Procedures

IUDs are becoming increasingly popular as a form of birth control because they are more than 99 percent effective. The secret to their higher efficacy rate is there is no chance of making a mistake, such as forgetting to take birth control pills or putting a condom on incorrectly. They also provide long-term protection against pregnancy that can be reversed if you decide to start a family. Although these devices have very few side effects, they can impact your menstrual cycle. Let’s explore what an IUD is and how it affects your period.

What Is an IUD?

An IUD, or intrauterine device, is a physical form of contraception that is placed inside the uterus. IUDs are considered one of the most effective methods of birth control.

There are two main types of IUDs available: hormonal and nonhormonal. Both of these categories of devices work to stop pregnancy by releasing substances into a woman’s reproductive tract. Nonhormonal IUDs release a small amount of copper, while hormonal IUDs release progestin.

IUDs can impact a woman’s menstrual cycle in several ways, in addition to causing some degree of bleeding right after being inserted. Many women who get hormonal IUDs may find that their periods become lighter or irregular, and this can be very concerning. However, it is actually a normal side effect of hormonal IUDs.

Here’s a closer look at how IUDs affect your period.

How Do IUDs Affect Your Period?

Hormonal IUDs release a synthetic type of the hormone progesterone known as levonorgestrel into a woman’s uterus. This is what stops pregnancy from occurring. It accomplishes this in several ways. First, it thickens cervical mucus, which makes it hard for sperm to swim through and make their way to the egg. It also thins the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus that normally thickens to prepare to receive a fertilized egg. Finally, it can stop the ovaries from releasing eggs. However, its primary means of preventing pregnancy occur through its effects on the cervical mucus and endometrium because its ability to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs is not consistent.

In order to understand how IUDs affect your period, it is helpful to review what causes periods in the first place. Your period occurs each month when the endometrium sheds away from your uterus and exits your body from your vagina. Therefore, it makes sense that levonorgestrel’s thinning effect on the endometrium means that there will be less of this of the endometrium for your body to shed, and as a result, your period will be lighter, briefer, and perhaps absent altogether.

Hormonal IUDs

In the US, there are four types of hormonal IUDs available. While all of them use the same hormone, levonorgestrel, they function for different lengths of time. For example, Mirena and Liletta work for as long as eight years, while Kyleena works for up to five years and Skyla works for up to three years. The IUDs on the longer side of the scale contain the greatest amount of levonorgestrel and are therefore more likely to cause lighter or no periods.

Women can expect to experience fewer periods and lighter bleeding once their bodies have adjusted to a hormonal IUD. Roughly one out of every five women will have no period at all once their body has adjusted.

Nonhormonal IUDs

With a copper IUD, the mechanism is somewhat different. Copper IUDs work by preventing sperm from making their way to an egg and fertilizing it rather than stopping it from occurring. Should fertilization happen anyway, which is very unlikely, a copper IUD will stop the egg from implanting in the endometrium. Therefore, women who have a copper IUD may experience longer periods and heavier bleeding than before, at least initially.

This heavy bleeding should lessen around three months after the copper IUD is inserted. Women with a copper IUD can expect to have regular periods because these devices do not interrupt ovulation.

When Should You See a Doctor About a Missing Period With an IUD?

First, it is important to keep in mind that IUD insertion can lead to temporary bleeding, and pain immediately afterward. Women should contact their doctor if they have excessive bleeding requiring them to change a pad more that once an hour, pain that they can control with over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen, or other signs of complications like fever.

Second, when it comes to menstrual cycles, women with an IUD should call their doctor if they are missing a period for six weeks or longer, experience pregnancy symptoms, have a foul-smelling or unusual vaginal discharge, experience pain during sex, or have a fever or chills.

Although it is very rare, it is possible for a woman who has an IUD to become pregnant. If you experience pregnancy symptoms, you can take a home pregnancy test for peace of mind and should get in touch with your doctor regardless of the results because becoming pregnant with an IUD may raise your risk of serious complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy.

Contact Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness to Learn More About Contraceptive Care

To learn more about family planning and the right birth control method for your lifestyle, contact the women’s health-care team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness to schedule an appointment.

IUDs are one of the most effective methods of birth control available, but they do come with a few potential side effects. In particular, some women who use IUDs may experience bleeding. Here is a look at why this can happen and what you should do if you experience it.

Why Do IUDs Cause Bleeding?

IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are small T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus by a health-care professional to prevent pregnancy. Because they are inserted into the body, some bleeding can be expected at first.

There are two main types of IUDs: hormonal and copper. Copper IUDs work on their own to prevent pregnancy, while hormonal IUDs contain a hormone known as progestin. Although this can help to ease premenstrual symptoms and reduce or stop your period, these hormones may cause bleeding in some people as they adjust to their presence.

Bleeding-Related Side Effects of IUDs

Some women will experience heavy periods and bouts of breakthrough bleeding within the first three to six months of having an IUD inserted. Most women report that this bleeding is heaviest just after the device is inserted.

If you have a copper IUD, your risk of experiencing heavy bleeding as well as symptoms like back aches and cramping during menstruation for the first few months increases..In some women this will lessen over time, although many women continue to have heavier periods with the copper IUD.

In contrast, hormonal IUDs generally cause irregular bleeding in the first few months after placement that gradually improves over time. Most women with these IUDs will ultimately have periods that are shorter and lighter than their natural periods. In fact, for some women the period will stop altogether.

After the first six months with an IUD, you are unlikely to experience breakthrough bleeding or bleeding after sex. If you do notice bleeding after intercourse, you should reach out to your doctor to identify the cause and the right course of treatment.

What Else Causes Bleeding After Sex?

