Advice for insertion of intrauterine contraception
Please ensure you read this information carefully prior to your appointment to have an IUD or IUS fitted.
Contraception prior to your appointment
There must be no risk of pregnancy prior to your appointment—if you are at risk of pregnancy, we may have to rearrange your appointment for another day.
To ensure we can insert the device, you should:
- Continue using a hormonal method of contraception (pill, patch, ring, injection or implant) until the day of your appointment, or
- Avoid all sexual intercourse for at least 3 weeks before your appointment
Please note that if you are relying on condoms, natural family planning methods or a diaphragm for contraception, we would recommend that you avoid all sexual intercourse for at least 3 weeks before your appointment. This is due to the higher risk of pregnancy associated with these methods.
If you are replacing an IUD/IUS which is not out-of-date, then please ensure you avoid any unprotected sex for 7 days before your appointment. This is in case we are unable to insert a new device after removing the old one.
If you are replacing an IUD/IUS which is out-of-date, then you are no longer protected against pregnancy and you must ensure you use an alternative method of contraception or avoid all sexual intercourse for at least 3 weeks before your appointment.
On the day of your appointment
Ensure you have had something to eat, such as a light breakfast or lunch. If you are fasting, please rearrange your appointment until such a time that you are able to eat.
Please take pain relief tablets, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, about 30-60 minutes before your appointment.
You may wish to bring sanitary protection with you, but we can provide sanitary towels if you forget. We do not recommend using tampons or menstrual cups for at least 3 days after the insertion.
If you need to bring young children with you, please arrange for someone to look after them while you are in the clinic room.
After the procedure, you may experience some cramping pain. For your own safety, you may wish to have some accompany you home, but this is not essential.
You should plan to be in the clinic for up to one hour.
Further information about intrauterine contraception can be found on the Sexwise website.