Birth control is a uniquely personal choice, because every woman has her own needs, health concerns, and lifestyle factors to keep in mind. That’s why our team at Florida Woman Care of Jacksonville offers a wide range of prescription birth control methods, including:
One of our most popular birth control options is the IUD, and there are lots of reasons why women love them.
An IUD, or intrauterine device, is a tiny, T-shaped apparatus that we insert inside your uterus to help prevent unwanted pregnancies. Getting an IUD takes less than five minutes during a simple office visit.
Once in place, you won’t even notice your IUD is there, and you don’t have to give your birth control a second thought. You can say goodbye to remembering to take a pill every day, trips to the pharmacy for refills, or visits to our office for regular shots. And, your IUD can stay in place for 3-12 years, depending on the one you select.
There are two kinds of IUDs. One form uses hormones, and one doesn’t.
Intrauterine devices that release hormones prevent pregnancy by either stopping your ovaries from releasing eggs or by thickening your cervical mucus. The hormone-free IUD uses copper. Copper is a substance that’s toxic to sperm. When exposed to copper, it impairs their movement, which keeps them from reaching and fertilizing your eggs.
While IUDs are more than 99% effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy, they don’t offer protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Unlike other forms of birth control, an IUD starts working almost immediately. You can also get an IUD at any point during your menstrual cycle. But, if we place it within seven days of your period, it’s effective immediately. At any other point, you should use an additional form of birth control for one week. If you get a copper IUD within five days of engaging in unprotected sex, it can also help prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
It’s also easy to remove an IUD, and you don’t have to worry about issues or delays with your fertility. We can take your IUD out during a quick office visit, and you can become pregnant immediately.
Intrauterine devices come with fewer side effects than many other types of birth control. And, if you opt for a hormone-releasing IUD, it can even help prevent severe cramps, heavy periods, anemia, and other problems. In some cases, women experience much lighter periods or no menstruation at all with this form of birth control.
To see if an IUD is right for you, book an appointment over the phone with Florida Woman Care of Jacksonville today.
