Are Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) Safe for Teenagers?

Intrauterine devices (IUD) are small, flexible, T-shaped birth control devices. They’re inserted into the uterus by a doctor, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). IUDs are one of the most effective forms of birth control available.  

Studies show that people report being very happy with their choice to use an IUD. Not only are IUDs easy to use, but they’re also very effective at preventing pregnancy and last for several years. More people, including young adults and teens, are wondering if IUDs could be the right choice for them. Fortunately, there’s clear evidence on whether IUDs are safe for teens. Here’s what you should know as you make a decision about IUDs.

Are IUDs safe for teens? 

Yes. IUDs are safe for adolescents and have low risk for complications. 

In fact, experts agree that long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are the number one choice for teen contraception and pregnancy prevention. LARCs include copper IUDs, hormonal IUDs, and Nexplanon implants.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that it’s appropriate for teens to use IUDs. They also note that LARCs are the best method to prevent pregnancy and offer other benefits like improving heavy menstrual bleeding and cramps (dysmenorrhea).

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also support LARCs as the first choice contraceptive for adolescents. 

In the past, experts recommended against using IUD for contraception if you hadn’t already gone through childbirth. But these recommendations changed almost 20 years ago. Now experts agree that you can get an IUD at any age, regardless of whether you’ve given birth. 

IUD insertion is not more painful or difficult for teens. And teens are not at higher risk for complications like IUD movement (expulsion). 

Why are IUDs a good option for teens?

LARCs, including the IUD, are a great option for teens for several reasons:

• You don’t need to remember to take it. Teens don’t have to remember to do anything in order for an IUD to work. Once an IUD is placed, it starts working right away and continues to work for years. Teens don’t have to remember to take a pill each day or get a shot each month in order to prevent pregnancy. This makes an IUD easier and more convenient than other options.  

• IUDs work better than some other birth control methods. IUDs are one of the most effective methods of birth control. They are 99% effective against preventing pregnancy. Other types of birth control can reach 99% effectiveness with perfect use. But IUDs are perfect on their own, they don’t depend on you to work. 

• They offer long-lasting protection. Copper IUDs work for 10 to 12 years and the levonorgestrel IUD works for 3 to 8 years. That means most teens only need one IUD placement during their adolescence. By the time the IUD reaches the end of its lifespan, teens have grown into young adults who may be ready to take new directions when it comes to contraception. 

• They can help with cramping and heavy bleeding. IUDs can help treat dysmenorrhea (cramping) and menorrhagia (heavy bleeding). But it’s important to point out that it can take a while to see these effects. Teens may experience more pain or cramping during their first cycle after placement. They might also experience changes in their bleeding patterns. Copper IUDs can cause heavier bleeding at first, but this gets better over time. Levonorgestrel IUDs can cause irregular bleeding, less bleeding, or bleeding over time.  

IUDs are safe for most teens. But some teens cannot get IUDs. You cannot get an IUD if:

• You’re already pregnant.

• You have fibroids or another condition that changes the shape of the inside of your uterus.

• You have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), vaginal or cervical infections and haven’t yet started treatment.

• You have certain types of cancer.

When should a teen get an IUD?

Teens can get an IUD as soon as they start their periods, according to ACOG. In studies, IUDs were safe and effective in teens as young as 13 years old. And most teens are happy with their choice to use an IUD. 

Both ACOG and the AAP recommend offering teens a “quick-start” method. This means that teens should be offered IUD placement on the day they visit their doctor’s office. IUDs can be placed at any point in the menstrual cycle. So there’s no reason to wait until a specific day to place the IUD. 

Teens should know that they do need to get a pelvic exam in order to have an IUD placed. They also will need to take a pregnancy test to make sure they’re not pregnant before having their IUD placed. Teens should also be aware that IUDs cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) so they’ll need to use condoms, too. 

Where can a teen get an IUD?

Teens can get an IUD from any healthcare professional who’s trained to place and remove IUDs. This includes gynecologists, family medicine physicians, pediatricians, and adolescent medicine physicians. Many physician assistants and advanced nurse practitioners are trained to place IUDs, too. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jennifer Sample, MD

After a fellowship, Dr. Sample worked as the medical director at the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Center (The University Of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center), which served the state of Kansas for poison exposures. In 2007, she returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, as a consultant in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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