{"id":1436,"date":"2023-05-14T14:33:59","date_gmt":"2023-05-14T14:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/?p=1436"},"modified":"2023-09-14T14:53:25","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T14:53:25","slug":"what-is-a-hormonal-iud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/what-is-a-hormonal-iud\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Hormonal IUD?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An IUD or intrauterine device is a birth control type that healthcare providers insert in a woman&#8217;s uterus. Generally, they are considered the most widespread LARC or long-acting reversible contraception type. Once inserted, women don&#8217;t have to worry about birth control until the device needs to be replaced (which may vary from three to eight years, depending on the hormonal IUD brand). Also, together with contraceptive implants, IUDs are considered the most effective birth control methods that don&#8217;t need surgery. Lastly, if the woman wishes to become pregnant, her provider can simply remove the device.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In a nutshell, that would be about it. Still, the experts at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ACE OBGYN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> know that women generally have more questions and concerns regarding this contraception method, and as such, in this article, we&#8217;ll address all of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, while hormonal IUDs are excellent at preventing pregnancy, they don&#8217;t prevent STIs or sexually transmitted diseases like condoms do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To learn everything about these devices, read on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Different Types of Hormonal IUDs<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To get started, you should know that there are two main IUD types in general: copper devices and hormonal IUDs. Both of these come in a plastic frame that opens into a T-shape once inserted into the uterus. They also have strings at the bottom, extending into the vagina for easier removal when needed (which should be performed by a trained healthcare provider).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When it comes to the different types of hormonal IUDs, so far, the FDA has approved four different hormonal IUD brands:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kyleena\u00ae<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liletta\u00ae<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mirena\u00ae<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Skyla\u00ae<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1438\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor Holding T-Shaped Intrauterine Birth Control Device on Blurred Background, Closeup\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/The-Different-Types-of-Hormonal-IUDs.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Progesterone IUDs<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In all these hormonal IUD brands, the T&#8217;s top part contains the primary hormone, progestin (levonorgestrel), flowing through the stem. The different variations of progestins are synthetic progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone in the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All hormonal IUD brands come with specific elements that help them show during imaging procedures. This is essential for your provider to check the devices during visits to see if they&#8217;re still positioned correctly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hormonal IUDs are highly popular birth control methods, with around 23% of women using them globally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, they aren&#8217;t for everyone. Hormonal IUDs should not be used in the following cases:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the user is pregnant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the woman has a sexually transmitted disease.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the user is at high risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the user has uterine or cervical cancer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the user has unexplained vaginal bleeding.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the user has breast cancer or is considered high-risk for breast cancer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the user has severe liver disease.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How Do Hormonal IUDs Work?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically, all IUDs work by triggering an immune response. More specifically, the body sees the device as an invader and starts defending itself, resulting in inflammation, which creates an environment in the uterus that&#8217;s toxic for sperm. And as a result, the sperm is unable to reach the fallopian tubes and can&#8217;t fertilize eggs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Furthermore, progesterone hormonal IUDs also release small amounts of progestin over time, which thickens the cervical mucus, making it more challenging for sperm to move in the fallopian tubes. The compound also thins out the uterine lining and partially suppresses the user&#8217;s ability to release eggs during menstrual cycles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It&#8217;s worth mentioning that not all hormonal IUD brands contain the same amount of progestin or work with the same release rate. For instance, Skyla and Kyleena have less progestin than Liletta and Mirena.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Long Do These Devices Last?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The different types of hormonal IUDs will generally help prevent pregnancy for the following periods<\/span><b>:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Skyla will prevent pregnancy for three years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kyleemna will prevent pregnancy for around five years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liletta will prevent pregnancy for approximately six years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mirena will prevent pregnancy for eight years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Depending on other circumstances, like health and age, you may be able to use the hormonal IUD for longer safely. Still, this should be discussed with your provider, and you should always follow their guidance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Before Inserting a Hormonal IUD<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, your provider will have to see whether you&#8217;re a good candidate for this type of birth control based on your lifestyle and general health. Candidates will often get tested for STIs or pregnancy before insertion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the consultation before IUD insertion, patients are encouraged to discuss pain management with their provider. While most women tolerate the inserted hormonal IUD without any discomfort, some may feel pain and discomfort following insertion. Taking pain medications after insertion may help lessen the discomfort, and taking them before the procedure may help numb the area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, if you have any concerns or are anxious about these devices, communicate with your provider openly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>During Insertion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The actual process of inserting an IUD takes no longer than around fifteen minutes and can be performed during a simple office visit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You will be positioned on the table in the same manner as during a Pap smear, with bent knees and legs opened, in stirrup support. Your provider may give a numbing injection to lessen any discomfort. Then, the provider will widen the vagina with a speculum to insert the IUD. During the process, some women may experience a bit of cramping.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>After Insertion\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After inserting the device, some may not notice any side effects at all, while others may experience mild pain or intense discomfort. In any case, it&#8217;s a great idea to allow yourself some rest, just to be sure. Take a few days off, especially if you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feel dizzy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experience backaches and cramps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Experience spotting or light bleeding.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hormonal IUDs will start working depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. If you&#8217;re having your period, they&#8217;ll start working immediately. In other cases, it may take up to a week for them to start working toward preventing pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Advantages of Hormonal IUDs<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Generally speaking, these devices are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Furthermore, they also are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cost-effective birth control for long-term use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They can be removed at any time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Need no maintenance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are no problems with missed birth control shots or pills.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to some studies, specific IUD brands may help lower the risk of some cancers and PID (pelvic inflammatory disease).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They can reduce heavy menstrual bleeding.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IUDs can relieve the pain associated with endometriosis and menstrual cramps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs.jpg\" alt=\"Gynecologist Holding an Iud Birth Control Device Before Using It for Patient\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/211\/2023\/09\/Advantages-of-Hormonal-IUDs.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Possible Drawbacks\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the other hand, hormonal IUDs may also come with unwanted side effects. For instance, hormonal devices may lead to irregular periods during the initial months following insertion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, the device&#8217;s strings may feel stiff at first, but they should soften over time. In any case, consult your provider if the device is causing problems during intercourse. In other instances, IUDs may lead to ovarian cyst development, a common condition that will resolve on its own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In extremely rare cases, the device may slip out of the uterus or pierce the uterine wall during insertion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In even rarer cases, women may get pregnant while using an IUD, especially when they are used even after their expiration date, and these pregnancies may lead to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highriskpregnancyinfo.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">complications.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> This is why it&#8217;s pivotal to use the devices as instructed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lastly, an infection may occur soon after insertion in rare cases, but your provider can swiftly address this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Learn More<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All in all, IUDs are a safe, convenient, and effective birth control method. To learn more about your options and find out whether you&#8217;re a good candidate for them, feel free to contact our experts. We&#8217;re happy to answer all your questions or concerns regarding these devices and other birth control methods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An IUD or intrauterine device is a birth control type that healthcare providers insert in a woman&#8217;s uterus. Generally, they are considered the most widespread LARC or long-acting reversible contraception type. Once inserted, women don&#8217;t have to worry about birth control until the device needs to be replaced (which may vary from three to eight  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1437,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[178],"tags":[179,180,182,181,183],"class_list":["post-1436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hormonal-iud","tag-hormonal-iud","tag-hormonal-iud-brands","tag-how-do-hormonal-iuds-work","tag-progesterone-iud","tag-types-of-hormonal-iud"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1436"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1436\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/novac-md\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}