What are the side effects of female birth control rings?

Women can use IUDs for contraception regardless of whether they have given birth or not, but many gynecologists do not recommend that women who have not given birth wear IUDs. This is mainly because although IUDs are very effective, they have certain side effects. If they are worn for a long time, they may affect future fertility. So, what are the side effects of IUDs?

The intrauterine device is what we usually call the intrauterine ring. It is one of the most commonly used contraceptive methods. There are many types of intrauterine contraceptive devices in different shapes. Commonly used ones include round rings, R-shaped rings, T-shaped rings, etc. They can also be divided into rings with tail wires and rings without tail wires. Nowadays, the rings used in clinical practice all have tail threads, which are easy to remove and cause less pain to the patients.

The side effects of having an IUD are:

1. Lower back pain and abdominal distension: This may be caused by the IUD being too large or positioned too low, leading to uterine contractions. You can try antispasmodics first. If they are ineffective, you can choose a new ring.

2. Infection: In a few cases, ascending infection may occur due to improper disinfection or aseptic operation. After it happens, the ring should be removed first, and then appropriate treatment should be taken.

3. IUD incarceration: Some IUDs may become embedded in the uterine muscle wall. If the insertion is shallow, it can still be pulled out with the ring hook; if the insertion is deep, the cervix must be dilated to size 6-7 first, then the ring must be brought to the cervical opening, and two hemostatic forceps must be used to straighten the ring wire, cut it, and then pull it out. The operation should be slow and gentle. If necessary, the hook can be removed under the guidance of B-ultrasound to reduce the blindness of the operation. If the ring is deeply embedded or has even penetrated the uterine wall into the pelvic cavity, it should be removed by laparotomy or laparoscopy.

4. IUD fall-off: This often happens within the first year of wearing the device, especially during the first three months of menstruation. The natural shedding of the IUD is related to the ring being too large or too small, not being placed at the bottom of the uterine cavity, poor quality of manufacturing materials, insufficient support, loose cervix of the recipient, excessive labor intensity or heavy menstruation. Therefore, follow-up observation should be paid attention to in the first year after IUD insertion.

5. Pregnancy with an IUD: Pregnancy with an IUD or even ectopic pregnancy may occur due to improper selection or placement of the IUD.

The above are all side effects of the female contraceptive ring. Regardless of whether you have given birth before, it is easy to experience these side effects when wearing a female contraceptive ring. Therefore, in order to ensure your health, please be sure to do relevant care after wearing the contraceptive ring, and pay attention to going to the hospital regularly for B-ultrasound examinations to see if the contraceptive ring has fallen off.