Procedures

Many people are familiar with hormonal birth control pills and IUDs, but one safe and effective way of preventing pregnancy that does not get as much attention is the vaginal ring. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about this convenient method of birth control.

How It Works

The vaginal ring works by addressing several factors: The ring releases the hormones estrogen and progestogen which are absorbed by the body to prevent the release of an egg every month.

These hormones also act by thickening the cervical mucus causing sperm to have a difficult time making it through the cervix. As a final line of defense, it thins the lining of the uterus to make it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.

The Benefits Of A Vaginal Ring

Many users appreciate that the use of the ring does not interfere with sexual activity. Because it is left in place for three weeks, foreplay is not interrupted to apply protection, as it would with using a condom.

Some women report that it helps reduce premenstrual symptoms, can help regulate the menstrual cycle and improve heavy bleeding or pain with the menses. Most women feel that it is very easy to insert and remove.

Who Can Use A Vaginal Ring

Although most women can use a vaginal ring without any issues, it is not the right choice for everyone. For patients with a history of a blood clot in a vein or artery, high blood pressure or heart or circulatory problems, a vaginal ring is not medically appropriate.

Women who are significantly overweight, have diabetes with complications, experience migraines with auras, or have had breast cancer should not use a vaginal ring. It is also not suited for women aged 35 or older who smoke or have stopped smoking within the last year. Otherwise, it is suitable for women up to age 50.

How Soon It Starts Working

Women can begin using a vaginal ring at any time during their menstrual cycle if they are certain they are not already pregnant.

The ring is normally left inserted for 21 days, after which it is removed for a seven-day break. During these seven days without the ring in place you can expect to start your period, while still being protected against pregnancy during this time.

At the end of the break, you will insert another ring to stay in for another 21 days. Some women may choose to forgo the break altogether and skip their period, but it is important to speak to your doctor about whether this is the right approach for you.

If you first insert the ring within the first five days of your period, you’ll be protected against pregnancy immediately. However, if you have an irregular or very short cycle, you should use a backup method. Be sure to discuss the specifics with your doctor.

Women who begin using the ring at another point in their menstrual cycle need to use an additional form of contraception such as condoms during the first seven days of use.

For women who choose to switch to the ring from a different type of contraception, and those who have used emergency contraception recently, it’s important to discuss with your doctor when to begin using the ring and how soon you can expect protection against pregnancy.

How To Place It

Inserting a vaginal ring is a simple process. Using clean hands, simply squeeze the ring between your thumb and finger and insert the tip into the vagina. Then, push your ring up gently until it reaches a comfortable position.

Once it is in place, it is a good idea to check it regularly with your fingers to ensure it is still there. If you are unable to feel it but you do not believe that it has fallen out, visit your doctor. Keep in mind, however, that a ring cannot get lost inside your body.

How To Remove It

After three weeks have passed, you should begin the simple removal process. Using clean hands, place a finger inside your vagina and hook it around the edge of your vaginal ring and then gently pull it out.

Contraceptive rings should never be flushed down the toilet. Instead, place it in the bag that was provided with it and throw it away. The vaginal ring removal process should not cause any pain or bleeding. If it does or if you are unable to remove it, visit a doctor right away.

The Drawbacks Of A Vaginal Ring

The main drawback of a vaginal ring is the fact that it does not offer any protection against sexually transmitted infections. There is also a small risk of serious side effects such as blood clots or a slightly higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Learn More About The Right Contraception For You

If you would like to find out more about the vaginal ring, contact the contraceptive care team at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness today to discuss your contraceptive needs and explore options that are appropriate for you.

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular form of birth control that boasts a high efficacy rate. Many women choose it over the birth control pill because there is no need to remember to take it daily; once inserted, it provides protection for several years. However, you will need to check the device’s strings from time to time to ensure it remains firmly in place.

When your IUD is inserted, your health-care provider should show you the steps involved in checking your IUD strings. These are the two plastic threads that dangle down from the device and through the cervix. Although you cannot see these strings, you should be able to feel them with your fingers when you insert them into the vagina.

