Is Implant Birth Control Right for You?

Thankfully, birth control has come a long way. While researchers are still looking into different forms of male birth control beyond condoms, women have more choices than they once did. You’re not stuck with a form of birth control you have to manage daily anymore.

With an intrauterine device (IUD), you can apply a set-it-and-forget-it mentality. The long-term ease of this kind of birth control makes it increasingly popular. 

Per National Health Statistics Reports data from 2023, “The percentage of women who had ever used the IUD in 2015–2019 (21.4%) was almost three times the percentage in 2006–2010 (7.7%).” 

The National Center for Health Statistics indicates that IUDs are almost as common as the birth control pill, reporting that 10.5% of women chose methods like IUDs while 11.4% chose the pill. 

At Elite Gynecology in Manhattan, Forest Hills, and Rego Park, New York, we have extensive expertise in helping women find the right kind of birth control. If an IUD is best for you, we also offer IUD insertion with a provider from our all-female team. 

Some of the top indicators that an IUD might be the right choice include the following: 

You struggle to remember to take your birth control

The biggest sign that you would benefit from implant birth control comes down to what is — or, more importantly, isn’t — working for you right now. If you’re currently on the pill but struggle to remember to take it, it’s time to put a more reliable line of defense in place. 

Even if you remember to take the pill on time each day, consider how it affects your life. If you find it burdensome or annoying to have to plan this daily to-do, an IUD can eliminate that hassle. 

You think you might want to have a baby soon

An IUD may be the ideal option if your family planning goals have you aiming to get pregnant in the next year. 

With an IUD, it’s possible to get pregnant almost immediately after we remove the implant. Most women start ovulating within a month. 

Other forms of birth control take longer to leave your system. With the pill, it usually takes 1–3 months. The same is true for the vaginal ring. And the shot can take a year or more. 

You don’t want to think about birth control all the time

While other forms of birth control last days, weeks, or months, IUDs last for years. Hormonal IUDs, which release localized hormones in your uterus to prevent pregnancy, last from 3–8 years, depending on the type.

Paragard® is a hormone-free IUD that uses copper to make your uterus inhospitable. It lasts a decade. 

Are you looking for a long-lasting, no-hassle form of birth control? Or for an option that will leave your system quickly so you can get pregnant? Either way, consider an IUD.

To explore implant birth control for yourself, come see our team. We can talk you through your options and what to consider with each type of IUD. To get started, call Elite Gynecology or book your gynecology appointment online today.