5 minutes. Most women will experience some cramping during the insertion procedure though the amount of discomfort varies widely from woman to woman.
Intrauterine system efficacy is more than 99% effective. It means that less than 1 woman per 100 who use the intrauterine system IUD will become pregnant each year. (Compare this to when no contraception is used. More than 80 in 100 sexually active women who do not use contraception become pregnant within one year.)
Furthermore, this low pregnancy rate does not vary based upon the age of the user. Other contraceptive methods have higher failure rates among women under the age of 30 who tend to be more fertile and have sexual intercourse more frequently than do older women.
The intrauterine system IUD has certain advantages in its using. Once it is inserted one can forget about contraception for five years and it does not interfere with sex. A woman does not need to insert and remove the device every time she has sex, because these devices work for prolonged periods of times.
Because IUDs are soft and flexible, women can hardly feel them, and the devices do not interfere with sex or tampon use. Periods usually get lighter, less painful, and often stop. After 12 months most users only have a light bleed for one day per month, and about 1 in 5 users have no bleeding at all.
The intrauterine system IUD can be a good alternative to male or female sterilization for couples who wish to have no more children. Although the device is approved for five years of use, it may be effective for at least seven years and after its removal, fertility returns quickly.
Though the intrauterine system uses are very efficient and most women have no problems, sometimes the following occasionally occur: irregular bleeding may occur for the first three month; expulsion - the device may come out without your noticing and there may be some minor damage of the uterus.
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