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How long does an IUD last?

The hormonal IUDS have different lifespans. Liletta and Mirena are effective for eight years, Kyleena works for five, and Skyla works for three. The non-hormonal IUD, ParaGard, has a 12-year life span.

The Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla IUDs use the hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal IUDs are progestin-only, meaning they’re completely safe and effective for nursing moms, and there’s no risk of decreasing your milk supply.

ParaGard, the non-hormonal IUD, is also known as the copper IUD. It uses copper wire coiled around the device to change the pH of the uterus which prevents pregnancy.

The IUDs are 99% Effective: Less than 1 out of 100 people will get pregnant in one year using them.

Cost: $0-$1300. IUD’s can be free or low costs depending on your insurance or other programs available to you.

Does it hurt to get an IUD? What’s the procedure like?

The procedure is very quick, normally lasting around five to 10 minutes. Some people, especially those who have not had a vaginal delivery report experiencing pain during the insertion and residual cramping after the fact. Others may experience a minor backache or cramps. Check with your provider about the use of medications for pain control during your procedure. Your provider may also recommend that you take ibuprofen or another form of pain relief before the insertion, which can lessen any aches and cramps you may feel. Mild spotting is also normal. Within two or three days, you should feel like your normal self again.

Potential Complications

• While IUDs are extremely safe, it is a medical procedure and with that there are some potential risks including:
• Slight pelvic inflammation for the first three weeks after insertion
• Pregnancy
• Ectopic pregnancy, which is when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies are rare — they make up around 2 percent of all pregnancies
• A perforated uterus. While it’s extremely rare, occurring in fewer than 1 in 1,000 insertions, it can happen, and in the event that it does, you’re not protected against pregnancy. Perforation is very rare, and it can cause intense pain, so you’ll likely have an idea that something is wrong. If that’s the case, call your provider ASAP. 

When to call your provider or seek medical attention

• While complications from an IUD are incredibly rare, major warning signs to watch out for include:
• Severe abdominal pain
• Bleeding while urinating or heavy bleeding outside of your period
• Foul-smelling discharge, which could indicate an infection
• Pain during sex
• You can’t feel your IUD strings, or they feel longer. If you can’t feel the IUD stings use another form of birth control until you’re able to speak with your provider
• Vomiting
• Fever / Chills
• A positive pregnancy test

Call your provider if you experience any of the above, whether you have a hormonal or non-hormonal IUD. While they may be unrelated to your IUD, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Potential IUD side effects

The side effects from your IUD are generally mild. Some common side effects of the IUD include:

• Acne
• Headaches
• Bloating
• Spotting
• Changes in your period like heavier or lighter flows, or even missed periods (in fact, many people find their period disappears altogether)
• Hair loss
• Breast tenderness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Changes in mood
• Cramping

It’s possible, but unlikely, for an IUD to be spontaneously expelled. (There’s a slightly higher risk of this if the IUD is placed immediately after delivery of a baby.)
If you don’t feel the IUD string, call your provider and use a backup form of birth control in the meantime.

What to know about IUD removal

Whether you’ve decided to have a baby, switch birth control methods or reached the time limit on your IUD, you’ll probably consider having your IUD removed at some point in the future.

The procedure is simple and short, and it’s completely safe to have an IUD removed at any time, regardless of how long you’ve had it. A trained professional needs to remove the IUD so call your provider to schedule a removal appointment.

Consult your provider about an IUD if you:

• Are or might be pregnant; IUD’s cannot be used as an emergency contraceptive
• Have a serious pelvic infection called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); PID occurs in less than 1% of users
• Have a current untreated lower genital infection now
• Have had a serious pelvic infection after an abortion or pregnancy within the last 3 months
• Can get infections easily; for example, if you:
• Have history of auto immune disease
• Have multiple sexual partners or your partner has multiple sexual partners
• Have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Have or suspect you might have cancer of the uterus or cervix
• Have bleeding from the vagina that has not been explained
• Have short-term (acute) liver disease or liver tumor
• Have breast cancer or any other cancer that is sensitive to progestin (a female hormone), now or in the past
• Have an intrauterine contraceptive system (IUS) in your uterus already
• Have a condition of the uterus that changes the shape of the uterine cavity, such as large fibroid tumors
• Are allergic to levonorgestrel, silicone, polyethylene, or barium sulfate