What should you not do after installing an intrauterine device? 5 important aspects

The intrauterine device is the most popular and effective female method of preventing unwanted pregnancy. In order to prevent complications, it is necessary to undergo all examinations and contact only a professional doctor; self-insertion of the IUD is not allowed. But even compliance with all conditions does not guarantee absolute smoothness. It happens that after the installation of the coil there is bleeding, this happens for various reasons. Everything about the IUD insertion procedure and complications is in this article.

An intrauterine device is a special device consisting of inert plastic and some metal (copper or silver), small in size. This device is inserted into the uterine cavity and does not allow the girl to become pregnant. When planning conception, fertilization with an IUD can occur, but the spiral will not allow the embryo to attach to the endometrium of the uterus; the principle of action is similar to an abortifacient. The IUD is inserted into the girl on the 3rd or 4th day of her period, while the cervix is ​​open.

Kinds

Today, 2 types of intrauterine device are actively used:

• Copper IUD. A copper coil inserted into the uterus releases copper ions, acidifying the uterine environment and reducing sperm activity. The lifespan of a copper IUD is no more than 10 years.
• Hormonal IUD. After administration, the hormone progesterone is released. This hormone is released daily and inhibits egg maturation. You can use it for up to 5 years, then the spiral is changed.

In appearance, both pregnancy coils resemble the letter T, at the end of which there are two small antennae.

Types of intrauterine devices

In addition to its main function, uterine devices protect against inflammatory diseases.

What types of spirals exist?

There are two main types of IUDs:

The former contain copper, silver, gold, progesterone, and other hormones or drugs. Their presence in the composition increases the effectiveness of the spiral and reduces the negative impact on the body. These means have different shapes: spirals, rings, etc. The most common contraceptives are:

1. Copper-T. It is a device in the shape of the letter T, made of polyethylene with the addition of copper.
2. Multiload. It has a T-shape and is made from polyethylene with the addition of barium sulfate.
3. Juno. Available in various variations: T-shaped, ring-shaped. The main material is plastic, with additional inclusions including copper or silver. The duration of contraception for ring-shaped forms is 4 years, for T-shaped ones - 7 years.
4. Mirena. Intrauterine hormone-containing system. The principle of action is based on the release of gestagen into the uterine cavity. Is a prescription contraceptive.
5. Nova-T. The spiral is made of plastic with the addition of barium sulfate, copper and silver wire wound onto an axis.

Indications

As noted above, the benefit of the IUD is not only the inability to get pregnant. The spiral is indicated for the treatment of various diseases, such as:

• Problems with menstruation. Painful, difficult periods, irregular menstrual cycle, etc.;
• Pelvic pain;
• Uterine fibroids and endometriosis. Early endometrial cancer and precancerous condition;

The spiral produces a bactericidal effect, therefore it alleviates the condition of the disease and prevents deterioration.

The intrauterine device is highly recommended for women who have given birth and do not have STDs or cervical diseases.

Swimming pool, aqua aerobics and water games

The intrauterine device does not interfere with swimming in the pool, playing water sports or swimming in the salty waters of the Adriatic Sea. Restrictions are imposed only on critical days. During menstruation you should be especially careful. During this period, the cervix remains slightly open, and favorable conditions are created for infection. The presence of an intrauterine device increases possible risks, so it is better to refrain from water procedures on critical days.

Note: you can take a bath with an intrauterine device, but not during your period.

Various complications

The most common period after the installation of an IUD when various complications appear is the first three months.

Spiral falling out. It is not necessarily accompanied by painful sensations and does not cause harm to the body. Sometimes a woman does not notice at all that the spiral has fallen out. Loss can occur either immediately after the procedure or for quite a long time after the insertion of the IUD. The cause of the IUD falling out can be heavy physical exertion and deformation of the cervix. Also, if an incompetent doctor installed the IUD incorrectly or chose an IUD that is unsuitable in size and type for the body. Sometimes prolapse occurs due to the harmless reason that the body does not accept a foreign object. In this case, after getting used to it, everything goes away.

Uterine bleeding - Bleeding from a woman’s uterus is not always dangerous. If there is bleeding after installing the coil, first of all you need to pay attention to the volume and timing of bleeding. If small amounts of blood are released over the course of several months, this is completely normal. You should consult a doctor if, after installing the IUD, heavy bleeding begins and continues for more than seven days, with severe pain. The doctor will prescribe treatment and determine whether to remove the IUD during treatment or not.

Perforation of the uterus. This complication occurs very rarely, but it does happen. If inserted incorrectly, the IUD damages the uterus. Other causes of perforation are the incorrect shape of the spiral, its type, or the spiral that is not suitable for the anatomical features of the uterus. After treatment of perforation, the IUD is not recommended for further use as a means of contraception.

