Mammograms: A Proactive Approach to Your Breast Health
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so let’s focus on potentially life-saving screening practices, starting with the mammogram. Here’s a look at how often you should have a mammogram.
Is an IUD the Right Long-Term Birth Control for You?
As you look at your options for preventing an unplanned pregnancy, you might be struck by two things: 1) You aren’t without choices in contraception; and 2) The sheer number of birth control options can make deciding on the right one for your needs a little daunting.
More than 65% of women in the United States use birth control, and this includes everything from condoms to birth control pills.
To help you narrow the field and settle on a contraceptive that suits your lifestyle and your goals, the skilled team of women’s health experts here at Beyond Women’s Care is going to focus on a popular choice here — the intrauterine device, or IUD.
Here, we dive into some key benefits of using the IUD as a family planning tool.
The different types of IUDs
Let’s first discuss what IUDs are and the differences between the two types. In short, an IUD is a small, T-shaped device that we insert into your uterus.
There are two types of IUDs, including:
Hormonal IUDs
This version of an IUD slowly releases progestin, which thickens the mucus around your cervix to block and trap sperm, preventing them from getting through and fertilizing one of your eggs.
Copper IUDs
This type of IUD is wrapped in copper, which naturally repels sperm.
IUDs are long-lasting
A popular choice in birth control is what we call long-acting, reversible contraceptives, and IUDs fall into this category. The hormonal IUDs offer anywhere from three to eight years, while the copper IUD offers an impressive 12 years of protection against pregnancy.
IUDs do their job well
Another important attribute for IUDs is that they do what they’re designed to do — prevent pregnancy. Well, IUDs certainly check that box with a 99% efficacy rating.
IUDs are relatively hassle-free
Unlike condoms and daily pills, IUDs are incredibly easy to work with — you simply come to our office, where we insert the IUD, and that’s it. From there, the IUD does the work, and there’s nothing you need to do on your end.
IUDs are reversible
As we already mentioned, IUDs fall into a reversible birth control category. So, when you want to restore your fertility, you simply come in, and we can remove your IUD in just minutes.
IUDs can be used for emergency contraception
Another hidden benefit of IUDs is that they can be used as emergency contraception up to five days after unprotected sex. All you need to do is come in to see us, and we can insert the IUD right away. Then, you can keep the IUD in place for years to come.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why women prefer the IUD for birth control. If you think an IUD suits your needs and goals, we’re happy to get you set up. To get that ball rolling, please call our Rochester Hills, Michigan, office at 248-284-4859 or contact us through our website.
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