Nearly 4.5 million people in the U.S. use an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control. They're very effective at preventing pregnancy — only 1 out of every 100 people with an IUD will get pregnant ...

When you get an IUD, it’s normal to feel cramping. “Your uterus is a muscle, and when you place something inside of it, the muscle responds by tightening,” says Lisa Holloway, a nurse practitioner ...

The Mirena IUD is effective for five years, but Erin Jackson left hers in for six and a half. She was so scared of repeating the pain she felt when she had the contraceptive device inserted, she kept ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Geri Stengel writes about the success factors of women entrepreneurs. For decades, women seeking long-acting birth control have ...

If a person cannot feel their intrauterine device (IUD) strings, there is usually no need to worry. There are many reasons why this may happen, and it is not often a cause for concern. According to an ...

Copper IUDs (intrauterine devices) are a form of birth control. IUDs are a safe and effective method of preventing unintended pregnancies. As of 2012, 11.6% of females in the United States use some ...

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. I recently got an IUD before having penetrative-vaginal sex for the first time and ...

IUDs are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but pregnancy can occur if the IUD slips out of place, hasn’t started working yet (hormonal IUDs take up to 7 days), or has been in longer ...

Acne may be a side effect of having a hormonal IUD, but IUDs may also help clear acne. Read on to find out more. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a highly effective form of contraception. They’re ...

Melinda Nicols, now 40, had a Mirena IUD inserted in 2007, and didn’t realize it had migrated to her abdomen until 11 years later, after she started experiencing pain in her back. Doctors say that ...