An intrauterine device is used by women who wish to avoid pregnancy,  this device is best prescribed by a health specialist and not gotten over the counter. Visit Flexitiud.ca/health-care-providers to get a suitable IUD. 

Couples who do not subscribe to other methods of family planning can find it suitable to go for IUDs. This device has some positive and negative effects on its users which will be pointed out in this post. 

Advantages of IUDs

  1. It Is Reversible

Unlike some methods of family planning and contraception, IUDs can be taken off the body at will. If a couple decides to start a family after some years, the IUD can be removed by the doctor without any side effects on the reproductive organs and hormones.

This insinuates that a woman can give birth afterward when the IUD is removed. 

  1. Low Maintenance

Some methods of family planning can be demanding and also expensive, this is not the case with IUDs, as it requires little or no maintenance cost. For women who always have a busy day at work, you don’t have to take a pill or do a routine job to prevent pregnancy. 

For teenage girls, IUDs can be used to prevent unwanted pregnancy at an early age, when they become sexually mature. 

  1. It Is Durable

intrauterine devices if inserted properly do not fall short of performance in the long run. For hormonal IUDs, it can be changed every 3 to 10 years while cooper-coated IUDs can last for over 10 years. 

By and large, inserting an IUD does not prevent you from having sex with your spouse. 

  1. High Efficiency

Aside from abstinence, which is considered the best form of avoiding pregnancy, using IUDs also guarantees 99% protection compared to the 100% efficacy with abstinence. 

With this, your chances of getting pregnant are extremely low and will last for an appreciable time. 

Disadvantages of IUDs

  1. IUDs Don’t Prevent STDs

Inserting an IUD only guarantees the fact that there will be pregnancy, but you can contract sexually transmitted diseases. The use of condoms will only reduce the risk of contracting STDs but does not eliminate them. You can contact your doctor for better means of contraception or family planning. 

  1. It Can Affect Menstruation

Inserting an IUD can increase blood flow when you’re on your period, this is true when you use a copper IUD. A hormonal IUD on the other hand causes scanty blood flow and sometimes, you may miss your period. 

  1. It Can Get Displaced

The risk of getting pregnant will be high if your IUD loses its position. IUDs have strings connected to them meant for safe removal when due. This string should be checked periodically to avoid complications. 

Aside from that, ectopic pregnancy is possible when the IUDs are wrongly placed or have shifted from the right position. 

  1. Impact On The Uterus

Despite the safety obtained when using IUDs, the uterus will always bear the pain during insertion. Also, it is better to get it inserted by a specialist to avoid puncturing the uterus wall. 

Some cases of wrong placement can cause severe damage to the kidney.

By Manali