Birth Control: IUD (Intrauterine Devices)
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Introduction to birth control
If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile and physically
able to become pregnant, she needs to ask herself, "Do I want to become pregnant now?"
If her answer is "No," she must use some method of birth control
(contraception).
Terminology used to describe birth control methods
include contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning. But no matter what
the process is called, sexually active people can choose from a plethora of
methods to reduce the possibility of their becoming pregnant. Nevertheless, no
method of birth control available today offers perfect protection against
sexually transmitted infections (sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), except
abstinence.
In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing
a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or
preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb)
and starting to grow. New methods of birth control are being developed and
tested all the time. And what is appropriate for a couple at one point may
change with time and circumstances.
Unfortunately, no birth control method, except abstinence, is considered to
be 100% effective.
What are intrauterine devices (IUDs)?
The intrauterine device (IUD) is a method of birth
control designed for insertion into a woman's uterus so that changes occur in
the uterus that make it difficult for fertilization of an egg and implantation
of a pregnancy. IUDs
approved for use in the U.S. contain medications that are released over time to
facilitate the contraceptive effect.
The IUD is a small "T"-shaped device with a monofilament
tail that is inserted into the uterus by a health care practitioner in the office setting. When inserted into the uterus, the arms of the "T" are folded down, but they then
open out to form the top of the "T". The device rests inside the uterus with the
base of the T just above the cervix and the arms of the T extending horizontally
across the uterus. A short piece of monofilament string attached to the IUD
extends through the cervix into the vagina. This string makes it possible to be
sure that the IUD is still in the uterus.
Next: What are the types of intrauterine devices (IUDs)? »
- Vasectomy - A vasectomy is a simple surgical procedure used as a permanent form of male birth control. The odds of pregnancy after a vasectomy are low and the side effects are few.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Women (STDs) - Learn and become aware of common STDs in women, including descriptions, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments of each type of infection.
- Natural Methods of Birth Control - Natural methods of birth control are non-mechanical and non-hormonal. They are also considered fertility awareness methods and there are a variety of choices for natural birth control.
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