Art: Marta Pucci
Bleeding on the IUD
Top things to know:
IUDs provide long-term (3 to 10 years) reversible contraception
There are two types of IUDs: copper IUDs and hormone-releasing IUDs
Copper IUDs may make bleeding heavier and more painful (but this decreases over time for most people); they don’t suppress ovulation
Hormone-releasing IUDs may make bleeding lighter; they sometimes suppress ovulation
The IUD is becoming a more popular contraceptive choice. In the United States, 5.3% women choose to use an IUD (1).
IUDs can have different effects on your period quality and quantity. Regardless of the changes in bleeding patterns, 9 out of 10 users report being satisfied with their IUD contraceptive by 6 months (2). But if you are considering getting an IUD and wondering what your period will be like after it’s inserted, here is what you should know.
What is an IUD?
An intrauterine device (IUD) is a type of female contraceptive that is inserted through the vagina into the uterus. The most common types of IUDs are T-shaped and plastic, and contain either a synthetic progesterone or copper. IUDs provide long-term contraceptive protection for 3 to 10 years (or more), depending on the type. IUDs do not protect you from sexually transmitted infections, so it’s important to combine them with a barrier method (like condoms) when having sex with a partner of unknown STI-status.
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IUDs can affect your period in several different ways, depending on the type. Here’s how they differ:
1. Hormone-releasing IUD
The hormone-releasing IUD contains a synthetic version of progesterone called progestin, which is continuously released at a low daily dose. Progestin works to prevent pregnancy in several ways: it thickens cervical fluid to prevent sperm from travelling into the uterus, thins the uterine lining, and also sometimes suppresses ovulation (3). Ovulation suppression depends on the dose of progestin released from the IUD. For example, IUDs with a lower progestin dose are less likely to suppress ovulation in comparison IUDs with a higher progestin dose (4,5). The rate of ovulation suppression also seems to decrease the longer the IUD is worn (4). The presence of the IUD within the uterus causes an irritation, creating an inflammatory reaction in the uterus that makes it inhospitable to both egg and sperm (5). A single hormonal IUD can last for 3 to 5 years, depending on the type.
How will my period change on the hormonal IUD?
Since the hormonal IUD thins the uterine lining and may inhibit ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) your period is likely to be different. Two out of three hormonal IUD users experience lighter bleeding within six months (6). In studies, people using a hormonal-IUD had a decreased amount of blood flow to the uterus and thinner endometrial lining thickness, in comparison to people who were using a copper IUD or who were not using hormonal contraceptives (7-9).
Some people report spotting or unscheduled bleeding between periods (10,11). Many people using hormonal IUDs also report a decrease in cramping. You might stop getting your period at all (10,11). All of these changes are considered normal.
The hormonal IUD may be helpful for people who experience unmanageable pain with menstruation (dysmenorrhea), heavy menstrual bleeding, or endometriosis (11,12).
2. Copper intrauterine device (IUDs)
The copper IUD is a device that is inserted into the uterus by a medical professional. Like the hormonal-IUD, the copper IUD also causes physical irritation, creating an inflammatory reaction in the uterus (3). The copper IUD does not contain hormones and therefore does not exert any changes to your hormone profile. People using copper IUDs will still ovulate and have a menstrual period. A single copper IUD can protect against pregnancy for up to 10 years, depending on brand.
Copper IUDs can also be used as an emergency contraceptive device when they are inserted up to 5 days after intercourse (10,13).
How will my period change on the copper IUD? The copper IUD does not prevent ovulation, so you will still experience a menstrual period. But it is common for people to experience heavier or longer periods, as well as unscheduled spotting or bleeding, during the first few months of use (10,14). Heavier menstrual flow with copper IUDs might be caused by vascular changes, which regulate blood flow to the uterus (7,9). In studies, these blood flow changes were found to be greater in people using a copper IUD with heavy menstrual periods compared with copper-IUD users with normal menstrual bleeding (7-9). More research is needed here.
Upon starting the copper IUD, 6 in 10 people reported increased cramping and 7 in 10 reported increased bleeding during the first three months of use (6). These symptoms have been shown to decrease over time in most people (10,14). For people who do experience increased menstrual bleeding, there is an increased risk of developing an anemia due to excessive blood loss. Among copper IUD users with increased irregular bleeding, there may be an increase in prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (a bacterial overgrowth in the vagina), but more research is needed (15).
With both the copper IUD and hormonal IUD, there is an increased chance of spotting or bleeding for a few months after insertion (10). Choosing an IUD can be a difficult decision, so be sure to speak to your healthcare provider to see if an IUD is the right birth control choice for you.
Download Clue today to track your birth control and to learn more about how your period changes.
