IUD Specialist
-
- Tweet
Gateway OB/GYN
Darshna Chandrasekhara, MD, FACOG
OB/GYN & Infertility Specialist located in Irving, TX
Always forgetting to take your birth control pills? IUDs are one of the best options to prevent pregnancy. They require minimal effort and can last for several years. Dr. Darshna Chandrasekhara at Gateway OB/GYN in Irving, Texas, offers the placement of IUDs as a contraceptive option to her patients. Call the office today, or schedule an appointment online.
IU\ Q & A
What is an IUD?
An intrauterine device, or an IUD, is a tiny device Dr. Chandrasekhara puts into your uterus to prevent pregnancy. IUDs are a long-term, reversible, and highly effective option for birth control. An IUD is a small piece of flexible plastic shaped like a T. Sometimes it’s called an IUC — intrauterine contraception.
What is Mirena®?
Mirena is a hormone-releasing IUD that is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy for up to five years. It can be used whether or not you have had a child. Mirena can also treat heavy periods in women who choose intrauterine contraception.
How does Mirena work?
Mirena prevents pregnancy in two ways. It thickens the mucus on your cervix, which blocks and traps the sperm, and it also stops your body from ovulating. Mirena releases small amounts of a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel into your uterus. Because your body is not ovulating, no eggs leave your ovaries, which means there’s no egg for a sperm to fertilize.
If you decide you want to become pregnant or you just don’t want to have your IUD anymore, Dr. Chandrasekhara can quickly and easily remove Mirena. You’re able to get pregnant right after the IUD is removed.
What to expect during the placement of Mirena?
During a routine office visit, Dr. Chandrasekhara can place Mirena in your uterus without having to do any kind of surgery. First, she applies an antiseptic solution to your vagina and cervix. Then, she passes the inserter, a slim tube of flexible plastic containing Mirena, into your vagina and then into your uterus. She withdraws the inserter and then checks to make sure that the two threads attached to the stem of Mirena properly extend through your cervix. Doing so ensures that Mirena is properly placed. This process typically only takes a few minutes.
If you think an IUD might be right for you, call Dr. Chandrasekhara, or schedule an appointment online to come in and learn more. She will discuss your contraceptive options with you and answer any questions you might have.
