Healthcare providers need to address misconceptions young women have around IUDs and their fertility

Commentary on: Payne JB, Sundstrom B, DeMaria AL, et al. A qualitative study of young women's beliefs about intrauterine devices: fear of infertility. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2016;61:482–8.

Implications for practice and research

Healthcare providers should be aware that adolescent and young adult women may receive few positive messages about intrauterine device (IUD) use from their family and friends, and lean heavily on their healthcare provider for information about IUDs.

When counselling adolescents and young adults about contraceptive options, healthcare providers should communicate the safety of IUDs,  reversibility of the method, and that menstrual changes after IUD placement are expected and do not threaten future fertility.

Context

Most pregnancies among adolescent and unmarried young women in the USA are unintended. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are safe and highly effective contraceptives, and recommended as first-line options for women, including adolescents.1 Although IUD use among American women has been increasing over the last...

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