INTRAUTERINE

SYSTEM (IUS)

PROS

Easy to use

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Don’t need to remember to take/use it every day or every time you have sex.

Not user dependent

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Can’t forget to take it or use it in the wrong way. It is also not affected by vomiting or diarrhoea like some methods of contraception.

Highly effective

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Is >99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Can be helpful for heavy periods

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Some IUS can also be used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) as they can make periods shorter and lighter, with some women experiencing no periods at all.

Reversible

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Upon discontinuation of use, fertility should return to normal.

Long lasting

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Prevents pregnancy for up to 3-8 years, depending on the IUS.

Oestrogen free

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Does not contain oestrogen but does contain progesterone.

Doesn’t interrupt sex

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With the IUS in place you don't need to worry about contraception in the moment.

Breastfeeding

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Can be used while breastfeeding, six weeks after childbirth.

CONS

Periods

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Irregular bleeding and spotting can be common in the first 3-6 months of use. Lighter and shorter periods then tend to follow and for some women periods may stop altogether.

Contains hormone

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Some women prefer hormone free options.

STIs

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Does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Weight gain

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It may cause weight gain.

Breast tenderness

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It may cause breast tenderness.

Skin/Acne

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Can cause or worsen acne in some women.

Administration

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It requires a trained healthcare provider to fit and remove the IUS.

WILL THE IUS AFFECT MY PERIODS?

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An IUS will affect your periods. Irregular bleeding and spotting can be common in the first 3-6 months of use. However, lighter, and shorter periods then tend to follow and for some women periods may stop altogether. It is for this reason that the IUS can be used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding.

CAN THE IUS CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN?

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Because the IUS contains levonorgestrel, a progestin hormone, a small percentage of patients may experience weight gain.

CAN THE IUS CAUSE MOOD SWINGS?

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As the IUS contains a small amount of progestogen hormone, some people using an IUS may experience changes in mood.

DOES THE IUS AFFECT ACNE?

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IUS can cause or make certain skin conditions such as acne worse in some women. This is due to the hormone progestogen. Some forms of progestogen can stimulate androgenic activity in the body and cause overstimulation of the sebaceous glands. This can then cause oily skin, resulting in acne.

OTHER COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
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• Decreased libido
• Headache
• Migraine
• Dizziness
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Hirsutism (hair growth)
• Pelvic pain
• Dysmenorrhoea (period pain)
• Vaginal discharge
• Vulvovaginitis (inflammation of the vulva and vagina)
• Breast tenderness
• Breast pain
RISKS
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• Pelvic infection - Small risk of infection during insertion.
• Rejection - Risk of expulsion of the IUS.
• Damage to the womb - It is rare, but the IUS can make a hole in the wall of the womb when it is put in. If it does happen, the IUS may have to be removed by surgery.
• Ectopic pregnancy - Pregnancy outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy) is possible but very rare. If the IUS fails and you become pregnant, there's an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.
• Cysts - Can cause small fluid-filled cysts on your ovaries – these don’t usually cause any symptoms and tend to go away on their own.