Iud insertion what is

Ready for more myth-busting? Although many people are up and able to carry on about their day with minimal discomfort, others find it helpful to spend the rest of the day recovering in bed. The same goes for any responsibilities around this house.

Can it wait until tomorrow? Can a friend, partner, or family member come over to help take of it? Or better yet, can someone come over to help take care of you?

Make sure you take any medications your doctor prescribed and keep them on hand, if applicable, afterward! Think: breathable cotton undies, baggy sweats, loose T-shirt, and easy slip-on, slip-off style shoes.

You can have sex as soon as you want after getting an IUD unless you had it inserted within 48 hours of giving birth. However, you might want to use a backup form of birth control — like a condom — if you want to have penis-in-vagina sex soon after insertion.

Otherwise, protection against unwanted pregnancy begins 7 full days after insertion. That said, some healthcare professionals recommend using a condom or other barrier method for the first month after insertion to reduce your risk of infection.

This is also the time to speak up about any discomfort you or your sexual partner may be experiencing during penetrative sex. If the strings are poking you or a partner in an uncomfortable way, your physician should be able to trim them back a little during this appointment.

While you might experience some discomfort during the insertion and some cramping afterward, these symptoms should resolve fairly quickly. Simone M. Scully is a writer who loves writing about all things health and science. Find Simone on her website , Facebook , and Twitter. Here's everything you need to know about this long-term birth control method. We break down your options for birth control and how to get them, plus highlight some of the best free or low-cost providers in all 50 states and….

The Mirena , Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla continuously are types that release a small amount of the progestin levonorgestrel and are effective for up to seven, five, four, and three years respectively. This IUD has copper which acts as a spermicide coiled around it. Before an IUD insertion, it's important to first dispel these myths in order to alleviate any worries and feel more confident during insertion. Prior to insertion, some healthcare professionals advise taking an over-the-counter pain management medication, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as to milligrams of ibuprofen—Motrin or Advil an hour before the IUD is inserted.

This may help to minimize the cramps and discomfort that may be caused during the insertion. If not, make sure to bring one from home to use after the insertion in case some bleeding occurs. Your healthcare professional will have all the equipment prepared to insert the IUD. Before starting, he or she should explain the procedure to you and respond to any of your questions and concerns.

This can help you to become more relaxed, which makes the insertion easier and less painful. Your healthcare provider will likely perform a pregnancy test to rule out the possibility of a pregnancy. Then, a healthcare provider will usually perform a bimanual examination this is where your healthcare professional inserts two fingers into the vagina and uses the other hand on the abdomen to be able to feel the internal pelvic organs. This is done to accurately determine the position, consistency, size, and mobility of the uterus and identify any tenderness, which might indicate infection.

At this point, your healthcare professional will hold open the vagina by using a speculum, which resembles a metal beak of a duck. The instrument is inserted into the vagina, then its sides are separated and held open by a special action device on the handle.

Once this is accomplished, due to the importance of having a completely sterile environment to reduce the likelihood of infections, the cervix and the adjacent anterior front and posterior back recesses in the vagina will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution. Your healthcare provider will then use a tenaculum to help stabilize the cervix and keep it steady. The tenaculum is a long-handled, slender instrument that is attached to the cervix to steady the uterus.

Your healthcare provider will now insert a sterile instrument called a sound to measure the length and direction of the cervical canal and uterus. This procedure reduces the risk of perforating the uterus having the IUD puncture through , which usually occurs because the IUD is inserted too deeply or at the wrong angle.

Your healthcare provider will make sure to avoid any contact with the vagina or speculum blades. The uterine sound has a round tip at the end to help prevent perforation puncturing the uterus. Some healthcare providers may use an endometrial aspirator as an alternative to the uterine sound, which does the same thing.

It is important that the healthcare provider determines that your uterine depth is between 6 and 9 centimeters as an IUD should not be inserted if the depth of the uterus is less than 6 centimeters. After the sound is withdrawn, the healthcare provider will prepare the IUD for insertion by removing it from its sterile packaging.

The IUD is pushed into place, to the depth indicated by the sound, by a plunger in the tube. Once out of the tube and when the IUD is in the proper position in the uterus, the arms open into the "T" shape. The insertion of an IUD is usually uncomplicated. Although there may be some discomfort, the whole procedure only takes a few minutes.

A woman may experience cramping and pinching sensations while IUD insertion is taking place. Some women may feel a bit dizzy. It may be helpful to take deep breaths. Additionally, these reactions do not affect later IUD performance. Women who have never given birth, have had few births, or have had a long interval since last giving birth are most likely to experience these problems. Once the IUD is in place, the tube, plunger, tenaculum, and speculum are removed from the vagina.

The intrauterine device will stay in place. The IUD will have strings attached to it that the healthcare provider will leave intact. They hang down through the cervix into the vagina. At this point, the healthcare provider will cut the ends of the strings but will allow about 1 to 2 inches to hang out of the cervix.

It is best to leave it alone. The string is not dangerous but pulling it could move or even remove the IUD.

If the string causes irritation or if a partner can feel the string during sex, a person can ask a doctor to trim it. In rare cases, an IUD can come out on its own. If this happens, it is possible for the person to become pregnant. Anyone whose IUD has fallen out should call a doctor and not have unprotected sex. Copper and hormonal IUDs can cause side effects, although these usually resolve after a few months.

People with a history of cardiovascular disease, those who smoke, and those who are over 35 years old are more likely to have complications from a hormonal IUD. It is a myth that IUDs can travel to other areas of the body, such as the brain or lungs. IUDs can prevent pregnancy for 3 to 12 years and sometimes longer.

It is possible to remove the IUD at any time. During removal, a nurse or doctor will ask a person to lie on their back and put their feet in stirrups.

They will insert a speculum to open the vagina and then gently tug on the IUD string. This causes the IUD to fold and pass through the cervix. A person may experience cramping during removal, but the procedure only takes a few minutes. Sometimes the IUD is harder to remove. If this happens, a doctor might use smaller instruments to take it out.

Very rarely, if an IUD is stuck, a person may require surgery to remove it. An IUD is an excellent option for people who want long-term birth control without remembering to take pills, receive injections, or use condoms. As with any birth control, IUDs offer both benefits and risks. If a person is unsure about whether it is the right choice for them, they can speak to a doctor to discuss their concerns.

The IUD insertion can be uncomfortable or painful for some people, but the pain usually passes. It may also cause some side effects as the body gets used to the new device.

They should hang about 2 inches down from the cervix into the vagina. If you cannot feel the strings or if you feel the IUD itself, it may not be in the correct place. If you ever think the IUD is not in the correct place, you should call your health care provider and you need to use a backup method of non-hormonal birth control like a condom if you have sexual intercourse.

You will need to follow up with the provider about 6 to 8 weeks after the insertion to check the position of the device. After this exam, you should get regular gynecologic checkups every year. There is a slightly increased risk of infection, called pelvic inflammatory disease PID , during the first 20 days after the IUD is inserted. After that, the risk for PID is very low. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. She should take a shower or bath as usual before coming in for her insertion.

The health care provider will first do a pelvic exam to measure the size, shape, and position of the uterus and ovaries. Your provider will then use a device called a speculum that holds the vagina open.