If you’re sexually active and you don’t want to get pregnant right now, you need a comprehensive birth control plan that works for you. John Paul Kelada, MD, AlexandraMary Kelada, DO, and the team at Roseville Family Healthcare in Roseville, California, provide some of the most effective types of birth control available, the Paragard® copper IUD, the Mirena® hormonal IUD, and the Nexplanon® implant. To learn more, schedule an appointment with the team online or over the phone today.
An IUD (intrauterine device) is a small, flexible T-shaped device that a doctor can insert inside your uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of IUDs, copper IUDs like Paragard® and hormonal IUDs like Mirena®.
Copper IUDs are hormone-free plastic frames wrapped in copper wire. They’re toxic to sperm and cause them to stop moving before they can reach the egg, thereby preventing pregnancy. Copper IUDs can work for up to 12 years.
Hormonal IUDs like Mirena prevent pregnancy by releasing small amounts of progestin into the bloodstream, where it inhibits ovulation, thins the uterine lining to make it harder for a fertilized egg to implant itself, and thickens the cervical mucus so sperm can’t reach the egg.
Not only do hormonal IUDs help prevent pregnancy, but they can also help with painful or heavy periods. The Mirena lasts about five years.
During IUD insertion, you may feel cramping or pain, which can continue for a few days, in addition to bleeding and backaches.
Once you get your IUD, you may experience cramping and spotting for three to six months. Hormonal IUDs can also cause the pleasant side effect of lighter, less crampy, or even non-existent periods.
Copper IUDs can cause spotting between periods, heavier and more uncomfortable periods, or irregular periods.
Nexplanon is a hormonal birth control implant that goes in your arm. Like hormonal IUDs, this tiny, rod-shaped implant prevents pregnancy by steadily releasing hormones. It works for up to three years.
Nexplanon can cause a number of side effects, including:
You may also experience weight gain, acne, and breast pain.
Two of the most effective types of birth control available are IUDs and hormonal implants.
Nexplanon, Mirena, and Paragard are more than 99% effective, making them among the market's most reliable forms of birth control. What type of birth control you choose comes down to several factors, including whether or not you want to use hormonal birth control, if you have a history of pelvic infections, the condition of your uterus, and your overall health history.
Don’t want to get pregnant right now? Make a plan. Schedule an appointment to discuss your birth control options with Roseville Family Healthcare online or over the phone today.