Checking for your strings regularly is essential to make sure that you are still protected against unwanted pregnancy. To check your IUD strings, follow these steps:

1. First,wash your hands thoroughly using warm water and soap, making sure that you clean beneath your nails to reduce the chances of accidentally introducing bacteria during your check.
2. Next, you need to locate your cervix. This can be challenging to do while standing, so either sit down or get into a squatting position. Then, insert your middle or index finger into the vagina until you can feel your cervix. This area feels firm and rubbery, not unlike the consistency of the tip of your nose.
3. Once you have located your cervix, feel around for the strings of your IUD. These strings are very tiny and will feel like small bits of fishing line. If you can feel them, this means your IUD is in the proper place and should be functioning correctly.

However, it is not just the presence of the strings that you should be checking for; you also need to determine whether they feel the same as they did the last time you checked them. If they feel shorter or longer than your last check, it may be an indication that the IUD has moved. Likewise, if you can feel the hard part of the device itself up against your cervix, it has likely slipped out of position.

In these cases, you need to make an appointment with your health-care provider right away and use a backup method of protection because you could become pregnant.

Warnings

When an IUD is out of place, there is a very small chance that it could lead to problems such as infections or internal tearing. Therefore, you should never attempt to push your IUD back in place if it becomes dislodged or try to remove it if you notice it partially emerging. This is a task that must be left to your physician, who has the right tools to handle it safely. Likewise, you should never pull on your IUD strings when you are checking on them. If you no longer wish to use your IUD, your doctor must remove it.

When To Check Your IUD Strings

Around four to six weeks after your IUD is originally inserted, you will have a follow-up appointment with your doctor, who will check the strings and make sure that the device is in its proper place. Your doctor will also check them at every subsequent routine checkup.

You should also perform your own check once a month, between your menstrual periods. Remember that your IUD has a higher chance of slipping out of place during your period. Therefore, you may wish to check your tampons, pads, or menstrual cups after use to ensure that the IUD has not fallen out.

It is rare for an IUD to move out of place. In cases where this does occur, it normally happens within the first few months of insertion or during a period. Nevertheless, it is important to check regularly.

Why Can’t I Find My IUD Strings?

There are a few potential reasons you may not be able to find your IUD strings. In many cases, it could be that the strings have simply drawn back into your cervical canal or uterus. Your doctor may be able put them back into place during a pelvic exam using a special tool.

In very rare cases, you may not feel your IUD strings because the device has perforated your uterus. This is a very serious complication that can occur with an IUD and requires immediate medical attention. You might also be unable to find the strings because the device has fallen out; in very rare cases, you could be pregnant.

Request an Appointment With the Women’s Health-care Team

IUDs can provide women with long-term protection from unwanted pregnancy, but they can occasionally move out of place. If you have any doubt about the placement of your IUD or you need guidance on how to check your IUD strings, reach out to Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today to schedule an appointment.

If you are considering using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control, you are in good company. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that one in ten American women ages 15 to 49 use long-acting reversible contraception like an IUD.

These small, T-shaped pieces of copper or plastic are inserted into your uterus and are very effective at preventing pregnancy. Once in position, they can protect against pregnancy for as many as 12 years depending on the type and brand. They are considered a ‘set it and forget it‘ type of birth control, once you have gotten through the insertion process. This is a relatively straightforward procedure, but is important to understand what it entails and how you can prepare for it.

Here is a look at what you should avoid doing before your insertion and how you can prepare for your appointment.

Do Not Fast

You may feel too nervous to eat ahead of your insertion, but showing up for your appointment with an empty stomach is not a good idea. Doctors recommend eating a snack or a light meal before your insertion because some women feel dizzy during the procedure and pass out. Although this is unlikely, it is best to not be hungry when it is time for insertion. However, you should avoid eating so much that you feel uncomfortably full.

It is also a good idea to drink plenty of water. In addition to being hydrated, your doctor may request a urine sample to make sure you are not pregnant before inserting your IUD.

Do Not Make Plans for Immediately Afterward

An IUD insertion is a very quick and easy procedure, but you may experience some cramping, light bleeding, or dizziness afterward. Therefore, it is best to plan to go home after your appointment, wear comfortable clothes, and relax for the rest of the day as your body adjusts to the IUD. You will also want to look out for any signs of infection. These include a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, painful urination, fever, and lower abdominal pain.

Do Not Throw Away Your Condoms

Getting an IUD can be very freeing for women who have been relying on condoms as their main method of preventing pregnancy. However, there are two big reasons you should resist the temptation to throw them away before your insertion appointment.

