It’s no secret that IUDs are among the most effective birth-control option today. However, while their popularity is going every day, IUDs are still not the first choice for many women today. While it’s completely natural to be a little skeptic before taking such a big decision for your body, falling for some myths isn’t also very beneficial in the long run.

And that’s what we believe is something which is holding women from getting an IUD for themselves. In our recent interactions with women from different regions of Canada, we asked them about the reasons why they were not willing to use IUDs in place of conventional birth control options.

While a few answers were definitely insightful (we will cover them in another piece), most of them were directly influenced by a series of hoaxes and myths that are spread across the internet. So, in response, we have decided to unfold all these myths with the help of fact-checking. Here are all the myths surrounding IUDs along with their respective factual accuracy.

Myth 1: Non-Hormonal IUDs Are Not As Effective As Progesterone IUDs.

Fact: Technically, that’s true to some extent, but the way the claim is exaggerated so as to make non-hormonal IUDs look completely ineffective is incorrect. Both the IUDs have an effectiveness of over 99% and the difference lies only by a negligible margin.

While copper IUDs are about 99.2% effective, their progesterone counterparts are only slightly better at 99.6%. In any case, both are as error-free as any birth control option can get today.

Myth 2: IUDs are a Permanent and non-reversible Birth Control Option.

Fact: Completely false. In fact, IUDs provide a very flexible option for birth control for women of all ages. Just as an example, the Mona Lisa IUD comes in four separate variants for women in different stages of their lives.

While the Mona Lisa N is suited for nulliparous women and provides birth control up to three years, the Mona Lisa 10 is recommended for those who have completed their families and are looking for a long-term birth control option. Besides, all these options can be removed at any time without any problems and have no effect on your fertility.

Myth 3: IUDs cause infections.

Fact: While some early versions of IUDs back in the 70s did have a few cases of infection, the ones that are currently in the market are completely safe and have been passed by various health organizations from around the world. You can be rest assured there’s not going to be any problem related to infection with any of the modern IUDs, whether it’s hormonal or non-hormonal.

Myth 4: IUD Insertion is an Extremely Painful Process

Fact: Not more painful than a heavy period cramp, that’s all. Some claim that it’s as painful as childbirth, and that’s just blowing it way out of proportion. Of course, insertion of any new substance in the body can be a bit discomforting for a while, but there’s nothing serious that a small dosage of ibuprofen can’t suppress.

Myth 5: Your Partner Can Feel the IUD Inside You

Fact: Even if a myth as dumb as this manages to make rounds around people, it becomes necessary to address it for the sake of spreading the truth. If you’ve heard this directly from someone who is using an IUD right now, then let us explain it to you in brief.

Copper IUD is placed way inside the uterus, and there’s NO WAY your partner could make it that far. People who claim to have felt it are actually coming in contact with the tail string. Don’t worry, that can also be trimmed if you want.

While there were some other queries and concerns with IUDs, most of them were directly or indirectly related to the myths that we’ve busted above. What other myths are popular among your group that isn’t mentioned here? Do let us know in the comments and we will try to answer as many as possible.