Health Conditions

Benefits

Very low failure rate

Convenient to use (after insertion, may be effective for up to 5 years)

Little additional cost after insertion

No estrogen side effects

Fertility resumes immediately after removal

Reduced:

• Menstrual cramping
• Risk of pregnancy for women who have trouble remembering to take pills

Appropriate for:

• Breast-feeding women
• Smokers
• Women who have had blood clots

Possibly appropriate for women who have:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Sickle-cell disease
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Risks

No protection against sexually transmitted infections

Inappropriate for women taking most anti-epilepsy drugs

Inconvenient to start and end (requires a minor outpatient surgical procedure to insert and remove)

Insertion or removal may cause bruising or infection at the point of insertion

Possibly difficult to remove

High initial cost

High discontinuation rate

Possible progestin side effects:

• Acne
• Depression
• Increased appetite
• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Weight gain

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.