All you need to know about IUDs

While getting an IUD does involve a small insertion procedure that you have to get done in the clinic, it does not involve any surgical incision. During the insertion procedure, the doctor uses a speculum to widen the vaginal opening and uses a sterile instrument to measure the cervical canal and uterus. This is to prevent the possibility of perforation, which is a complication that only occurs in one out of a thousand cases. The arms of the T-shaped IUD are then bent back before inserting it into the cervix with a tube and released into their normal shape.

While most women only experience mild discomfort during the IUD insertion procedure, some women do experience pain. Itching and cramping sensations during the procedure are common, while only 5% of women have reported mild to severe pain. Mild cramping and spotting is common for a few days after the procedure and the first period after insertion can be expected to be heavier than usual. Other side effects include breast tenderness, headaches, nausea, mood changes, acne and weight gain.

An IUD should ideally be inserted 7 days after you period has started in order to be effective immediately. If it is inserted at any other time during the cycle, it becomes effective only 7 days after insertion. While it is medically safe to have an IUD inserted at any time during your cycle, you should continue to use birth control methods such as condoms till 7 days after insertion.

While hormonal IUDs are usually preferred as their side-effects are the same as standard side-effects for any form of hormonal birth control, women who suffer from conditions that prevent them from using hormonal birth control should go for a copper IUD. Copper IUDs can have side-effects such as backaches, anemia, vaginal discharge, spotting between periods and pain during sex. They do, however, work for a longer period of time, lasting 10 years, and can be inserted as a form of emergency birth control.