The only intrauterine device (IUD) in Australia that releases hormones is called the M****a.
It is a small plastic device in the shape of a T and has a hormone called levonorgestrel in the stem.
It is placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy, and works by making the cervical mucous thicker so sperm cannot get into the uterus. It also affects the ability of sperm and egg to move through the uterus and fallopian tubes, reducing the change of an egg being fertilised.
It also changes the lining of the uterus making it less suitable for pregnancy, and can also sometimes stop your ovaries from releasing an egg (or ovulating).
The hormone releasing IUD (HR-IUD) is 99% effective which means that if 100 women use a HR-IUD for 1 year, 1 of them may fall pregnant.
The HR-IUD is safe for many women to use for effective contraception, and can even be used whilst breastfeeding.
It is also useful to space pregnancies apart, and it can reduce menstrual bleeding for women who have heavy periods.
There are a few situations where you cannot have a HR-IUD:
There are other things that may prevent you from having an IUD such as:
Well other than being extremely effective at preventing unplanned pregnancies it:
Well like every medication there can be some side effects and changes, and things it just doesn’t do.
It can cause some changes in your pattern of vaginal bleeding, it can;
What the HR-IUD can’t do is protect against STI’s.
It also requires a very minor procedure for insertion and removal.
Firstly you’ll need to book in to see one of our doctors to get to know a little bit more about you, and make sure there’s no reason you can’t have a HR-IUD. As we currently do not do IUD insertion at GS Health we will need to refer you to a specialist to perform the procedure.
Doctors who perform the HR-IUD procedure:
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