Discharge while using an IUD

Many women note various discharge during the spiral. The installation of a contraceptive may be accompanied not only by bleeding, but also by pain in the lower abdomen. All this brings discomfort. If discharge is observed for no more than 2 weeks, this is considered normal. Doctors warn a woman that after installing a contraceptive device, she bleeds much more in the first days. Subsequently, spotting is observed. The first menstruation after installation of the IUD will be long and heavy. Brown discharge during the spiral also appears in the middle of the cycle.

The time of installation of the IUD is determined by the doctor. Most often, the procedure is planned during the last menstrual days of a woman. Therefore, spotting persists after the contraceptive is installed. This is a completely natural phenomenon. No anesthetic is used during the procedure. The gynecologist treats the cervix with an anesthetic. On average, the procedure lasts 5-7 minutes. If heavy discharge appears after installation, you must inform a specialist.

The following are not the norm:

1. Prolonged bleeding. They may progress to heavy periods. This condition continues for a week or longer.
2. Severe pain in the abdominal area.
3. Specific odor from the vagina. This may indicate an introduced infection or a developing bacterial environment.
4. Absence of menstruation for several months.

There are very scanty brown discharges when spiraling. It is normal for them to occur for a few days after installation. Don't worry if your period starts later than usual. The cycle shifts by several days. After the IUD is removed, the cycle will return to normal.

Important! The body, getting used to a foreign device, becomes vulnerable, and the risk of infection and inflammatory processes increases.

Along with general recommendations, you should take anti-inflammatory drugs. This approach will prevent possible complications and will also help speed up the process of the body getting used to the IUD.

Why does bleeding occur?

Light bleeding and scanty brownish smears for six months after insertion of the IUD are a natural phenomenon and should not bother a woman. In this case, bleeding after insertion of the spiral is the body’s adaptation to the foreign object. You need to see a doctor if the smears continue and do not stop for 8 months or more, and if after installing the IUD, bleeding continues for a long time or severe bleeding occurs.

Often in the first month after the procedure, girls experience a delay in menstruation. In this case, anti-inflammatory drugs are taken that normalize the cycle and protect against inflammatory processes in the uterus. Inflammation of the uterus occurs due to intolerance to the IUD as a type of contraceptive.

Features of installing a spiral

The intrauterine device is a method of contraception that has proven itself over many years. It is a T-shaped gynecological device made of plastic or metal. Some IUDs contain a progestin hormone or copper. These include the levonorgestrel-releasing Mirena system.

The action of the spiral is due to stopping the penetration of sperm into the upper parts of the female reproductive system, egg transport and fertilization. The Mirena coil also thickens the cervical mucus, which blocks endometrial proliferation. Due to this root effect, the effect of the contraceptive is quite long, sometimes even reaching several years.

The spiral is installed quickly and painlessly. However, some contraindications for IUDs should be taken into account. These include:

• various types of genital neoplasms,
• inflammatory processes in the components of the genitourinary system,
• various uterine injuries, including postoperative ones,
• bleeding of unknown etymology,
• cardiovascular diseases,
• diabetes.

Apart from a small number of contraindications, this contraceptive has no disadvantages. The advantages also include the fact that it can be used at any age, even teenagers. For example, the Mirena coil is often installed during menopause at an early stage, when menstruation still sometimes makes itself felt. The product helps to avoid pregnancy and smooth out hormonal changes.

The spiral does not affect other systems and organs of the female body, it can be used for up to 10 years, and the price is affordable for any category of the population. But with Mirena, given its hormonal components, side effects may occur. Whatever IUD you choose, it should only be installed by a competent specialist, as previously prescribed by your doctor.

On what day of menstruation is the IUD inserted? As a rule, the IUD should be inserted at the end of menstruation. This procedure lasts about 15 minutes. Fixing it in the uterine cavity is painless; local anesthesia is most often used.

What to do if there is heavy bleeding

If there is heavy or prolonged bleeding after the IUD insertion procedure, you should immediately go to the hospital. The doctor prescribes tests and examination. The first thing the doctor will pay attention to is whether the woman has gynecological diseases. If the woman’s blood flow does not stop and there are no serious illnesses, the coil is removed, otherwise a complication may arise in the form of iron deficiency anemia. During treatment, the patient is regularly examined and monitored for the course of the disease.

To prevent symptoms, the doctor prescribes medications containing iron and recommends eating more foods that are rich in iron.

Consultation with a gynecologist is mandatory

Other complications

Common complications from starting to use an IUD are heavy bleeding and the IUD falling out at different times. But there are other, more rare complications.

The majority arises, as a rule, from a copper spiral.

• Too painful menstruation;
• Blood clots during menstruation;
• Pelvic infections;
• Damage to the uterus by the coil;
• Irregular periods. Sometimes they disappear completely;
• Ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, subsequent early birth.

