IUDs Can Be 20X More Effective Than The Pill, Research Shows
IUDs are the best-kept secret in gynecological care- while the downsides are few (painful insertion, initial high expense without insurance coverage of the device and procedure and occasional difficulty to obtain), they remain a less popular option than the more side-effect ridden and less effective pill.
But new research out of Washington University School of Medicine, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlights the contrast between the IUD and more common methods of birth control prompting the question of why given the cost of raising children (particularly unplanned ones), the IUD isn’t offered to every sexually active young woman in America.
According to the study, of the 3 million unwanted pregnancies that occur each year, roughly half are attributable to user error in administering the patch, pill or ring. It would seem cost is the major reason users opt for less effective methods, and study author Dr. Jeff Peipert said:
“A major surprise was that many people chose long-acting reversible contraceptive (IUD) when barriers were lifted… Around 75 percent of women chose a long-acting reversible contraceptive; the hormonal IUD was the most popular.”
Other factors cited in the study were physician comfort with insertion and old misconception that IUDs lead to infertility or should not be used on nulliparous women.
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About the Author
Kim LaCapria Kim LaCapria is a writer and editor based in New York. A longtime information junkie, she began blogging full-time at the Inquisitr in 2009. Prior to that, she worked as a marketing assistant in the cosmetics and skincare industry. In addition to her writing for fortytwotimes, she also writes for Medacity and The Inquisitr. Kim is also a contributor for SocialNewsDaily, Indyposted, and TotallyMoney. In the past, she contributed to Lipstick and Luxury and managed social media accounts and blogs for several small and mid-sized businesses.
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