IUD Myth busting
Kate Fields, a midwife at The Vancouver Clinic, spends a lot of time debunking myths about intrauterine devices.
Here are some of the common myths she hears:
Myth: You can’t have an IUD until you’ve given birth.
Truth: “It’s just not true anymore,” Fields said. “To put an IUD into a woman who has not given birth is a little tougher, but an experienced provider should be able to do it without problems.”
In addition, smaller IUDs designed specifically for women who have never given birth are available.
Myth: IUDs can cause infections and infertility.
Truth: “They’re actually safe and effective,” Fields said.
IUDs have a sketchy past, Fields said, and that’s affected current perceptions about the devices. In the early 1970s, the Dalkon Shield IUD caused significant complications — infections, miscarriages and infertility — and were pulled off the market. Those horror stories have stuck with some women and continue to show up in internet searches, Fields said.
“That’s kind of what a certain generation of women think of,” Fields said. “There are problems with all birth control. The IUD stories are the most scary.”
Myth: IUDs are only a good option for older people.
Truth: “For a teenager, the IUD is so awesome,” Fields said. “It’s there for three to five years, and there’s so little ability to mess it up.”
It’s important to note, however, that condoms should still be used because IUDs don’t protect against sexually transmitted infections, she said.
Myth: IUDs are painful.
Truth: IUD insertion can be “really uncomfortable,” Fields said, but after that, they aren’t painful. Women should be prepared for a short period of intense cramping. Fields encourages patients to take ibuprofen and eat a meal before coming in for their appointment.
Myth: Sexual partners will be able to feel the IUD.
Truth: It shouldn’t bother your partner, Fields said. Partners won’t feel the IUD, which is in the uterus, but may feel its strings that come out of the cervix. The strings are flexible and can be trimmed, if necessary, Fields said.