Ask us anything. No judgments.

Can I get an IUD if I haven’t had a child?

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Someone asked us:

do you have to have had a child to have an IUD?

No – this is a really common myth, so we’re glad you brought it up. Most people with uteruses can use an IUD safely, regardless of whether they’ve had children.

The reason this myth is out there is because it used to be true that you could only get an IUD if you’d already had children. It can sometimes be a bit easier to insert an IUD into a uterus if a woman’s already given birth — but it’s still safe and simple even if you haven’t.

IUDs are a great form of long term birth control.  Depending on which type you get (Mirena, ParaGard, and Skyla coming out in the next few weeks), they can last for as long as you want, up to 3-12 years.  They’re over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, which makes them one of the most effective forms of birth control out there.

Wondering if the IUD is right for you? Talk with your health care provider, and check out our website for more information on IUDs. 

- Nina at Planned Parenthood

Tagged: IUDbirth controlquestions

Mind the gap

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Thinking of trying out a new birth control method? Great! But there are a few things to keep in mind before you throw out your pill pack (or patch, or ring, or whatever). Depending on what your switching from and to, you may need to overlap methods for a bit, or you may need to use a back up method for a bit.  Here’s a handy fact sheet in English and Spanish from the Reproductive Health Access Project that tells you how to switch from any method to any method.

Be sure to use a back-up method if there’s any gap in use during the transition. 

A back-up method is a second form of birth control used alongside your new one, like a condom or female condom. So, for example, you might choose to use condoms while you wait to get your prescription for the ring.

It’s estimated that stopping birth control pills accounts for 20 percent of unplanned pregnancies in the US every year. So switch carefully!

- Nina at Planned Parenthood

Tagged: birth controlpregnancy

Is it safe for me to use emergency contraception while I’m on my period?

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Someone asked us:

Hey, is emergency contraception safe to use when you’re on your period? Thanks!

It’s perfectly safe to use emergency contraception (also known as the morning-after pill) while you’re having your period, or at any point during your menstrual cycle. 

Emergency contraception works to delay the onset of ovulation. If you’re having your period that means that you’re not ovulating at the moment, but will sometime within the next couple of weeks. If you don’t have a regular cycle it can be hard to figure out when exactly that will happen. And since sperm can live in the body up to six days after sex, it’s a good idea to use emergency contraception like Plan B One Step, Next Choice, or ella anytime you have unprotected sex, a broken condom, or any other birth control failure, to delay ovulation while sperm is still alive in your body. 

-Emily at Planned Parenthood
Tagged: questionsbirth controlemergency contraceptionthe morning-after pillperiodmenstruation

Can birth control pills affect my sex drive?

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Someone asked us:

How much do birth control pills affect sex drive in women? I’ve been taking them for close to a year now, and haven’t had any urge to have sex for couple months.

While some women find that using birth control to decrease their risk of pregnancy, empowers them to feel more in control of their sexuality, it’s true that a small number of women experience a decrease in their sex drive while using hormonal birth control, like the pill. 

The good news is that switching the brand of pills you use, or switching to a different method like the IUD or the shot may help. Different kinds of brands and methods contain different combinations of hormones, which may affect each individual differently. You should raise your concern with your health care provider or the staff at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center, who can suggest another brand or method.

While you make plans to talk to your doctor about your birth control method, it may help to consider if there are other factors that may contribute to your decreased sex drive. Many women experience temporary decreases in their sex drive at different times in their lives. It can stem from a number of different causes — stress„ depression or anxiety, some medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, or cancer, certain medications, or lifestyle changes like a break-up or taking care of a child. 

You deserve to find out the reason why your sex drive has changed. Talking to a health care provider and thinking about these other factors are good next steps. 

-Emily at Planned Parenthood
Tagged: questionsbirth controlthe pillIUDsex

We had sex without a condom and my period’s late. Am I pregnant?

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Someone asked us:

My boyfriend and I had sex with and without a condom multiple times this month, I’m on birth control, but it’s low dose. He never came inside me, but my period is almost a week late and i havent taken a pregnancy test yet. We’re broke, and I can’t have a kid at 14 years old. Please help?
If you’re using your birth control correctly and use a back-up method when you need to (like if you miss a pill), that means you’re taking the right steps to prevent pregnancy. For example, research shows that fewer than 1 in every 100 women who use birth control pills becomes pregnant within a year of using them if she always takes them correctly. 

So what does fewer than 1 in every 100 women mean exactly? For one thing, it doesn’t mean that somewhere out there half of one woman is walking around in maternity sweatpants bitterly stocking up on diapers and baby food. What it does mean is that in a group of more than 100 ladies who take their pill correctly all the time, there may be one woman whose birth control pills fail and who ends up pregnant. Basically it’s very rare, but it can happen.

While those are really good odds in your favor already as far as pregnancy goes, using condoms when you have sex is the only way to avoid sexually transmitted infections. If you take your pills as directed every day and use a condom every time you have sex, it’s way more likely that you’ll end up valedictorian AND prom queen AND class president by the time you’re a senior than ending up pregnant.

-Emily at Planned Parenthood
Tagged: questionsam i pregnantbirth controlcondomsthe pill

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