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Merina IUD
Placed in the uterus(vaginally) by the OB, 99.9% effective in preventing pregnancy. Minimal side effects, periods may eventually stop, lasts 5 years and can be removed at any time if she wants to get pregnant.
Here is the site. Would highly recommend.
http://www.mirena-us.com/howmirenaworks.html
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According to that site, Merina should only be used by women who've already had a child, although they don't explain why. That seems like a pretty significant drawback. Any idea why they say that?
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I know a lot of MDs and practitioners that will readily place an IUD, either the hormone releasing type or the copper type to women and teens who have not yet had kids.
I think that for legal reasons the published information will state its not recommended.
I am thinking the reason is an earlier IUD the Dalkon Shield was banned after reports of several deaths and a very high rate of infection(which could lead to sterility) due to the way it was designed, specifically the braided string tail. Current IUD string designs pose a far lower risk of infection. There was a study(sorry I cannot find it for reference) on the copper IUD reported no higher than normal risk except in women who had risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases (such as multiple sexual partners).
The thinking I believe is that if an infection is severe enough it could lead to sterility. So for a woman who has already had a child or children it would not be as devastating as a woman who has yet to have children.(Kind of strange logic imo.)
I have been told that there is no greater risk of infection or ectopic pregnancy for IUD users(with or without kids) as there is for the general population.
Where is our resident OB here? Have I been misled?