IUD Specialist

Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology

Obstetrics & Gynecology located in Atlanta, GA & Alpharetta, GA

An intrauterine device (IUD) can give you years of pregnancy protection without worry. At Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology, in offices in Alpharetta and Atlanta, Georgia, the team of board-certified women’s health specialists offers a range of copper and hormonal IUDs to help you safely avoid pregnancy. To find out which IUD is right for you, book an appointment online or call the office nearest you today.

IUD Q & A

What is an IUD?

An IUD is a birth control device that goes inside your uterus. After insertion, you’ll have pregnancy protection for up to several years or until device removal. There are two general types of IUD: hormonal and copper.

Copper IUD

The copper IUD, Paragard®, prevents pregnancy by killing sperm.

Hormonal IUD

Hormonal IUDs, including Mirena®, Liletta®, and Kyleena®, work by thickening cervical mucus, stopping ovulation, or both. These prevent sperm from reaching your eggs.

Both copper and hormonal IUDs are safe and reliable, with higher than 99% effectiveness rates.

How long does each type of IUD last?

Kyleena: up to 5 years
Mirena: up to 8 years for pregnancy prevention
Liletta: up to 8 years
Paragard: up to 10 years

The variations among hormonal IUDs occur because they contain different amounts of hormones. Typically, Kyleena is inserted in an uterus of a person who has not been pregnant.

When might I need an IUD?

There are a few reasons that the Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology team may recommend an IUD.

Pregnancy prevention

The primary purpose of IUDs is pregnancy prevention, so an IUD could be a good choice for you if you want birth control that you don’t have to think about.

With oral contraceptives, you take a pill every day. With other options like patches and shots, you stick to a strict schedule to get their full benefits. With an IUD, you don’t have to do any type of maintenance other than keeping up with your regular well-woman visits.

Gynecologic disorders

Some IUDs also have non-contraceptive uses, including treatment of abnormally heavy or long periods. Many women who have abnormal periods related to conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) find significant symptom relief with a hormonal IUD.

For some women, IUDs do double duty as pregnancy prevention and symptom relief of abnormal periods.

What if I want to get pregnant but currently have an IUD?

If you have an IUD and want to get pregnant, it’s no problem. Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology can remove your IUD and counsel you about safe conception. You can usually try to conceive the first month after your IUD removal.

To schedule your well-woman exam and learn more about IUDs, call Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology or book an appointment online today.

What we offer