Here's why your gyno recommends an IUD
An IUD is ‘forgettable.’ You will have effective protection for years to come. ACOG just released it's practice update for IUD use, and the guidelines we follow at Women's Health Practice. Many of the prior recommendations and principals were not significantly changed. ACOG feels that as a method of contraception there are few contraindications and most of the updates have to do with specific recommendations around special situations. Here is a summary and what it may mean:
An IUD is immediately effective.
Insertion timing can be very flexible. You can get your IUDs at any time during the menstrual cycle, and insertion is no more difficult one day verses the otherAn IUD may be inserted immediately after a miscarriage in the first or second trimester, on the same day as a surgical abortion, and immediately after a medication-induced abortion, and on the same day as first-trimester or second-trimester induced or spontaneous abortion. You could even get an IUD immediately after delivery.
No antibiotic use necessary. Insertion is not complex, and current guidelines clarify antibiotic prescription need for insertion and specifically women do not need to take an antibiotic routinely just for IUD insertion, so less likelihood of getting a yeast infection just to get your IUD
As long as you are not testing positive for pregnancy you can get your IUD. Even if you have had unprotected sex that day. You do not need two visits to get an IUD. You can get your IUD and your yearly sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a single visit
IUDs can be used by women with prior infections, abnormal pap smears and menopause. Women with a history of ectopic pregnancies can safely use the IUDs. It is not necessary to remove an IUD or implant before its expiration date in women who are menopausal, medicated IUDs are excellent protection for the uterus in women on estrogen.
Keep up your routine gynecologic care. Your pap smear timing and testing if abnormal is not disturbed in any way by having an IUD. If you have a reason to have a cervical or uterine biopsy it can be done around the IUD and your IUD would not need to be removed.
All the current ACA plans cover IUD insertion
If you would like an IUD call us at Women's Health Practice.