Infertility. It is because of this complication that doctors recommend using spirals only for women who have given birth.

Causes

According to its structure, menstruation is red or brown blood discharge, usually having a thick consistency with the presence of a small number of clots. This is caused by the removal of rejected particles from within the lining of the uterine epithelium, including disruption of small blood vessels.

Usually, during the menstrual cycle, girls experience the appearance of discharge that is brown in color and thick in density, sometimes containing small lumps and a certain amount of blood clots. These bleeding are the consequences of violations of the integrity of the capillaries of the internal genital organs, which occur due to complete or partial rejection of the internal epithelium of the genital organs. This is a completely adequate process in the female body to get rid of excess accumulated blood. This is also a normal occurrence a few days after your period. Discharge of this kind is possible if a woman takes hormonal medications.

There are statistics according to which about eighty percent of women have various types of discharge from the genitals. When taking contraceptives, there is a possibility of bleeding. Bloody discharge between periods, as a sign of pregnancy, is a common occurrence.

Installation

Before going to the IUD insertion procedure itself, you need to carry out a number of preparatory measures: take tests prescribed by the doctor, undergo an examination by a gynecologist and carry out the procedure.

Examinations that must be completed before the procedure:

• Pregnancy testing;
• Taking HIV tests;
• Screening for STDs and other gynecological problems;
• Blood test for hepatitis C and other types;
• The doctor must examine the genital organs: vagina, uterus, etc. and then select the best type of IUD for the woman.

Before the procedure, the gynecologist measures the size and depth of the uterus. The process of installing an intrauterine device feels like inserting a gynecological speculum during an examination. There is no severe pain during the procedure, but there is some discomfort. If a woman does not tolerate the slightest discomfort, the doctor may inject painkillers into the cervical area. Installing the spiral takes 10 minutes.

Correctly inserted IUD

Removal of the IUD

After the IUD, you can plan a pregnancy within the first month. Removal of the IUD is carried out for the following indications:

• at the request of the woman;
• expiration of the period of use. The contraceptive device is valid for 5 years. After this time, you should undergo examination by a specialist and remove the device;
• when the spiral is displaced or partially falls out;
• during menopause.

Removal is carried out in a gynecological hospital. The procedure is carried out during menstruation. The appearance of discharge after the IUD will last only for the period of the remaining menstruation. The regularity of the cycle is restored. The IUD can be removed on any other day of the cycle. The removal procedure is simple and painless.

Important! If the intrauterine contraceptive has grown into the wall of the uterus, then it is not possible to remove it in the usual way. In this case, removal is carried out in a gynecological hospital using diagnostic curettage of the uterine cavity.

There are no specific recommendations after removal of the IUD, but there are a number of simple rules that must be followed for 1 week: sexual rest, maintain intimate hygiene, do not use tampons, limit physical activity, do not douche, do not visit baths and saunas.

Rehabilitation

After installing an intrauterine device, you need a gentle daily routine, more rest, and you cannot strain yourself too much with work. The spiral is a foreign object for the body; it takes some time to get used to it and the body experiences stress, so extra stress during rehabilitation will only aggravate the condition. The rehabilitation period after installation of the IUD is different for all women. If there is no pain or heavy bleeding, you can perform the usual amount of work. Just don’t forget that any overvoltage can cause problems, the most common of which is the coil falling out.

Since the prolapse of the IUD from a woman’s uterus most often occurs during the first 8 months, a verification procedure must be carried out. The position of the spiral can be determined by the antennae. You can check this yourself with your fingers, but if a woman cannot check it herself, you need to entrust the matter to a gynecologist. You need to be examined by a doctor monthly. Then the dangerous period will pass easily and without complications.

Bleeding not associated with menstruation

The following medical pathologies can also affect spotting before and after menstruation:

• Such a dangerous disease as endometriosis:
• Benign fibroids. Usually requires surgery;
• Oncological diseases of internal hollow organs;
• Other polypous neoplasms in the female reproductive system;
• Formation of ectopic pregnancy; This is a very dangerous process that requires urgent medical attention;
• Pathologies of the thyroid gland (endocrine system);
• Endomyometritis (deeper layers of the epithelium) or endometritis - inflammatory processes in the epithelium of the uterus;
• Sarcoma of the uterus. A most dangerous disease that requires long-term treatment and surgery;
• Chronic erosion of the cervix also often provokes bleeding;
• Taking spiral contraceptives can also affect vaginal bleeding. When installing an IUD, women should evaluate all the pros and cons of this contraceptive.

Thus, the causes of intermenstrual bleeding can be various.

