Table 1.
Accurate and Inaccurate Advantages and Disadvantages of Intrauterine Devices (N= 105)
| N (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Accurate Advantages | Long-acting | 96 (91) |
| Highly effective | 86 (82) | |
| Decreased menses (hormonal IUD) | 72 (69) | |
| Reversible | 71 (68) | |
| Do not need to remember to use regularly | 48 (46) | |
| Does not contain hormones (copper IUD) | 42 (40) | |
| Do not need to do anything at time of sex | 34 (30) | |
| Safe | 32 (30) | |
| Can be used as emergency contraception (copper IUD) | 30 (29) | |
| Safe to use while breastfeeding | 30 (29) | |
|
| ||
| Accurate Disadvantages | Requires appointment with healthcare provider or exam to start method | 94 (90) |
| Does not protect against STIs | 70 (67) | |
| Irregular bleeding or spotting | 64 (61) | |
| Longer or more painful periods (copper IUD) | 59 (56) | |
| Cramping at insertion | 56 (53) | |
| Frequent or unpredictable bleeding (hormonal IUD) | 44 (42) | |
| No periods (hormonal IUD) | 41 (39) | |
| Expensive | 25 (24) | |
|
| ||
| Inaccurate Disadvantages | Increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (other than first month after insertion) | 28 (27) |
| Decreases fertility or causes infertility | 15 (14) | |
| Increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections | 3 (3) | |
IUD – intrauterine device; STI – sexually transmitted infections