Advantages and disadvantages of the IUS
- It works for 5 years or 3 years, depending on the brand.
- Your periods can become lighter, shorter and less painful – they may stop completely after the first year of use.
- It’s safe to use an IUS if you’re breastfeeding.
- It’s not affected by other medicines.
- It may be a good option if you cannot take the hormone oestrogen, which is used in the combined contraceptive pill.
- It’s possible to get pregnant as soon as the IUS is removed.
Disadvantages:
- There’s a small risk of getting an infection after it’s been fitted. If you get an infection when you have an IUS fitted, it could lead to a pelvic infection or UTI if not treated.
- If you have an IUS fitted, you may have a slightly higher chance of getting thrush that keeps coming back. This is because candida spores can anchor to the strings of the IUS and despite treatment, the spores can keep causing reinfections. Speak to a GP if you keep getting thrush. You might want to think about trying a different type of contraception.
- Your periods may become irregular or stop completely, which may not be suitable for some women.
- Some women experience headaches, acne and breast tenderness after having the IUS fitted.
- Some women experience changes in mood and libido, but these changes are very small.
- An uncommon side effect of the IUS is that some women can develop small fluid-filled cysts on the ovaries – these usually disappear without treatment.
- An IUS does not protect you against STIs, so you may need to use condoms as well.
- If you get an infection when you have an IUS fitted, it could lead to a pelvic infection if it’s not treated.
- Most women who stop using an IUS do so because of vaginal bleeding and pain, although this is less common.