February 10, 2012
Sex & Beauty Contraceptives Is it painful to have an IUD inserted?
Is it painful to have an IUD inserted? |
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DEAR ASK THE DOCTOR: I have been researching different forms of contraceptives. I was wondering if it is painful to have an IUD inserted.
DEAR JOCELYN: The insertion of an IUD (Intrauterine device) is usually not too painful for women and well tolerated. In some cases a local anesthetic may be applied to the uterine cervix prior to the insertion. Some women may experience pain and dizziness after insertion, which usually settles after resting for a short time. Here are some other points to know about IUD's: - The IUD can be used as an emergency contraception and must be inserted within 5 to 8 days (ideally within 120 hours) after unprotected sex. Because of the insertion procedure, the IUD is not suitable to be used regularly as emergency contraception. - The IUD must be inserted by a trained healthcare professional, who will follow the necessary procedure to ensure it is correctly positioned. Occasionally, the muscular contractions of the womb during menstruation may sometimes push it out of place or expel it. Very rarely it can perforate the wall of the uterus. If a user of an IUD experiences any unusual bleeding, pain or discomfort, her doctor must be informed as soon as possible. - Neither you nor your partner should feel the IUD during sexual intercourse. If you do, sexual intercourse should be avoided until your doctor has checked that the IUD is still in the correct position. - Women using an IUD are more likely to experience an increase in blood loss each month than non-users. This typically occurs because of increased duration and heaviness of menstrual flow, but may also result from irregular bleeding and spotting in between periods. - Women with an IUD can experience an increased duration and heaviness of menstrual flow. - An IUD can be left in place from 3 up to 10 years, depending on the type. After this time, it will need to be replaced with a new device. If this method of contraception has worked well for you, and if you still wish to use a long-term contraceptive option, then you can discuss with your healthcare professional about continuing with this method.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 April 2010 ) |
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