IUD

In a word, no. The best way to guard against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) if you’re having sex is still the good ol’ condom. If you’re concerned about both pregnancy and STIs, doubling up with the IUD and condoms is a great option.

It depends on your situation. Unless you’re in a totally exclusive relationship and you and your partner have both been tested recently for every single STI, using condoms with whatever other birth control method you choose is a good idea. Basically, if there’s any chance you or your partner could have an STI, the only way to decrease the risk of transmitting it is by using condoms, internal condoms, dental dams, and/or PrEP, (a medication which decreases the risk of getting HIV.) Other forms of birth control don’t protect against STIs.

Using a condom with another form of birth control is called dual protection. It means you’re being super-safe and protecting yourself against both pregnancy and STIs.

For about 1 in 2,000 women, the IUD can get stuck in or puncture the uterus—also known as perforation. Perforation only happens when the IUD is being put in. Highly skilled providers who have inserted many IUDs are less likely to have perforations. Women who are breastfeeding or have given birth within the last month are more likely to experience perforations because the muscle of the uterus is softer at those times.

What does it mean if there is a perforation? If it’s recognized immediately, the health care provider will stop the insertion. It takes about a week for the uterus to heal, and then a woman can have another IUD inserted if she wants. More than half of perforations may go unrecognized at the time of insertion. That may mean that a woman thought she had great birth control when she may not have. If undiagnosed for months, a perforation can make removing the IUD difficult, and can sometimes require surgery. Even in the worst-case scenario of an undiagnosed perforation that requires surgery, it shouldn’t have an impact on the woman’s future fertility.

You may be able to find some stories online about people removing their own IUD, but we wouldn’t recommend trying it. There just isn’t enough research at this point to know if it’s safe.

Plus, if you’re not happy with your IUD, going to your health care provider to get it removed will give you a chance to ask about other options for birth control. Or if you’re ready to get pregnant, you can talk with your provider about things you should do to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.

As far as tampons and IUDs go, Planned Parenthood puts it like this: “Tampons and IUDs are kind of like next-door neighbors. They’re close but they live in different parts of the reproductive system. An IUD and a tampon are separated by the cervix, and don’t interfere with each other’s business.”

You should be fine as long as you are careful not to pull on the IUD strings, which you shouldn’t need to worry about too much since the string of a tampon is outside of your vagina and the strings of your IUD should be up near your cervix. (If you find that your IUD strings are anywhere near your tampon strings, you should go see your health care provider because your IUD might be expelled.)

As long as you’re careful to avoid suction or pulling your IUD strings when you remove your menstrual cup, it’s fine to use a cup and an IUD together. A recent study found that the “use of tampons or menstrual cups does not increase the risk of early expulsion of an IUD.” The packaging information for IUDs can be inconsistent, but women “can use whatever their usual menstrual product is and not increase their risk of expelling the IUD.”

Menstrual cup brands are in agreement about this. DivaCup, MoonCup/Keeper, MeLuna, Lunette, and SoftCup say that because of the physical placement of your cup, you should be fine combining one with an IUD. If you can, try to double check with your health care provider first to be on the extra-safe side.

Getting an IUD removed may be a bit uncomfortable, but generally the procedure is easier, quicker, and less painful than getting the IUD inserted.

If you’re just not vibing with your choice of birth control, it might be time to switch things up! But before you do, it’s important to take a second to ask yourself some questions to make sure you’re ready. Thinking about why you want to switch methods and what your needs are going forward will help you and your health care provider plan your next steps.

If you’d like to stop your birth control and try to get pregnant, here’s some information about returning to fertility after using different methods of birth control.

Getting an IUD can be a breeze or a hassle, depending on how easy it is for you to find a health care provider who knows how to insert them, get an appointment, and make sure your insurance will cover the procedure.

The good news? Once you get those ducks in a row, the actual insertion process is usually pretty quick. Experienced providers can insert an IUD in as little as a minute! Read more about the process of getting an IUD.

Unless you’re on a desert island or stranded in some kind of post-apocalyptic-last-person-on-earth scenario, we highly recommend having a professional do it. There are a lot of reasons why it’s better (and safer) to have your health care provider remove your IUD for you.

If you are an active-duty member of the U.S. military, here’s some great news: you have access to a wide range of birth control methods covered under your TRICARE plan. The less great news: not all methods are offered at every military treatment facility (MTF), especially during deployment. That’s why even if you’re not sure you’ll need birth control, it’s a good idea to look into your options before you deploy—especially if you’re going overseas. We’ve laid out some tips and questions to think about so you can make an informed decision.

Actually, it’s okay for teenagers to use an IUD, and it’s also okay for women who haven’t had kids yet. Most experts agree about this. If your healthcare provider will not insert the IUD for you, try going to another health center in your area.