Why the IUD may not be the right choice for you

Oh the world of contraception, how it CONTINUES to confuse / baffle us. We jump ships from pills to “intrauterine devices” to implants…. WHO THE DICK REALLY KNOWS WHATS EVEN GOOD FOR US THESE DAYS?!!!

Well, if you are one of my patients, you will know that the pill certainly isn’t in my top friends list (just refer to some of my previous posts for a few blinding hints as to why); But what about the IUD - isn’t that better?! WELL. Like all questions of health - this completely depends on the individual.

I have some woman who report they are the happiest and most comfortable they’ve ever felt on the IUD, but others that struggle with their vaginal microbiome, suffering from chronic yeast infections & Bacterial Vaginosis; and quite often, although many seem unrelated - chronic immune deficiency IE —> “I just feel like I’m always sick!!”. And honestly, once we take it out - it’s remarkable how much more readily their bodies will respond to treatment.

When your microbiome is out of whack (as the IUD can do) - be that vaginally, gastrointestinally, or in any organ system for that matter, it is very difficult for our immune system to function properly.

An additional consideration: in certain individuals that have other underlying gut issues or autoimmune tendencies, the IUD can be seen by the body as a foreign invader leading to a state of constant attack —> chronic inflammation.

The copper IUD also comes along with risks of copper toxicity, which can cause all sorts of problems including throwing out your zinc levels.

Whilst the Mirena is also definitely a preferred option to the pill, it still delivers synthetic progesterone which is associated with some of the key side effects of the pill such as mood imbalances, hair loss, yeast infections, acne and weight gain.

Bottom line is there are pros and cons to all forms of contraception, which is why I so passionately recommend learning about the natural cycle of your hormones with the fertility awareness method. It is a lot easier than it seems, and trust me - both the short + long term health benefits for some women are absolutely pivotal ❤️