If you’ve considered birth control over the past few years, chances are you’ve had at least one friend wax enthusiastic about an intrauterine device, or IUD. The method, which is the most effective reversible form of contraception on the market, has grown exponentially in popularity over the last decade, despite low national rates.
There’s now even a small sub-genre of personal essay related to choosing IUDs, ranging from testimonials to tales of medical misadventure.
Laura MacIsaac, M.D., an ob-gyn and director of the Family Planning Division at Beth Israel Hospital in New York, says that she’s noticed a big uptick in women asking about and selecting IUDs. That’s partially through word of mouth — women recommending them to friends (or writing about them on the Internet) — but it’s also related to a shifting demographic among doctors: A generation ago, most ob-gyns were men, but now, according to MacIsaac, 80 percent of the American Congress of Gynecology fellows under 40 are women. And 40 percent of female gynecologists who use contraception choose the IUD, compared with just 6 percent of the general population of women.
–
Mirena, on the other hand, can cause very light spotting or cause a period to disappear entirely; 20 percent of Mirena users don’t get their period and for many women, this is a bonus. There are some women who are uncomfortable with never menstruating, according to MacIsaac, so early removals happen among both groups.
Pro: Long-term Costs Are Low As Can Be
One reason women discontinue the pill or are spotty in their use of it relates to cost: It can be hard for some women to spare the co-pay on a month-to-month basis. While an IUD requires some investment upfront, the cost effectiveness evens out after roughly a year of pills or the patch or ring. Given that the IUD can last up to 10 years, that’s a major saving. “Even a year is worth it,” said MacIsaac. “I tell people to consider it a one-year method or longer — if you don’t want to have a child in next year, then you’re a candidate for all three of the IUDs.”
