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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Myth of the Month: IUDs cause infections and infertility

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There's a bit of confusion--even among well-educated women and their doctors--about the innocent IUD. For years, gynos have withheld the IUD from any woman that was not in a monogamous relationship, had no children, and had a history of chlamydia or PID. Despite changes in the labeling for the IUD, many doctors persist in their beliefs that the IUD is linked to pelvic infections and infertility.

Here's the truth about IUD and infections: After an IUD is placed, there's a risk of infection in your pelvis for the next three weeks. This risk is related to the act of putting in the IUD; if there's an infection in your cervix, the IUD insertion "straw" can push that bacteria up into your uterus. Knowing this, most gynos will screen you for infection first. Years ago--in the era of the Dalkon Shield--we didn't know about chlamydia and rest of the STI gang. So women with active cervical infections had IUDs placed, inadvertently giving them PID. And one of the worst possible consequences of PID is scarring in your fallopian tubes, making it difficult (or impossible) to get pregnant on your own.

After this time around IUD placement, there's no increased risk of infection, as compared to your risk pre-IUD. No, bacteria don't shimmy up the strings. No, the strings don't act as a magnet to bacteria. And if you get PID, it's not any worse with the IUD in place; in fact, you can get treated for PID while leaving in the IUD. And in the end, it's PID (with tubal scarring) that puts someone at risk of infertility--not the IUD.

Bottom line for your bottom? It doesn't matter if you've got one boyfriend, or multiple friends-with-benefits. It doesn't matter if some jerk gave you chlamydia last year. And it doesn't matter if you're not yet a mom. If you're infection-free when your IUD is placed, know that your amazingly-effective birth control method isn't going to threaten your health...it will just keep you pregnancy-free till you're ready.

Have any doctors warned you away from the IUD because of your medical or pregnancy history?

MORE FROM DAILY BEDPOST AND GLAMOUR:

[photo credit: Getty Images]

Related: wellness, pregnancy, pid, pelvic infection, iud, infertility, chlamydia, birth control

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 20
  • Campbell's Soup's Avatar
    Posted by Campbell's Soup Tue Aug 5, 2008 12:18pm PDT

    I love my IUD. I am married and only sleep with my husband and I do already have one child but I love my IUD. I am so glad to be off the pill. I have the Paragaurd

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  • Mysterious Gryphon's Avatar
    Posted by Mysterious Gryphon Wed Aug 6, 2008 2:06pm PDT

    So, it's possible to have an IUD without having had children?

    I have wanted one desperately for a long time - hormonal contraceptives kills my sex drive - but I've always understood that the doctors won't give you one until you have had a kid.

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  • Gensia's Avatar
    Posted by Gensia Wed Aug 6, 2008 2:23pm PDT

    I have had an IUD for two years now. Hereditarily, I have high cholesterol and so I can't be on the pill. I tried the diaphragm but it sucked and was a pain in the ass to use. I looove my IUD. I'm 23 and I've never had any kids and that wasn't an issue at all for the doctors. It taken 5 minutes for them to put it in and it lasts for 5 or 10 years depending on which one you get. You totally forget it's there - and best of all I have no more periods - which is amazing because I was extremely anemic before. They are fabulous!

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  • Rachel's Avatar
    Posted by Rachel Wed Aug 6, 2008 2:39pm PDT

    I just read an article that focused on the high risks of getting the iud embedded into a persons uterus. Now reading this I don't know what to believe, I have one child and I would like to have another some day but not in the soon future, at least five years. The pill is defintely not an option for me, it doesn't matter what kind I take, I feel like I'm constantly on my period. Ahhh what to do?!

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  • LauraH's Avatar
    Posted by LauraH Wed Aug 6, 2008 2:41pm PDT

    I also love my IUD! I've never had children, and this seemed to be more of an issue when I asked about it at my campus health center, but I went to Planned Parenthood a year later and they gave me one - no questions asked. I got the Mirena, and most women stop having side effects (mostly cramping) after 3 months on this one. I found that this was the case for me. I had really bad cramps a couple times shortly after getting it, but I'm glad I stuck it out because I have no side effects at all these days. And no I don't have to worry about getting pregnant for 5 years! It's more of an up-front cost, but over the long run, it's much cheaper than pills.

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  • N.H.'s Avatar
    Posted by N.H. Wed Aug 6, 2008 5:29pm PDT

    I talked to a few doctors about getting an IUD. I had taken hormonal contraceptives and had terrible side effects. So the few doctors I talked to about this said I was not eligible to have an IUD because I had not had children... and they would continually recommend a pill that was very low in hormones. Still, the side effects persisted.

    I finally got in touch with Planned Parenthood and they said that the fact that I had not had children was not a big deal. She said there was a greater chance that I would expel the IUD... but if I was okay the risk, she was fine with letting me have it. So of course, this has been the best birth control method I have ever used! No pills, no side effects... no worry.

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  • KC's Avatar
    Posted by KC Wed Aug 6, 2008 6:59pm PDT

    I love love love my IUD! If there was an IUD fan club, I'd be an active member! Before I got mine (Mirena) I spoke with a few gals I know that had one. For the first few months I had some cramping issues, but not enough to take it out. It's been a year now and other than not having much of a period (2 days of spotting at most), there are no downsides. I have another friend that had the 10 year option, which comes with heavier periods - if you are worried about not having one, she's never had kids and it didn't fall out. She loves hers as much as I love mine... ok maybe I like mine more due to not having the monthly reminder that women are "blessed".

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  • KC's Avatar
    Posted by KC Wed Aug 6, 2008 6:59pm PDT

    I love love love my IUD! If there was an IUD fan club, I'd be an active member! Before I got mine (Mirena) I spoke with a few gals I know that had one. For the first few months I had some cramping issues, but not enough to take it out. It's been a year now and other than not having much of a period (2 days of spotting at most), there are no downsides. I have another friend that had the 10 year option, which comes with heavier periods - if you are worried about not having one, she's never had kids and it didn't fall out. She loves hers as much as I love mine... ok maybe I like mine more due to not having the monthly reminder that women are "blessed".

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  • 's Avatar
    Posted by Wed Aug 6, 2008 8:03pm PDT

    I used Myrena , it is an IUD, and it almost killed me, i baloomed, I was puufed up, I had depression to the point that I wanted to crash my car, it was so bad , after reading and reading I realized that it was not my fault and that I just had all the side effects , well after having it removed , i lost 1 pound over night , now I am 23 pounds lighter and happier and maybe your IUD doesn't kill you it might make you feel like wanting to die . I prefer to have normal periods and never ever have to deal with that nightmare

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  • Beth's Avatar
    Posted by Beth Thu Aug 7, 2008 8:32am PDT

    I have an IUD and absolutely love it, heavier periods and everything. My sex drive is still intact, no weight gain, and I don't have to worry about taking a pill everyday or getting a shot every 3 months. I got the one with no hormones Paragaurd(?), and have had it for a year now. I've never had children so wasn't a problem because I go to planned parenthood and they are all about taking care of the patient. It's great not having to worry about birth control for 10 years.

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