Intrauterine devices or IUDs are small, t-shaped pieces of plastic that are inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. IUDs are contraceptives used by women to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse. They contain hormones that help prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg. The IUD is also known as “Copper-T”.
Types Of Intrauterine Devices
Copper IUDs
These IUDs are also known as ParaGard. ParaGard is a T-shaped plastic device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Copper IUDs are also known as non-hormonal IUDs. It can prevent pregnancy for 10-12 years.
Hormonal IUDs
The hormonal IUDs are Kyleena, Liletta, Mirena, and Skyla. They are known as hormonal IUDs which secrete progestin hormone into the body to ensure the thickening of the sperm, which hitherto prevents it from swimming into the uterus. Hormonal IUDs work differently, they could be effective for up to 3-7 years.
Side Effects Of Intrauterine Devices Insertion
1. Perforation Of The Uterus
The IUD or its device if not properly handled by the healthcare personnel may perforate the wall of the uterus.
2. Expulsion From The Uterus
On rare occasions, the IUD may escape from the uterus and this may cause a little discomfort down there. More so, when this happens, it is not a hundred percent effective, so you stand the risk of getting pregnant.
3. Pain During Insertion
During the insertion of the IUD, there might be slight pain around your pelvic and your private part. However, the intake of any analgesic will relieve you of the pain.
4. Cramping
Cramping or backache may occur within the first two-three days of insertion of the IUD.
5. Irregular Menstrual Flow
For the first two or three months after the insertion of the IUD, you might likely experience irregular menstrual flow. In fact, in-between your periods, spotting could occur.
6. Heavy Menstrual Flow
You could experience heavy menstrual flow after the insertion of an IUD. It all depends on your body as a woman. However, when this happens, you should return to the medical facility where it was inserted for you.
7. High Blood Pressure
Before the insertion of the IUD, the medical personnel attending to you must ask for your medical history. If you have high blood pressure, most times, they advise you against insertion the IUD until you have stable blood pressure.
8. Breast Tenderness
This occurs as a result of the hormones released into the body through the IUD.
9. Nausea And Vomiting
Due to hormonal changes, you can start feeling nauseated and even vomiting. However, this experience does not last long.
10. Headache
Immediately after the insertion of the IUD, you can start feeling a headache. Sometimes, the headache could become worse and lead to migraine.
However, Before Opting For Any Contraceptive Method At All, Especially The IUDs; You Need Yo Know The Following:
- The size of the woman’s uterus has to be known before the insertion takes place.
- The woman’s monthly cycle should be known by the medical personnel before inserting the IUD into the uterus.
- It is of great importance for the pregnancy status of the woman to be known before the insertion takes place.
- The medical personnel usually, would recommend that you check for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, staphylococcus, syphilis, etc.
Likely Things To Experience After The Intrauterine Devices Insertion
Following under listed things are what you are likely to experience just almost immediately after you have had your IUD on. However, when they occur, you do not need to fret, all you need to do is to visit the medical facility where the insertion of the IUD was conducted for you.
1. High Fever
You will likely experience a high fever. Your temperature could surge as a result of the foreign body just inserted into your body system.
2. Stomach Cramps
You might likely experience stomach cramps immediately after the insertion takes place. You can make use of analgesics to relieve the pain at first, and when there is no difference, pay the medical facility where it was inserted a visit.
3. Heavy Or Light Bleeding
After the insertion of IUDs, you could experience bleeding, it could be heavy or light; it all depends on your body system as a woman. It could be as heavy as changing sanitary pads almost hourly and it could be as light as spotting alone.
4. Vaginal Discharge And Odor
You may likely experience smelly vagina discharge. when this happens, do not hesitate to visit the medical facility where the insertion was done for you to seek medical advice and care.
5. Painful Sexual Intercourse
You might likely experience painful sexual intercourse within the first week of insertion.
Stay healthy!
Stay strong!
