INTRAUTERINE

SYSTEM (IUS)

PROS

• Easy to useexpand_less

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

• Not user dependentexpand_more

  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 effectiveexpand_more

  Is >99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

• Can be helpful for heavy periodsexpand_more

  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.

• Reversibleexpand_more

  Upon discontinuation of use, fertility should return to normal.

• Long lastingexpand_more

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

• Oestrogen freeexpand_more

  Does not contain oestrogen but does contain progesterone.

• Doesn’t interrupt sexexpand_more

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

• Breastfeedingexpand_more

  Can be used while breastfeeding, six weeks after childbirth.

CONS

• Periodsexpand_less

  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 hormoneexpand_more

  Some women prefer hormone free options.

• STIsexpand_more

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

• Weight gainexpand_more

  It may cause weight gain.

• Breast tendernessexpand_more

  It may cause breast tenderness.

• Skin/Acneexpand_more

  Can cause or worsen acne in some women.

• Administrationexpand_more

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

• WILL THE IUS AFFECT MY PERIODS?expand_less

  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?expand_more

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

• CAN THE IUS CAUSE MOOD SWINGS?expand_more

  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?expand_more

  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 EFFECTSexpand_more
  • 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
• RISKSexpand_more
  • 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.