eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Get Rid of IUD Pain

Contributor
By Valencia Higuera
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)
Flickr
Flickr

An IUD, or intrauterine device, is an effective birth control method, wherein doctors insert a plastic device into a woman's uterus. While effective, IUDs can cause pain. Pain can occur at the time of insertion, or after the IUD has been in place for several weeks or months. Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of IUD pain.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Pain reliever
  1. Step 1

    Rest until the pain subsides. Some women deal with pain or cramping following the insertion of an IUD. Pain normally subsides on it's own within a few hours. Due to pain, women should not drive themselves home after the procedure, and they should relax until the pain stops.

  2. Step 2

    Take an painkiller. IUD pain can occur shortly before the start of a woman's menstrual cycle. Take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease discomfort.

  3. Step 3

    Ask a doctor to examine the IUD. If IUD pain doesn't subside within a few days or worsens, check the device. IUDs can sometimes expel or leave the uterus. This can cause pain, and it increases the chance of pregnancy. In this case, doctors have to re-insert the IUD.

  4. Step 4

    Remove the IUD. In rare cases, the device can puncture the uterine wall. This causes extreme pain, in which doctors have to remove the IUD. If the device moves into the stomach, surgery may be necessary to remove the IUD.

Tips & Warnings
  • Never remove an IUD yourself.
Subscribe

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
Get Free Health Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. † requires javascript

Live Strong Partner
Livestrong_eHow Health