IUD (Intrauterine Device): Basic Info
The intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, T-shaped piece of plastic that you can have a health care provider put inside your uterus. The IUD makes it harder for sperm to move efficiently, preventing it from fertilizing an egg. In the U.S., there are five brands of IUDs available: Kyleena, LILETTA, Mirena, Paragard, and Skyla.
IUDs can offer years of protection from pregnancy. How long they last depends on the type you get. Some last for up to three years and others last for up to 12 years. If you want to get pregnant or simply want to switch to a different method of birth control at any time, you can have the IUD removed. And if you have plans to get pregnant in the future, don't worry—having an IUD now doesn't affect your fertility in the future.
While the IUD is safe and super effective at preventing pregnancy, it doesn't offer protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). For STI protection, you can use condoms, internal condoms, dental dams, gloves, and/or PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis, which lowers the risk of getting HIV from sex).
Three types of IUDs (LILETTA, Mirena, and Paragard) can also be used as emergency contraception if you get them within five days of having unprotected sex. These three types of IUDs are the most effective methods of emergency contraception, preventing pregnancy in over 99% of cases.
Quick Facts
Super effective, lasts for years, low-maintenance, and private (though some partners can feel the strings). You can choose hormonal or non-hormonal.
- Effectiveness
The IUD is super effective—one of the most effective birth control methods.
Perfect Use: Over 99% effective.
Typical Use: Over 99% effective.
- Hormones
There are hormonal and non-hormonal versions.
- Side effects
With the hormonal IUD, you may have spotting between periods. With the non-hormonal IUD, you may have heavier periods.
- Cost
Could range from $0 (with insurance) to $1300. There may be an extra cost for insertion and removal.
- STI protection
The IUD doesn’t protect against STIs.
- Ongoing effort
Once it's in, there’s nothing for you to do. You can keep it in for years with no ongoing effort.
Different Types
Hormonal IUD
The hormonal IUD is a small, T-shaped piece of plastic that a health care provider can insert into your uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are four hormonal IUDs available in the U.S.—Kyleena, LILETTA, Mirena, and Skyla. All four hormonal IUDs are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. All four release a small amount of progestin, which is the synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone made by the body. Progestin prevents pregnancy mainly by thickening cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching the uterus. Hormonal IUDs can last between three and eight years, depending on which one you get. They may cause some changes to your periods, usually making them lighter, shorter or irregular, or stopping them altogether.
Two of the hormonal IUDs, Mirena and LILETTA, can also be used as emergency contraception. The risk of pregnancy decreases by over 99% when a health care provider inserts one of these IUDs up to five days after unprotected sex.
None of the types of IUDs protect against STIs.
Non-hormonal/copper IUD
The non-hormonal IUD, known by the brand name Paragard in the United States, is a small, T-shaped piece of plastic wrapped in copper wire. The non-hormonal IUD works by interfering with the way sperm moves and reducing its ability to fertilize eggs, and possibly also by preventing the implantation of fertilized eggs in the uterus.
Paragard lasts up to 12 years, which is longer than any other IUD and is one of the longest-lasting of any of the birth control methods. It's also one of the most effective methods of preventing pregnancy. It's over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, copper IUDs don't protect against STIs—no IUDs do.
The non-hormonal IUD is also one of the most effective forms of emergency contraception, along with Mirena and LILETTA, which are IUDs that contain hormones. The non-hormonal IUD can be inserted up to five days after unprotected sex to reduce the risk of pregnancy by over 99%.
