To many women the IUD seems like the best alternative for birth control but not everything is easy street with this method. To decide if you want to use an IUD you should take a moment and consider the pros and cons of it. It is, of course, important to also discuss this with your doctor but this pro and con list should give you an idea of what the IUD is about. Let's start with the pros...
Pros of using an IUD
With an IUD you never have to worry about missing a birth control pill. The IUD is always in place and you will soon even forget that it is there. Whether you choose the copper IUD or hormone IUD, it will be a very convenient birth control in that you never need to think about it.
You can use the IUD for many years. It is enough to make yearly check ups just to make sure that it is in place but many women only switch IUD after 5 years of use. If you need birth control for more time than a year then this is a great option.
If you are sensitive to hormones you can use the copper IUD which doesn't influence your body the way birth control pills would. Also the hormonal IUD has a mild effect since it works locally.
Cons of using an IUD
Inserting an IUD can be very painful if you never gave birth. This is enough for some women to forget about this birth control method till after their first baby. You should also know that it is important to let an experienced physician insert the device or you might experience pain and discomfort.
With the copper IUD you should count on a year of heavy periods. The periods can be so heavy that you will experience fatigue and a loss of iron as a result of them. Prepare for this by stocking up on vitamins and by having the right amount of pads and tampons at home in time for your period!
The IUD can cause cramps throughout the month. This is a very individual thing and some women don't feel these cramps at all.
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