1971 PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROPAGANDA extolling the
IUD
The Methods That Work Best
IUD stands for intrauterine Device, meaning it goes inside the uterus.
That's where it's put, that's where it's left-till you no longer want protection
against pregnancy, at which point you go back to the doctor or clinic and have
it taken out. Meanwhile, once your body adjusts, you should be completely
unaware of the IUD's presence unless you actually check for it. And as song as
it's in place, you're protected-it's as easy as that.
IUD's come in assorted shapes and sizes, usually made of flexible
plastic. A couple of new ones have copper added, which seems to up the
effectiveness for some women. IUD's with copper have to be replaced every two
or three years. The others can stay in indefinitely-you just have a yearly
checkup. With any of them, insertion or removal should be a matter of minutes.
Right after insertion, most women have cramps, and the first few periods
will probably be extra-heavy. After that, things should settle down to
normal-no sign that anything's inside you except the tiny tail thread here
(A), which tells you the IUD is in place. If your uterus doesn't adjust that
happily-and in maybe two cases out of 10, it doesn't-then an IUD may just not
be for you. But before you switch methods, you might try switching to a
different device; it often helps.
Are there Risks? Infection isn't likely unless you're specially prone to
it or it happens to be there to begin with-then an IUD is apt to make it flare
up. If you're worried about the IUD's poking through the wall of the uterus,
it's a slim possibility-the chance is about one in 1,000. Any other serious
problems are rare, too, with most devices. But ask about the track record of
whichever one you plan to have put in.
An IUD is a method you don't have to make work. It protects or doesn't,
on its own-and almost always it does. Yet two or three women out of every 100
get pregnant with a device
it
place, and nobody knows why-any more than we know
exactly why IUD's work fine for the other 97-98%.
Some women worry about this small chance of an IUD
failure; others don't. (About half of all accidental IUD pregnancies miscarry.
In those that don't, the IUD's presence rarely seems to make much difference.)
Women who want to be extra-secure use a second Iine of defense (condoms or
vaginal foam) around the time egg release is most likely. The rest relax and
enjoy what an IUD's for-totally effort-free birth control.
Planned Parenthood The Head of the
ABORTION Snake