(classical music)
- Have you ever thought to yourself,
there are lots of different
forms of birth control,
there's the pill, the
patch, the ring, the shot,
wearing ugly clothes so that
no one wants to talk to you,
I wonder though, which one works best,
outside of abstinence
and intentionally unflattering overalls,
it turns out that
intrauterine devices, or IUDS,
are the most effective,
keeping babies from being
made 99% of the time.
IUDs are actually the most popular form
of contraception in the world,
but in the United States,
only 1.3% of women use
them as birth control.
Now you're probably asking,
but Cristen, why haven't I
heard more about these IUDs
if they're so effective?
Well, in the 1970s, there
was a similar looking device
called the Dalkon Shield,
that gave its users pelvic
infections and internal scarring,
and some women even became infertile.
A class-action lawsuit was brought against
the A.H. Robins company,
the makers of the Dalkon,
and they got their pants
and likely pantsuits,
sued off of them,
forcing the company into bankruptcy.
The consumer mistrust
that the Dalkon created
is still lingering in many
women's and doctors' minds
even 40 years later.
But ladies, and gents, calm your fears,
because the new IUDs are better and safer
than their predecessors.
The IUD is shaped like a T,
with a string attached
that leads into the cervix,
so women can make sure the
device is still in place.
While widely available,
you'll still need to go
to a medical professional
to get one inserted.
You can't just pick these things up
at your local Hobby Lobby and (whoops).
(drum roll)
There are two kinds of IUDs,
one is coated in copper
and can be left in the
uterus for up to 10 years.
The other kind releases
the hormone progesterone,
and lasts for five years.
So how does copper or progesterone
keep you from getting pregnant?
Well doctors today think
IUDs prevent fertilization,
either the copper makes
the uterus toxic to sperm,
while slowing and damaging eggs,
or the progestin makes a
woman's cervical mucous thicker
and hostile to sperm.
Think of it as some kind of giant, angry,
mucous excreting snail,
guarding your lady bits.
Or don't.
IUDs are so effective, in fact,
they can be used as
emergency birth control
up to five days after unprotected sex,
but contrary to common myth,
IUDs do not induce abortions.
(rewinding)
They do not induce abortions.
And there are lots of
additional advantages
to using an IUD as birth control.
First, you don't have to
worry about contraception
every day,
and like I said, the
effectiveness is very high,
with less than 1% chance
of pregnancy occurring.
The hormone releasing version of the IUD
can even make your periods lighten
or stop altogether after a year.
Although you might find that bleeding
and cramps are worse at first.
Now the copper one on the other hand
will actually make your periods heavier,
but some women prefer to
have a hormone-free option.
Overall, IUDs are
discreetly hidden from view,
low cost, very low maintenance,
and highly effective.
But nothing's perfect
and there are a few disadvantages to them,
they sometimes make menstrual
cramps and bleeding worse,
just after insertion,
and if these symptoms continue,
a physician may have to remove the device,
and also, while they're
nowhere near as bad
as that Dalkon Shield of the 1970s,
modern IUDs are thought to
increase the probability
of pelvic infections
after the first few months
post insertion.
But if you're one of the
less than 1% of IUD users
who actually do get pregnant with it,
you should see your doctor right away,
the device can increase
your risk of a miscarriage,
infection in the uterus,
and pre-term birth of a baby.
So now that you've heard how they work
and their pros and cons,
what do you think about IUDs?
If you use birth control,
would you get one?
Let us know in the YouTube comments
so we can continue the conversation,
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