Although your IUD may be to blame for bleeding after sex, particularly if you have had it inserted within the last few months, there are other potential causes of this type of bleeding as well.

Infection

Fewer than one out of every 100 women who rely on an IUD will become pregnant in a year, making them highly effective. However, it is important to note that they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections. In some cases, women with IUDs who have not used protection may experience bleeding as a symptom of a sexually transmitted disease. See your gynecologist to have testing if you think you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection.

Malposition

Abnormal bleeding or pain during sex may indicate that your IUD has shifted out of position. You should have your doctor look at it to confirm the IUD is in the correct position. If the IUD has moved out of position it can be replaced by your provider or you may not be protected from pregnancy.

Friction and Dryness

For women who have not yet undergone menopause, this type of bleeding often comes from the cervix. This is the narrow end of the uterus, and it can be irritated by friction from sex. Many times, occasional bleeding following intercourse is not a cause for concern among premenopausal women. Use of a lubricant or changing to a different position for intercourse may alleviate this problem.

Other Causes

Some of the other potential causes of bleeding could be cervical polyps or cancer,, injuries to the uterine lining, vaginitis, or pregnancy.

What To Do About Bleeding With an IUD

If you notice frequent or heavy bleeding, it could be a sign of a serious health condition, so it is important to see a doctor.

Your doctor can perform tests to determine what is causing your bleeding. A pelvic exam can be used to find abnormalities, while a pregnancy test may be necessary to rule out pregnancy in women who are sexually active and of reproductive age. Your doctor may also perform a Pap smear to eliminate the possibility of cervical cancer or take samples to check for sexually transmitted infections. In some cases an ultrasound may be needed to confirm that the IUD is in the correct position.

The treatment for this type of bleeding depends on its cause. For example, if vaginal dryness is to blame, lubricant may be recommended. For women who have STIs, medication may be prescribed. Surgical procedures may be needed for cervical polyps, while women who are bleeding due to friction or trauma will often be advised to practice gentler sex. Finally, if your bleeding is due to an injured uterine lining, you may need to refrain from sex for a couple of weeks to give it time to heal.

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

Occasional bleeding after sex with an IUD is often nothing to worry about, but if it is significant or accompanied by pain, it is crucial to check the device’s placement and evaluate for other problems. If you are concerned about any type of bleeding, reach out to the women’s health-care team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today to schedule an appointment

You may have heard that IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are convenient and effective forms of birth control. Indeed, their popularity has been rising in the US recently, and most women are good candidates for these devices. However, there are some important things to keep in mind when deciding if this is the right approach for you. Here is a look at what you need to know before you get an IUD.

They Are Higly Effective

Although no reversible method of birth control is 100 percent effective, hormonal intrauterine devices are about as close as you can get, offering 99 percent protection from pregnancy. One of the big reasons they are so effective is because they eliminate the possibility for human error. Although these devices may sometimes slip out of position, there is not nearly as much potential for human error as with condoms and birth control pills.

According to Healthline, while fewer than one out of every 100 women of hormonal and copper IUDs will become pregnant, around 9 in 100 of most birth control pills and the patch will become pregnant, while 18 of 100 females who rely on condoms will become pregnant.

You Will Need to Choose Between Hormonal and Nonhormonal IUDs

Most women are given a choice between hormonal or nonhormonal IUDs. A hormonal IUD secretes a small amount of progesterone into your uterus to protect against pregnancy. These devices can also make your period lighter and are even sometimes used to treat heavy periods.

Copper IUDs do not contain hormones, so they are suitable for women who would prefer not to use a hormonal form of birth control. They may sometimes cause your period to become heavier, but they last longer than hormonal IUDs.

Insertion Is Relatively Quick

Many women worry that having an IUD inserted will be a long and painful process. The good news is that the procedure usually takes around five minutes. Although there will naturally be some pain as a foreign object is inserted into your body, many women liken it to a bad cramp. Although pain varies from person to person, it typically does not last long.

For women who are extremely uncomfortable with the prospect of having the device inserted, anesthesia is an option, but it is not necessary. For many women, taking a few pain relievers ahead of the procedure is enough to offset any discomfort.

The Side Effects

Although cramping related to IUD insertion tends to subside rather quickly, you may experience other symptoms in the first few months. Spotting is not uncommon, particularly with a hormonal IUD. Some women will experience spotting or bleeding for as long as three to six months after an IUD has been placed; bleeding that lasts longer than this should be checked by a doctor.

Some women may experience moodiness or bloating due to the hormones in some IUDs, but it is very uncommon given the low overall dosage of hormones that IUDs contain. In very rare cases, women may experience an infection, but there will be obvious symptoms such as severe pain and a fever.

They Do Not Offer Protection Against Sexually Transmitted Infections

While you may think of an IUD as being a “set it and forget it” birth control method, it does not mean you should throw away your condoms. IUDs offer no protection against sexually transmitted infections, which means that you will still need to take steps to prevent contracting a disease.

An IUD May Offer Protection From Pregnancy Right Away

If you opt for a copper IUD, you will enjoy prevention from pregnancy immediately. With a hormonal IUD, this will depend on where in your cycle you are when the device is inserted. It will theoretically prevent pregnancy right away if it is inserted within the first seven days of your period, but it is best to use backup protection for the first week to be on the safe side.

For those who do not have an IUD inserted during their period, it is best to wait at least 7 days before having unprotected sex. Women should avoid inserting anything into the vagina for the first week after an IUD insertion to avoid introducing the risk of infection. Although the risk is small, it is best to play it safe.

Discuss Your Birth Control Options With the Women’s Health-Care Professionals

To learn more about the various types of birth control and intrauterine devices available, schedule an appointment with the women’s health-care professionals at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today to discuss your options.