Contraceptive devices, like IUDs and implants, are widely used by women to prevent pregnancy and get long-term birth control solutions. According to Statista, 65 % of women aged between 15 to 49 used contraceptive methods in 2023.
Unfortunately, some of these devices can go wrong at times and create complications. The issues could be anywhere from minor irritations to severe health issues that can affect a woman’s overall well-being.
Therefore, understanding these complications is important to make wise choices related to contraception and managing any potential risks.
In this post, we will explain the common complications of contraceptive devices. Additionally, we will look at how these complications from contraceptive devices affect women’s health decisions.
Common Contraceptive Devices
There are various contraceptive devices available for women. Each of these devices functions differently with potential benefits and risks. Let us look at each of these devices and the way they function.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
IUDs are small T-shaped devices. They are inserted into your uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of intrauterine devices.
- Hormonal IUDs: These devices work by releasing a low dose of progestin, which is a type of hormone. This thickens your cervical mucus and makes it difficult for sperm to reach the egg.
- Copper IUDs: Copper IUDs work by releasing copper ions. These ions create an unpleasant environment for sperms which will further prevent fertilization.
Hormonal Implants
These are tiny thin rods that are placed under your upper arm skin. These implants release progestin hormones into your body. Thus, it prevents ovulation and makes your cervical mucus thick and your uterus lining thin. This way it prevents fertilization.
Hormonal Birth Control Pills
These are some of the most commonly used contraceptive methods. These pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation or thicken your cervical mucus. They usually come in two types.
- Combination Pills: These pills contain estrogen and progestin. They are highly effective pills and can regulate your menstrual cycles.
- Progestin-Only Pills: These pills contain progestin only. They are mostly suitable for women who cannot use estrogen.
Patch
These birth control patches work just like birth control pills. However, the only difference is these are adhesive patches and are applied to the skin. The patches further release estrogen and progestin into your bloodstream through the skin. The entire process is similar to birth control pills.
Vaginal Ring
This is a flexible, circular contraceptive device inserted into the vagina. This is again similar to that of birth control pills. The ring works by slowly releasing estrogen and progestin into your bloodstream through the vaginal lining.
Common Complications with Contraceptive Devices
Various contraceptive devices come with a different set of risks depending on multiple factors. Let’s break down each of these potential complications as per contraceptive methods.
Hormonal Methods
Under hormonal methods, you might see an increased risk of blood clots. The chances of blood clot risks increase in women who smoke, are overweight, aging, etc. Further, research shows that women who use OCs have a 3 to 5 times higher risk of VTE than women who don’t use them. This risk increases in the first two years.
These methods can also increase blood pressure in you if you use hormonal contraceptives containing estrogen. Similarly, the hormone fluctuations caused by contraceptive pills could trigger migraine or worsen your headaches. You may also experience breast tenderness, swelling, or changes in breast tissue.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
There are times when IUDs could partially or completely come out of your uterus. This may be due to improper insertion, contractions in the uterine, etc. Data from recent studies suggest that there’s a 2-10% chance of IUDs ejecting after the first year following a non-postpartum insertion.
In certain situations, you might have to deal with a uterus infection right after the insertion. This happens when bacteria get into your system during the insertion process.
Now comes the worst part. In rare cases, the inserted IUD can puncture your uterus during insertion. If you are one of those who have faced this situation, it would be ideal to get in touch with your nearest healthcare immediately.
Additionally, there are cases when pregnancy can still occur with an IUD in place. In such cases, the pregnancy is more likely to take place outside the uterus which is called ectopic pregnancy and is very dangerous.
However, it is important to remember that not every woman will experience these complications. Each type of hormonal method or IUD has its own complications.
For instance, let us take the example of Paragard IUD. Paragard IUD is a non-hormonal birth control copper intrauterine device. These are T-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy.
These devices come with complications like the risk of infection right after insertion. TorHoerman Law states that it can break or get fractured inside your uterus. In such conditions, it could cause severe injuries and the doctors may have to remove it surgically or by other medical treatments.
In response to these issues, the FDA had once raised concerns about Paragard after inspecting the manufacturing facility back in 2022. During the inspection, they found 1,231 reports of the device breaking out of which 80% of these cases were serious.
Despite these issues, the FDA did not take any public action against the manufacturers, CooperSurgical and Teva Pharmaceuticals.
This in turn led to thousands of women filing a Paragard lawsuit after suffering severe injuries from broken Paragard IUDs. The cases are now part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) led by a federal judge which highlights the serious legal and health consequences.
Impact on Women’s Health Decisions
Health Concerns and Anxiety
The complications that come with contraceptive devices could lead to serious anxiety issues and fear about safety. Women who are already facing negative side effects or the ones who hear about the complications are both in trouble.
They get concerned about the effectiveness and safety of their chosen method. This in turn makes them more anxious, stressed, and nervous.
Decision-Making Process
When women start to have complications, they start to rethink their choices. Negative experiences, like side effects or medical issues, may lead women to switch contraceptive methods.
This second thought is triggered to avoid potential health risks and find a more suitable solution.
Consultation and Advocacy
Healthcare providers are very important when it comes to guiding the women with right options or addressing complications. These professionals offer the right advice on how to manage complications, discuss alternative methods, etc.
They further provide support to make sure that women make the right decisions based on their health needs.
Legal and Financial Implications
There is a lot of money that is involved when managing complications and legal actions. Women facing complications may have to pay hefty medical bills. Additionally, they may have to deal with added financial pressure, if involved in legal issues.
For example, the most severely affected victims from a Paragard IUD could potentially get a settlement amount of $100,000-$200,000. It all depends on the contraceptive device used, the kind of injury, and the lawsuits filed against the manufacturers.
In a nutshell, the decision to use contraception plays a huge role in women’s healthcare. Despite their benefits, these methods can have serious complications.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with contraception, from physical symptoms to psychological stress. Hence, women must know about the risks and benefits of various contraceptive options inside out.
Additionally, we need to do more research before developing contraceptive devices that have fewer side effects and complications.