The first is the fact that, depending on what type of IUD you are having inserted and what point you are at in your menstrual cycle, you may not be have immediate protection against pregnancy.

While copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs that are inserted within the first seven days of the start of your period do offer immediate protection, hormonal IUDs that are placed at other times during the cycle will not take effect right away. Your doctor will advise you on how long to wait to have unprotected sex after insertion. This may be one or two weeks.

It is also important to keep in mind that IUDs do not offer protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Despite their impressive efficacy rate when it comes to stopping pregnancy, they offer zero protection when it comes to STDs. This means that if you are unsure of your partner’s health status, you will want to continue to use condoms to avoid contracting or spreading sexually transmitted diseases.

Do Not Panic

Most women report that they experience cramping during their IUD insertion, while others find it to be very uncomfortable. Doctors note that women who are more relaxed during the procedure tend to experience less discomfort, so avoid panicking. Some doctors may allow you to bring a friend or partner along for support or listen to music through headphones during the procedure to help you relax.

Many doctors advise patients to take an over-the-counter painkiller such as ibuprofen about 30 minutes before their appointment. This helps ease any cramping that you may experience during or after the insertion. Ask your doctor beforehand what they recommend.

Schedule an Appointment With the Women’s Health-care Team

An IUD is a good choice for many women, offering long-term and hands-off protection from pregnancy for many years. To find out more about whether an IUD is right for you and how you can prepare for insertion, reach out to the women’s healthcare team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness to schedule an appointment.

For many women, the thought of getting a mammogram is very unsettling. The procedure itself is not very invasive, but the dread and anxiety that comes with awaiting results can be enough to make many women delay making an appointment. However, there are some very compelling reasons to schedule a mammogram, even if you don’t have a family history of breast cancer and do not feel anything suspicious in your breasts.

Early Detection Can Make All the Difference

Like many types of cancer, early detection can make all the difference when it comes to your chances of survival with breast cancer. Mammograms are recommended each year because it is the best way to make sure any tumors in your breasts are caught early enough to improve your prognosis. The American Cancer Society reports that when breast cancer is detected while it is still contained within the breast, the survival rate is 99 percent.

Doctors point out that when breast cancer is diagnosed early, it may be possible to undergo a small surgery known as a lumpectomy to remove the tumor and perhaps a small amount of radiation to keep it from returning. However, if it is not detected until it has grown bigger, it may be necessary to undergo chemotherapy or even have a mastectomy, which is an operation that removes the full breast.

Breast Cancer Is Not Solely a Family Illness

Although it is true that having a family history of breast cancer makes it more likely that you will develop it, those without a family history are still vulnerable. Breast cancer genes like the BRCA gene have made headlines in recent years and can certainly indicate that someone has a high risk, but the truth is that only around 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers stem from abnormal genes that are passed to a woman by a parent.

As you get older, your risk of developing breast cancer increases. This is why it is necessary to continue to get mammograms yearly or at the interval recommended by your doctor. In addition to advancing age, alcohol use and obesity can increase your risk of developing breast cancer.

One Out of Every Eight American Women, on Average, Will Develop Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer to be diagnosed among US women after skin cancer. Unfortunately, it is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that roughly 245,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women every year. This means that regardless of a woman’s risk, it is important to continue undergoing routine mammograms each year.

Mammograms Can Save Lives

Studies have shown that starting annual mammograms at age 40 can reduce a woman’s chances of dying of breast cancer by nearly 40 percent. However, it is important to keep in mind that women who have a family history of breast cancer need to begin regular screenings earlier.

While some women request breast ultrasounds in place of mammograms, it is important to note that a mammogram is the only type of imaging that has been proven to save lives when it comes to breast cancer. Although ultrasounds are useful in some cases alongside a mammogram, an ultrasound alone can sometimes miss a cancer diagnosis.

These days, a new advance in mammogram technology, known as a 3D mammogram, provides an even more effective form of detection than the 2D mammograms that have been in favor for many years. A 3D mammogram is now the preferred imaging method thanks to its ability to detect more cancers and decrease the risk of unnecessary reimaging because of false positives. The process feels the same to the woman undergoing it as its predecessor and the dose of radiation is similar, but it can provide much more information about what is occurring in a woman’s breasts.

