Feminism has always instructed us that the personal is political. The political is also personal. Under Donald Trump, women must take seriously the possibility of being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term. Anti-choice advocates are diligently working to ensure that the right case makes it to the Supreme Court and that, by the time it does, the Court is packed with anti-choice justices. For the first time in a generation, women could lose the right to abortion. And they’re turning to intrauterine devices (IUD) to fight back
In the aftermath of the Trump election, interest in IUDs, a semipermanent form of birth control, surged. In private women’s groups, Pantsuit Nation discussions, and conversations with friends, women shared their experiences with IUDs and recommended the most qualified providers. This early anecdotal data suggested that there might be a boon in IUD use under Trump.
New data suggests that the interest in IUDs isn’t merely anecdotal. Women really are concerned about losing control over their bodies. Using semipermanent birth control to prevent forced parenthood might seem like something out of The Handmaid’s Tale, but it’s just one among a number of depressing realities women face in Trump’s America.
Skyrocketing Interest in IUDs Under Trump
When political winds shift, women select their birth control methods accordingly. According to the Guttmacher Institute, use of long-acting contraceptives such as IUDs grew from 2% in 2002 to 12% in 2012. An NPR report surveyed Planned Parenthood locations across the country, and found an unprecedented increase in calls about IUDs. An Athenahealth analysis found a 19% increase in IUD visits to the Athena network of providers. This marks the first increase in IUD visits in five years.
What You Need to Know About IUDs
The sad legacy of the Dalkon Shield, an older IUD that injured thousands of women, is that many women are afraid of IUDs. Today’s IUDs are safer than ever. They’re safe to use while breastfeeding, and side effects are extremely uncommon. When women do experience side effects, an IUD can be removed with a quick medical visit.
A single IUD may be enough to get you through a Trump administration—and possibly even two terms. Hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy by secreting low levels of progestin. It works similarly to oral contraceptives, but is much more effective. Hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy for 3-6 years, or until they are removed. Another form of IUD produces inflammation that makes it nearly impossible for an egg to implant in the uterus.
IUD users are more satisfied with their contraceptive than users of any other contraceptive. They’re also more likely to keep using their IUD, suggesting that for most women, side effects are either nonexistent or very tolerable.
The IUD failure rate is just 0.2%. This means that the only forms of birth control more effective than an IUD are abstinence and sterilization.
Get One While You Can
The first year of the Trump administration has normalized much that seemed impossible. We have a president who likely can’t identify the role of Congress. The unlucky instructor charged with teaching Trump the Constitution says he couldn’t get past the Fourth Amendment. Major policy changes occur on a Twitter rant-fueled whim. So a reduction in access to contraceptives—particularly contraceptives funded through insurance—no longer seems so far-fetched.
Many abortion clinics also provide reproductive health services, including IUD insertion. You can find a clinic in your state here.
A doctor’s skill at inserting an IUD may determine whether the process is quick and painless, or drawn out and painful. So consider asking a friend about their experience. Ask the provider what you can expect, and read reviews before you go. You have a right to respectful and comfortable healthcare regardless of your income, so if something hurts, ask the doctor to stop. Long-acting birth control doesn’t have to be painful or scary.