Progesterone Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Brand Names : Progestasert

Before Receiving This Device

In deciding whether to use a progesterone IUD as a method of birth control, you need to consider the risks of using it as well as the good it can do. This is a decision you, your sexual partner, and your health care professional will make. For progesterone IUDs, the following should be considered:

Pregnancy - IUD use is not recommended during pregnancy or if you plan to become pregnant in the near future. It is also not recommended in women who have had a pregnancy develop outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy).

There is a rare chance that a woman can become pregnant with the IUD in the uterus. If this happens, it is recommended that the IUD be removed or that the pregnancy be ended within the first 3 months. If the pregnancy continues, removing the IUD decreases the chance of a problem developing. However, whether the IUD is removed or not, some problems can occur. Some of these problems include miscarriage, premature labor and delivery, infection, and, very rarely, death of the mother.

Your health care professional will help you decide on the proper time to begin using an IUD after delivering a baby. Sometimes problems can occur if you start using the IUD too soon after delivery. These problems include having the IUD move out of place or having it press into the walls of the uterus or the cervix (opening to the uterus). These problems may harm the cervix or uterus, causing pain or unusual uterine bleeding. Call your health care professional immediately if you have any problems.

Breast-feeding - The progesterone IUD has not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies and its use is recommended for those women needing contraception while breast-feeding.

Adolescents - Sexually active teenagers are strongly encouraged to use a contraceptive method that protects them against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Teenagers who have not had children usually have more side effects than teenagers or adults who have had children. In teenagers who have not had children, the IUD may move out of place. This may harm the uterus or cervix. Abdominal pain and increased menstrual bleeding also are more common in teenagers than in women who are older and have had children.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of progesterone IUDs. Make sure you tell your health care professional if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Abnormal uterus - May decrease the IUD's ability to prevent pregnancy or may increase the chance of problems, such as the IUD moving out of the uterus or pressing through the cervix or uterus

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), autoimmune diseases, treatable cancer, suspected or known cancer of the uterus or cervix, or any other condition that may decrease the ability of the body to fight infection - These conditions may increase the chance of a vaginal infection occurring with the use of an IUD

• Blood disorders or
• Uterine bleeding problems, especially heavy bleeding during periods or bleeding between periods - At the time of insertion, use of a progesterone IUD can make uterine bleeding worse, although this lessens with continued use. Also, heavy uterine bleeding may cause the IUD to move out of place

• Diabetes, insulin-dependent or
• Heart defect - If an infection occurs during use of an IUD, the infection may become worse and/or be harder to treat in these patients

• Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy not in the uterus), history of - The chance of an ectopic pregnancy may be increased if contraception fails during IUD use

• Fainting (history of) or
• Slow heartbeat (history of) - The chance of problems may be increased when, or soon after, the IUD is inserted

• Infection in the vagina or uterus or
• Recent infected abortion or
• Sexually transmitted disease in the last 12 months - Use of an IUD may make an infection worse

• Surgery involving the uterus or fallopian tubes - Certain surgeries of the uterus or the fallopian tubes may increase the chance of problems if an IUD is present in the uterus. Also, if contraception fails, the chance of an ectopic pregnancy may be higher