Contraception and Family Planning Advice

• Please make sure you have something light to eat and drink before your appointment.
• If you are not using a hormonal contraceptive please tell us the start date of your last menstrual period at your appointment.
• If you are using condoms for contraception, make sure there have been no times when the condom broke or slipped off or you did not use one. If this has happened in the last 3 weeks please tell the doctor or nurse – this may delay your IUC fitting.
• If you are taking the contraceptive pill, please make sure you have taken it correctly- especially in the 3 weeks before your appointment.
• If you already have an IUC fitted and are having it changed, you must not have unprotected sex in the 7 days before your appointment.
• For some people having an IUC fitted can be a little uncomfortable so we suggest taking paracetamol or your normal pain relief before your appointment.
• You may need to keep taking painkillers for the first 24 hours after your fitting so it is a good idea to have enough painkillers at home.
• Allow enough time for your appointment.  Although the fitting takes about 30 minutes, sometimes women feel lightheaded after the fitting and need extra time to fully recover.
• We suggest that you have someone you can contact or bring with you who can take you home if needed.  However most women are able to drive or walk home.
• Try not to bring small children or babies to your appointment.  If this is not possible please bring someone with you to look after them when you are having your fitting.
• Avoid high levels of activities straight after your IUD fitting and try to have a restful day.

You can have your IUC checked after 3-6 weeks or after your next period.

It may be helpful to make a note of the date of this appointment.

Checking your IUC threads:

You can usually feel the threads of the IUC inside the vagina to check it is in place.  Your nurse or doctor will have told you how to do this at time of fitting.  You should check for the threads of your IUC after each period or every month if you are not having regular periods.

If you cannot feel the threads then use another type of contraceptive such as condoms until you can be seen by a doctor or nurse.

You should seek medical help if any of the following happen:

• Lower abdominal pain after the IUC is fitted, lasting more than 2 weeks; or getting worse with time; or which goes and then comes back again.
• Raised temperature with lower abdominal pain.
• Heavy bleeding after fitting  (needing more than 2 sanitary pad changes per hour;  for more than 2 hours)
• Late menstrual period (with Intrauterine device IUD)
• Abnormal vaginal  discharge which smells;  with or without pain
• You can feel the stem of the IUC
• You cannot feel your threads
• The IUC is uncomfortable for you or your partner during sex
• You are worried about anything else

Will I be in pain after the fitting?

Having IUC fitted can sometimes be a little uncomfortable. We suggest taking paracetamol or your normal pain relief after your appointment. You may need to continue with your painkillers for the first 24-48 hours after the fitting so it is a good idea to have enough painkillers at home.

Will I bleed after the fitting?

It is common to have some bleeding after the procedure. How long you bleed for will depend on the type of IUC you have had fitted.  Bleeding is common in the first 3-6 months after having an Intrauterine System (IUS) fitted and often settles without treatment.

We suggest using sanitary towels only for the first 7 days after the fitting of your IUD. After this time you can use sanitary towels or tampons.

If you use a Moon Cup, manufacturers recommend waiting 6 weeks after IUC fitting before using the moon cup.

Will I need to restrict any other activities?

You doctor or nurse will have told you when you can rely on your IUC for contraception. The copper IUD works straight away but the hormonal IUS may take up to 7 days before it works.  You should not notice the IUC when you are having sex. If the IUC is uncomfortable to you or your partner during sex you should seek medical help.

Do not use vibrating gym plates for the first 3-6 weeks.

You can have cervical screening tests or “smears” when your IUC is in place.

If you ever need an MRI scan you should tell the radiology or x-ray department if you have a copper-IUD in place.

Where can I get more information?

Visit The Family Planning Association website