Consider An IUD: “I got my Mirena last April and haven’t looked back.”
Among fertile women globally, the IUD (intrauterine device) is actually the most popular form of birth control, but less than 2% of American women use it, partly due to outdated stigmas from the Dalkon Shield era. Recently, usage has picked up as more women have gotten frustrated by the Pill and realized that contemporary IUDs are as safe as other contraceptive options. Like the Pill, it is 99% effective, but in actual practice, the IUD is a much safer choice, since you don’t have to remember to take it everyday. (After you factor in typical use, the effectiveness of the Pill drops to the low 90s.)
And if you’re looking for a recession-proof way to baby-proof your vagina, look no further. With co-pay, I typically spend $10-$20 on the Pill each month, which adds up to over $500 for four years. An IUD costs $200-400 (including device and appointment), lasts at least five years (depending on which kind you get), and is often covered entirely by your insurance policy. Free ninety-nine? That’s a price I can get behind.
Penn reader Lindsey emailed me to recommend IUD Divas, a LiveJournal community, as an information resource. The page features frequently asked questions, debunked myths, and personal anecdotes about IUDs. In addition to being “cheaper and much less stressful to use than the Pill”, IUDs are also (contrary to my earlier post) compatible with non-monogamous sexual activity, says Lindsey:
“I got my Mirena last April and haven’t looked back, even when the monogamy stage ended. As your friend mentioned, infertility can result from getting some STDs when you have an IUD, but an infection has to develop into PID, or Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder, before they actually result in infertility. You have to ignore an STD for a good period of time before that happens, from what I can tell. PID’s pretty identifiable. In addition, your greatest risk is in the first few months after insertion; your chances of anything turning into PID are slim after, from what I can tell. So as long as you stick to safe sex, you’re not condemning yourself to infertility if you have multiple partners.”
Side effects vary from woman to woman. Someone else emailed to say that she “had one put in over a month ago” and has experienced “nonstop spotting, some intermittent cramping, and a libido that has uh, taken a leave of absence.” Another reader said that a friend who got an IUD wound up having to take it out due to excessive bleeding and cramping (perhaps exacerbated by an active, stressful lifestyle). Since IUDs are rarer in the US, you want to make sure you find a well-trained provider who’s had plenty of experience inserting IUDs. Explore your options, and know that the Pill is not the only choice you have.
