IUD Side Effects

IUD Side Effects

There are two types of IUD’s:

Hormonal
Made of plastic with progesterone which is slowly released at low levels into the lining of the uterus which thickens the lining of the cervical mucous making it difficult for the sperm to fertilize the egg and can also prevent the release of an egg from the ovaries.

Most common side effects: Similar to the birth control pill, side effects include:

  • Breast tenderness
  • Mood swings
  • Acne
  • Headaches

Copper with plastic
The copper destroys sperm and prevents fertilization of the egg

Most common side effects:

  • Menstrual cramps
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Bladder infections

How Chinese Medicine Helps with Side Effects

Chinese medicine has become a popular choice for dealing with side effects for other medical treatments, most notably for cancer treatment side effects. There are a number of respected studies demonstrating the success of this. The same principals can apply to side effects caused by an IUD.

When looking at the body from the viewpoint of Chinese medicine, it doesn’t matter why negative symptoms are happening, for example from a drug treatment, poor diet or in this case an IUD. What matters are the presenting symptoms and how that translates into a pattern of disharmony in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theory. When a treatment causes an imbalance, that imbalance is identified and can be treated with a number of different methods, most commonly acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Treatments Available at Herb Fragrance

Internal Medicine: Herbal medicine can rebalance the body to correct underlying imbalances. Herbs are available in powders, pills and decoctions which we can cook or can be cooked at home.
Herbal medicine is taken daily until the symptoms have cleared, usually for 3 months, and possibly longer for long standing issues.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture regulates the body and any imbalances that are causing negatives side effects.
Acupuncture is done 1-2 times per week until the pain has relieved and the desired effect is achieved.

Heat Lamp: An infrared heating lamp is an added tool used during acupuncture treatments, it is especially beneficial for cases involving cold.