Abnormalities Linked to Cancer Cannot Always be Felt

You may already carry out monthly breast self-exams, and your doctor likely conducts a breast exam at your yearly gynecological checkup. However, a mammogram can find breast cancer well before you or your doctor would be able to feel a lump in your breast. In fact, many women will not feel changes in their breasts until a significant lump has formed, at which point the cancer could already be growing and spreading and will be significantly more challenging to treat. Mammograms are able to detect changes in breast tissue that are small as a grain of sand, making it the most effective tool for detecting cancer early.

Contact Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness to Learn More About Breast Care

Mammograms are a valuable tool for the early detection of breast cancer. To learn more about mammograms and breast exams or to schedule a checkup, contact the women’s health-care professionals at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are becoming an increasingly popular method of birth control in the US because of their ease of use and dependability for preventing pregnancy. However, you may be wondering if it is okay to have unprotected sex while using these devices. Here’s what you need to know.

IUDs Are Highly Effective at Preventing Pregnancy

IUDs are considered one of the most reliable methods of birth control on the market. They boast an efficacy rate of more than 99 percent, meaning that less than one of every 100 people who use an IUD will become pregnant every year. This places it far higher on the list than condoms and birth control pills for effective ways of preventing pregnancy.

One of the main reasons that IUDs are so good at stopping unwanted pregnancies is because there is no chance of making a mistake when using them, whereas other methods are prone to incorrect use.

For example, condoms can rip or be placed incorrectly, while it is easy to forget to take the birth control pill at the same time every day. Moreover, IUDs protect from pregnancy around the clock for as long as 10 years depending on the brand. This means that once it is in place, you do not have to think too much about it until its expiration date approaches and it needs to be replaced.

In fact, IUDs are so good at stopping pregnancy that a copper IUD that is placed within five days of having unprotected sex is more than 99.9% effective at stopping a pregnancy from occurring.

If your main goal is avoiding an unwanted pregnancy, it is okay to have unprotected sex with an IUD in place.

IUDs Do Not Offer Protection From STDs

However, for women who are unsure of their partner’s health status, having unprotected sex with an IUD is risky because these devices do not offer any degree of protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, you will need to use condoms or another birth control method that can reduce your chances of contracting or spreading an STD. Many people choose condoms alongside IUDs in order to be protected from STDs and pregnancy at the same time.

Timing Is Everything

If you are planning to rely on an IUD as your only birth control method, it is important to note that you may need to wait for it to become effective in some cases. You will not want to have unprotected sex immediately after insertion. Your doctor will tell you when you have the device inserted a timetable for when you can expect full protection from pregnancy.

How long it takes for the IUD to become effective depends on what point in your cycle it is inserted and the type you are using. For example, hormonal IUDs like the Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla IUDs are considered effective right away if inserted within the first ten days after the first day of your period. However, if it is inserted at any other time beyond this range, it will be necessary to use a backup birth control method for at least seven days. After that point, your IUD can be relied on to prevent pregnancy.

Paragard and other copper IUDs start protecting you against pregnancy as soon as they have been placed. However, many doctors recommend that you use a back-up method of birth control for the first month after having a new IUD inserted, no matter which type you choose. Not only does this help eliminate any doubts about whether or not the IUD has taken effect, but using barrier methods such as condoms can reduce your risk of experiencing a post-insertion infection. There is a small risk of infection within the first 20 days of having an IUD inserted.

Check Your IUD Strings Regularly

Every IUD has small strings attached to the bottom of it that extend into the top of your vagina after the device has been inserted. It is important to check for these strings occasionally by feeling around inside your vagina with clean hands. Many women find that it is best to do this while sitting or squatting. If you can feel the string, it means that your IUD is still in the proper place and providing you with protection against pregnancy.

If you do not feel the strings, you need to start using a back-up method of birth control immediately and make an appointment with your doctor. At your appointment, your doctor will check the position of your IUD and make sure that it is still placed correctly to provide protection.

You should also use a birth control alternative and make an appointment with your gynecologist if you believe that the strings are longer or shorter than they were the last time you checked them or you can feel the hard part of your IUD against your cervix.

Schedule an Appointment To Discuss Your IUD

An IUD is a highly efficient way to prevent pregnancy, but it is important to understand all of the benefits and drawbacks. Schedule an appointment with the women’s health-care team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness to find out more about the best birth control method for you.