Switching from Pill to IUD: Everything You Need to Know

Contraception plays a major role in the life of a sexually active woman and we all know that the type of birth control we use can have a serious impact on our physical and mental health. If you’re starting to use birth control for the first time or are thinking of switching over from the pill to an IUD (or vice versa), here are a few things that you should be aware of 

Switching from Pill to IUD: Everything You Need to Know
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Both Have Their Risks 

It’s important to know and understand that while both methods of birth control are considered safe, like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. For example, the Mirena IUD may cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) or other complications, and if such a case or similar issues were to occur, you can click here to check out Mirena lawyers near me. Birth control pills are also known to come with their potential risks, such as blood clotting or strokes. 

While it’s important to understand that these are extremely rare occurrences, awareness of potential health risks is a crucial aspect of making a decision regarding your method of contraception. 

Both Have Potential Side Effects 

Both the pill and an IUD work to make pregnancy impossible by altering your natural hormones, which play a role in almost every element of your health. Because of this, both forms could have potential side effects, including but not limited to: acne, weight gain or weight loss, mental health issues like depression, anxiety or general mood swings, reduced sex drive, increased or decreased appetite, dizziness, bloating and increased blood pressure. 

Though perhaps not as severe as the potential health complications discussed in the previous section, these side effects can have a major impact on a woman’s daily life. If you experience any of these on hormonal birth control, it’s important to speak to your doctor about changing over to a different type or brand until you find what works best for you and your body. 

Non-Hormonal Option 

Whilst all contraceptive pills work with hormones, there is a non-hormonal version of an IUD. This is commonly known as a copper-IUD. The copper, similarly to the hormones, alters the environment of your body so that pregnancy becomes almost impossible. Copper specifically changes the way sperm cells move so that they are unable to reach the egg to fertilize it. 

Which is Best For Me? 

Choosing the right kind of contraceptive, or deciding whether to switch over is a very personal decision which should be made between yourself and your doctor, and perhaps a long-term partner. It’s important to be aware of the differences between each method, potential risks and complications involved as well as what the side effects might be. 

You should also be aware that simply changing your contraception method may cause temporary side effects while your body readjusts to the change in hormones – whether they’re simply shifting or perhaps settling back to their natural state after coming off of hormonal birth control.