How do coils work contraception

You might get spotting or bleeding between periods. There's a small risk of getting an infection after it's been fitted. There's a small risk that your body may push out the IUD or it may move. Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to check it's in place. It can be uncomfortable when the IUD is put in, but you can take painkillers after, if you need to. It may not be suitable if you have had previous pelvic infections.

It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections STIs , so you may need to use condoms as well. The appointment takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and fitting the IUD should take no longer than 5 minutes: the vagina is held open, like it is during cervical screening a smear test the IUD is inserted through the cervix and into the womb Having an IUD fitted can be uncomfortable, and some people might find it painful, but you can have a local anaesthetic to help. You can also take painkillers after having an IUD fitted if you need to.

You may have an infection if you: have pain or tenderness in your lower abdomen have a high temperature have abnormal or smelly discharge How to tell if it's still in place An IUD has 2 thin threads that hang down a little way from your womb into the top of your vagina.

It's possible to get pregnant as soon as the IUD has been taken out. The IUD may not be suitable if you: think you might be pregnant have an untreated STI or a pelvic infection have problems with your womb or cervix have unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex People who have had an ectopic pregnancy or who have an artificial heart valve must consult their GP or clinician before having an IUD fitted.

Advantages and disadvantages of the IUD Although an IUD is an effective method of contraception, there are some things to consider before having one fitted.

Advantages: It protects against pregnancy for 5 or 10 years, depending on the type. Once an IUD is fitted, it works straight away. Most people with a womb can use it. There are no hormonal side effects, such as acne, headaches or breast tenderness. It does not interrupt sex. It's safe to use an IUD if you're breastfeeding. It's possible to get pregnant as soon as the IUD is removed.

It's not affected by other medicines. There's no evidence that an IUD will affect your weight or increase the risk of cervical cancer , womb uterus cancer or ovarian cancer. Disadvantages: Your periods may become heavier, longer or more painful, though this may improve after a few months. It does not protect against STIs, so you may need to use condoms as well. If you get an infection when you have an IUD fitted, it could lead to a pelvic infection if not treated.

Most people who stop using an IUD do so because of vaginal bleeding and pain, although these side effects are uncommon. See a GP if you've had an IUD fitted and you: have pain or tenderness in your lower abdomen have a high temperature have abnormal or smelly discharge Thrush There's some limited evidence that if you have an IUD fitted, you may have a slightly higher chance of getting thrush that keeps coming back.

Rejection There's a small chance that the IUD can be rejected expelled by the womb or it can move displacement. Damage to the womb In rare cases, an IUD can make a hole in the womb when it's put in. Ectopic pregnancy If the IUD fails and you become pregnant, there's also an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. About the length of a paperclip, these bizarre objects come in a wide range of shapes , from frilly ovals to four-legged spiders.

To work, IUDs must be placed inside the womb, where they can remain — depending on the brand and type — for up to 12 years. But the rate is just 6. Over the years, pharmaceutical giants have chosen to invest heavily in promoting the contraceptive pill instead, which is more profitable.

Another reason is that they have a bit of an image problem. To begin with, doctors were pretty much just placing random objects in the cervix, the entrance of the uterus, and hoping that this would do the trick. The first mainstream IUDs emerged several decades later, in the s.

All was going well, but their development was cut short when the Nazis arrested him. He was later rescued by the queen of birth control, Margaret Sanger , and fled to the United States. From then onwards, IUDs really took off. In China, IUDs were an important tool for implementing the one-child policy, along with forced sterilisations.

To this day, the country has its own devices which have been especially designed or altered to make them more difficult to remove; they often require surgery. In America, meanwhile, there was the Dalkon Shield disaster. They were based on the idea that IUDs with a larger surface area would be more effective. Your female IPSA Medical professional is an expert at family planning, and she understands that both privacy and a conducive respectful setting are important to make your contraception consultation calm and stress-free for you.

Depending on the kind of coil that is inserted, it can stay in your womb for anywhere from 5 to 10 years. If you are over 40 when your IPSA Medical physician fits your coil, it can remain in place until you enter your menopause or until you no longer need contraception.

If you are not pregnant, then your coil can be fitted at any point in your menstrual cycle and it will protect you against pregnancy straight away. Before fitting your coil at your IPSA Medical clinic, both the size and position of your womb has to be determined. This involves an internal examination, which will then ensure that your coil can be inserted correctly.

You might then be prescribed an antibiotic course when you have your coil fitted. Your coil insertion takes around 15—20 minutes, and just like cervical smear tests, your vagina needs to be held open with your coil being inserted through your cervix and into your womb. Written by spunout. Factsheet Fact checked by experts and reviewed by young people. How does the coil work? IUD The IUD is a copper coil that prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching the egg by releasing tiny amounts of copper into the body, which is toxic to sperm and eggs.

IUS The IUS is a hormonal coil that prevents pregnancy by releasing the hormone progestogen into the womb to thicken the cervical mucus and prevent sperm from meeting the egg. How effective is the coil? Can I use the coil? How is the coil fitted? The procedure In all, the procedure takes about minutes. If you experience any of these symptoms after having the coil fitted, you should return to your doctor, as you may have an infection: Feeling unwell Have pain in your lower abdomen Have a temperature Have smelly discharge Removing the coil The coil can be removed at any time.

How does the coil affect your period? IUD and periods The IUD may cause heavier periods that may last slightly longer in the first few months, but not always. If you would like to have the coil fitted on the day of your surgical abortion, you can get one from your doctor and bring it with you to the procedure. Related articles. A-Z of contraception. What contraception is right for you?

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