How soon after giving birth can I get an IUD?

Although your menstrual cycle may not return for up to a year or more if you’re exclusively breastfeeding, most women notice their cycles returning far earlier. If you aren’t breastfeeding, this could be as soon as 5 or 6 weeks after giving birth. Getting pregnant within 18 months of giving birth may be linked to certain negative health outcomes, so healthcare providers recommend using an effective form of contraception (birth control) during this time.

One of the most safe, effective, and low-maintenance forms of birth control are intrauterine devices (IUDs). IUDs can be inserted immediately after giving birth, which makes them a great choice to consider as you approach delivery day.

Many women report easier experiences with IUD insertions after giving birth, which makes immediate IUD insertion after delivery a popular choice. Leaving the hospital with an effective, long-term, and reversible form of birth control ensures that you’ll have as much control over your family planning decisions as possible. 

IUDs can last for years; anywhere from 3-10, depending on the type and brand. They can be removed at any time, and fertility returns immediately.. There are two types of IUDs—hormonal and copper—and they work a bit differently from one another. Hormonal IUDs use a hormone similar to one you might find in a birth control pill or implant. This hormone (called progestin) prevents pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus so sperm cannot travel to an egg and thinning the lining of the uterus. Copper IUDs prevent sperm’s ability to move around the uterus and fertilize an egg. Both, however, are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. 

If your hospital doesn’t offer IUD insertion after delivery, or you just prefer to wait, it’s possible to get one in the weeks or months after—many women get IUDs at their 6-12 week postpartum visit, for example. Many primary care providers also insert IUDs at their offices.

IUDs can’t be inserted right after birth if you have had certain birth complications or there are concerns you may have an infection. There is also a small increased risk that the IUD will fall out when you have it inserted immediately after birth versus waiting for a few weeks.

Updates in guidelines for insertion have changed. That means you should expect a conversation about the insertion of your IUD and different medications that your provider and you can choose from to keep you comfortable and pain free. Although there may be moments of discomfort when it is placed, your comfort and pain control is very important.

Preventing pregnancy in the months after giving birth is one of the best things you can do for your and your family’s health. Making postpartum birth control plans is just another box to check off during the last weeks and months of pregnancy—you should make sure to speak with your healthcare provider about postpartum birth control if you haven’t already.

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