Are heavier menstrual periods or bleeding between menstrual periods a medical reason to remove the IUD?
Not necessarily. If the client wishes, or if bleeding or pain is severe, the IUD should be removed. Abnormal conditions that might cause heavy bleeding should be investigated. For most women, copper and all-plastic IUDs increase the amount of menstrual blood loss, particularly in the first few months of use. Women should be counseled to expect this. Bleeding and pain usually decrease over time. For mild to moderate bleeding and pain in the first month after insertion, a woman who wants to keep her IUD can take a short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, which decrease uterine bleeding and cramping (but not aspirin, which promotes bleeding). The LNG-20 IUD reduces menstrual blood loss (see Chapter 2.5, Bleeding and Pain). • Q: Can specifically trained nurses and midwives insert IUDs? A: Yes. Nurses and midwives have learned to perform interval, postpartum, and postabortion IUD insertions successfully (see The role of nurses, midwives, and paramedics in Chap
Related Questions
- If a woman complains of heavier menses or bleeding between menses, is there a medical basis for the IUD to be removed?
- Are longer, heavier periods with non-stop spotting expected immediately follwing Mirena IUD insertion?
- What aspects of periods are most bothersome for women reporting heavy menstrual bleeding?
