When it comes to the world of birth control, there are dozens of options that fit most every need and goal. More often than not, the choice comes down to delivery method, which is where an IUD rises above the rest.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to avoid pregnancy, there are many options that can help you achieve that goal. While efficacy is a big part of the equation — after all the goal is NOT to get pregnant — ease of use is also a large consideration. To check both of these boxes, many women are turning to an intrauterine device (IUD) with great success.
At our practice, which is headed up by gynecologist Dr. Amy Bruner, we offer a host of services to women in the Portland, Oregon, area that cover all stages of their reproductive health, which includes not reproducing. Through a wide range of birth control choices, we can help you avoid an unwanted pregnancy with the least amount of disruption in your daily life, which is exactly why so many of our patients are opting for an IUD over the pill.
IUDs 101
When we discuss IUDs, we explain that there are two different kinds — a hormonal IUD and a copper IUD. With the first, the small device releases hormones that thicken the mucus around your cervix to trap sperm, as well as disrupt your ovulation. With a copper IUD, the material repels sperm, preventing them from passing through your cervix.
Both IUDs are very small T-shaped devices that we insert into your uterus in a quick, in-office procedure. Once in place, there’s nothing more you need to do as they quickly go to work to prevent pregnancy.
Superior efficacy rates
The primary goal of any birth control is to prevent pregnancy, and both the pill and the IUD do this admirably. The pill boasts an impressive 91% efficacy rate, but it’s hardly the 99% efficacy rate that an IUD offers. This 8% difference may seem small, but it’s almost a 10% difference in protection.
Ease of use
While the pill has a 91% efficacy rate, this depends solely on your ability to take the pill as instructed, which typically means every day. And while you may be very good at keeping up with small details such as these, life happens, and you may find yourself in a situation where you’ve skipped a day or forgotten to pack the pills when you go away. Needless to say, this disruption in your schedule greatly reduces your protection.
With an IUD, we insert the device and you needn’t give it a second thought — for years. Please note that it may take a week or two after we insert your IUD for it to begin working properly, which is also true when you start taking birth control pills.
Long-term protection
As we just alluded to above, the IUD offers protection from unwanted pregnancy for years — from three to 10, depending on which IUD you choose. The pill offers long-term protection, too, as long as you keep taking it. But the birth control pill falls short of the one-and-done, long-term protection of an IUD.
When you’re ready
Another great benefit of an IUD is that when you’re ready to have children, we remove the device as easily as we inserted it during a painless, in-office procedure. Once we remove your IUD, your ability to get pregnant returns to whatever is normal for you very quickly.If you’d like to explore further whether an IUD is right for you, please contact us at 971-347-3192 or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.
