A Girl's Best Friend: The IUD

This article was written by Marie Stopes South Africa; the largest non-profit provider of sexual and reproductive health services in the country.

Many young girls in South Africa don’t know that you can access contraception from the age of 12. That means that as soon as you hit your 12th birthday, you can access all of the sexual and reproductive health services the country has to offer!
If you’re still searching for a birth control that suits you best, then Mirena or the copper IUD might be the perfect fit. Long-lasting and roughly 99% effective, the IUD is a popular choice of contraception for many girls in Mzansi.

ICYMI: In South Africa, you can access contraception from the age of 12.
Want to know why the IUD is so good? Check out the top 7 reasons below:

1. It works as an emergency birth control option

Fam, did you know that the IUD is also a type of emergency contraception? That means that if you slip-up and forget to use a condom, you can have an IUD inserted up to five days after having unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

2. You don’t have to remember to take a pill

For those forgetful few out there, the IUD is inserted into your uterus and prevents pregnancy for anything from 3 to 10 years, depending on which option you choose. The Mirena is a popular choice in South Africa, but there are other options out there too, like copper IUDs.

3. It’s more effective than the pill

No matter how careful you are about taking the pill, there are different factors that can make it less effective; some of which may be out of your control. Things like illness, taking other medication and forgetting to take your pill can all affect the pill’s ability to keep you baby-free. There are NO such worries when it comes to the IUD, which works all day, every day and is 99% effective compared to the pill which is roughly 91% reliable.

4. Your periods may be lighter

After a few months of having your IUD fitted, you may find that your periods become lighter or even disappear. MAGIC. Whilst at first you may experience some spotting and irregular bleeding, after a little while you may find that your periods become a distant memory rather than a monthly occurrence.

5. The Mirena releases low levels of hormones into your blood

Mirena releases lower levels of hormones than other IUDs and female contraception out there. If using female contraception with high levels of hormones is not working for you, then Mirena could be your best bet; helping to keep those hormone levels at an all-time low.

6. Insertion: It ain’t that bad

Whilst every woman’s experience is different, a lot of ladies are surprised to discover that inserting an IUD isn’t as uncomfortable as they imagined. Following the right advice from medical professionals can mean that after a day or so you’re feeling back to normal.

7. It lasts for around five years

While it differs from IUD to IUD, the Mirena is effective for five years. What’s more, you can take it out any time before that and your baby-making skills are back in action ASAP.

Want to know more about the IUD? Check out Marie Stopes’ website here.