Abnormal bleeding may cause pain in the lower abdomen

Bloody discharge between periods is a signal that a woman urgently needs to see a doctor. Urgent medical intervention will help prevent any gynecological disorder from reaching a pathological state.

Other factors for the appearance of gynecological discharge with blood may include psychological stress and nervous experiences, sudden changes in climatic conditions, physical overload and exposure to extremely high and cold temperatures can also have an impact on the female body. During a gynecological examination, the doctor will be able to identify the cause of the pathology.

When to see a doctor

Slight spotting or spotting is a natural reaction of the body after insertion of the IUD, as it occurs in almost all women. The average period is 6 months, but the time for cessation of discharge varies individually and can vary from 4 to 8 months. It happens that there is no discharge at all, but this is very rare and harmless.

Only prolonged and heavy discharge becomes dangerous. It's like having a period that doesn't stop for several weeks. If there is heavy bleeding, you should immediately consult a doctor. Also, if the discharge continues for quite a long time, it is better to visit the hospital, since severe bleeding and smears for more than 8 months can be caused by serious disorders in the body.

Sometimes the IUD in a woman can provoke various diseases of the uterus, then bleeding signals inflammation. If the examination reveals a negative effect of the spiral, it is removed and no longer installed. In this case, other methods of protection are prescribed.

Pathological discharge when using a spiral

Infection

This contraceptive is designed to protect a woman from unwanted pregnancy, but it does not perform a barrier function against various infections, viruses and fungi. Moreover, it is a kind of conductor for them and in some situations may even be the root cause of inflammation of the pelvic organs. This may be indicated by excessive bleeding with discomfort, or the presence of an unpleasant odor or greenish or yellowish mucus color.

Need for removal

There are many reasons why you need to remove the coil or replace it with a new one.

The need to remove the spiral may arise in the following cases:

• The hormonal intrauterine device needs to be changed after every five years of use, and the copper one after ten years.
• When using other protection against pregnancy, the IUD must be removed at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
• After removing the intrauterine device, the next installation is made only after a month.
• If inflammation or infection occurs due to the coil, or if there is heavy bleeding, the coil must be removed.
• In case of individual intolerance to the IUD. If, when using an IUD, a woman has constant abdominal pain in the area of ​​the uterus, or the blood of sexual intercourse experiences discomfort, the IUD must be removed and another method of protection must be used.

Intrauterine device consequences. Intrauterine device: advantages and disadvantages

The intrauterine device is a very common method of contraception among women in Russia, Scandinavian countries and Asian countries. Its popularity is gained by the following advantages:

• high reliability rate: out of 100 women using an IUD for one year, pregnancy can occur in only one;
• effect of long-term use - from 5 to 10 years;
• immediate contraceptive effect;
• ease of use;
• method confidentiality;
• low cost of contraception;
• when correctly positioned in the uterine cavity, it is not felt by the woman
• removed at the request of the woman, at any time, as soon as she decides that she no longer wishes to use this type of contraception;
• very rapid restoration of “fertility”;
• Possibility of use during breastfeeding, does not harm the baby’s health;
• no effect on the body as a whole;
• the use of certain types of IUDs for therapeutic purposes;
• does not require the use of additional methods of contraceptive protection.

Yes, there are quite a few advantages. But for an objective assessment, it is necessary to consider all the arguments both for and against the use of the IUD.

Notable disadvantages include:

• presence of contraindications;
• abundant and prolonged “critical days”;
• spotting and spotting before and after menstruation;
• lack of protection against sexually transmitted infections;
• high incidence of inflammation in the uterus and appendages;
• does not protect against ectopic pregnancy, but rather even provokes it (except for hormone-containing IUDs);
• possible complications during insertion - perforation or perforation of the uterine wall;
• expulsion (spontaneous loss of the IUD from the uterine cavity) cannot be ruled out;
• the spiral cannot be installed and removed by yourself.

So, if you are thinking about installing a contraceptive intrauterine device, the pros and cons of its use listed above will help you decide on the choice of contraceptive method.

Attention! If you have made your choice in favor of an intrauterine device, be sure to consult your doctor. The specialist will assess all the risks to your health and select the most suitable IUD for you.

It should be? Normal menstrual cycle and its characteristics

Every month, the uterus prepares a layer of endometrium for the fertilized egg, where it will attach. If conception does not occur, the inner lining of the organ is rejected. Bloody discharge from the genital tract appears - menstruation. Normally, periods appear in adolescence and last until about 50 years of age.

Signs of a normal menstrual cycle:

• The cycle duration should be 21-35 days. A 28-day cycle is used as an average. It can be different for a woman, but remains unchanged throughout her life if there is no pathology in the body.
• Menstruation should not bring severe discomfort to a woman and be too painful.
• The duration of bleeding is 3-7 days.
• Blood loss during menstruation should not exceed 60 ml.