What is an IUD?

• An IUD, or intrauterine device, is a form of birth control placed in the uterus. The device is a small T-shaped piece of flexible plastic. There are two types of IUDs available in the United States--ParaGard and Mirena. ParaGard has a copper wire in the device to prevent pregnancy, while Mirena contains the pregnancy-blocking hormone progestin.
  
  

Administration of an IUD

• An IUD is typically given at a doctor's or qualified medical professional's office. She fits the T-shaped IUD into the uterus, taking care to place it so that it does not pierce the uterine lining. It is usually inserted during a menstrual period, when the cervix is slightly open, according to the Feminist Women's Health Center.
  
  Once inserted, the IUD has two strings that extend from the uterus into the vagina. When given an IUD, your doctor or health care practitioner will show you how to perform self-checks to make sure the IUD is still in place.
  
  You cannot insert an IUD by yourself, but you can do checks to ensure it stays in place by feeling for the IUD strings. If your IUD slips out of place, a medical professional must take it out and replace it.
  
  

How Does an IUD Work?

• According to Planned Parenthood, an IUD works by preventing sperm to join with the egg by affecting sperm motility. It also changes the lining of the uterine wall, which makes it more difficult for an egg to attach.
  
  In the Mirena, the hormone progestin prevents pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus and preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs. ParaGard does not contain any hormones, but many healthcare providers believe the copper in the wire prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall changes the texture of the wall, making it harder for an egg to attach.
  
  

How Safe is an IUD?

• When used correctly, an IUD can be more than 99 percent effective according to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. While an IUD is safe for use to prevent pregnancy, it does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), so most medical professionals recommend you use an IUD as part of a monogamous relationship.
  
  

Who Should Not Be Given an IUD?

• If you suspect you are pregnant, or are pregnant you should not be given an IUD. Otherwise, if you are have had a pelvic infection or are prone to pelvic infections, severe cervicitis or toxic shock syndrome, the Feminist Women's Health Center recommends an alternative method of birth control.
  
  

Side Effects

• When given an IUD, risks include heavier and more painful, according to Planned Parenthood. There is a risk of ovarian cysts with the hormone-containing IUDs like Mirena, along with potential weight gain and decreased sex drive. If you are allergic to copper, ParaGard will cause an allergic reaction. There is also a chance of ectopic pregnancy with any IUD. In rare cases, if bacteria enters the uterus during insertion, a woman can potentially get a pelvic infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the first 20 days of insertion. Another rare possibility is the chance the IUD could pierce the lining of the uterus, so if you cannot feel the IUD strings, but your healthcare provider should be able to take care of it. Another rare risk is the IUD slipping out, or slipping into the uterus and moving around, which happens more frequently in younger women who have not had babies.