The Safety of an IUD During Exercise
When your doctor implants an intrauterine device to prevent pregnancy, he will provide you with after-care instructions, including when you can resume normal exercise. As soon as the IUD is in place, the FamilyDoctor website reports, you can resume swimming and your normal exercise routine. If you feel any side effects during exercise you think may be related to the IUD insertion, consult your doctor.
Features
You may feel some discomfort after the implantation procedure, which may make you choose to avoid resuming normal exercise immediately. The IUD insertion procedure takes approximately five to 10 minutes and involves your doctor placing the IUD into your uterus through your cervix. A string is left on the end of the IUD to allow you to check positioning. You may experience cramping and bleeding after the insertion, the Center for Young Women's Health notes on its website 1.
- You may feel some discomfort after the implantation procedure, which may make you choose to avoid resuming normal exercise immediately.
- The IUD insertion procedure takes approximately five to 10 minutes and involves your doctor placing the IUD into your uterus through your cervix.
Prevention/Solution
Abnormal Bleeding After a D&C
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If you feel any unusual cramping after exercise, you might want to check the position of the IUD. To do this, insert a clean finger into your vagina. The string for the IUD rests about 2 in. down from your cervix into the vagina. The string feels like a thread or a piece of fishing line. If you do not feel the string or you feel the actual IUD, contact your doctor.
- If you feel any unusual cramping after exercise, you might want to check the position of the IUD.
- To do this, insert a clean finger into your vagina.
Effects
You may feel spotting, cramping and lower back pain for as long as a few weeks after insertion. To relieve discomfort prior to exercising, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Severe cramping and heavy bleeding should be reported to your doctor.
- You may feel spotting, cramping and lower back pain for as long as a few weeks after insertion.
- To relieve discomfort prior to exercising, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Warning
Side Effects of Mirena & Copper Coils
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Any type of exercise involving electronic muscle stimulation will need to be avoided temporarily after IUD insertion; electronic muscle stimulation devices send electrical impulses to exercise the muscles. The manufacturer of Slendertone, an electronic muscle-stimulation belt, instructs its users to avoid using the product for at least a month after IUD insertion 3.
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References
- Center for Young Women's Health; Intra-Uterine Devices (IUD's); Nov. 10, 2009
- FamilyDoctor; Intrauterine Device (IUD); July 2010
- Slendertone: Instructions for Use
- Costescu DJ. Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems for long-acting contraception: current perspectives, safety, and patient counseling. Int J Womens Health. 2016;8:589-598. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S99705
- Nelson AL, Massoudi N. New developments in intrauterine device use: focus on the US. Open Access J Contracept. 2016;7:127-141. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S85755
- Yoost J. Understanding benefits and addressing misperceptions and barriers to intrauterine device access among populations in the United States. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2014;8:947-57. doi:10.2147/PPA.S45710
- Gemzell-danielsson K, Mansour D, Fiala C, Kaunitz AM, Bahamondes L. Management of pain associated with the insertion of intrauterine contraceptives. Hum Reprod Update. 2013;19(4):419-27. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmt022
- Kovacs GT. Insertion and removal of intrauterine devices. Aust Fam Physician. 1990;19(5):703-4.
- Bahamondes L, Mansour D, Fiala C, Kaunitz AM, Gemzell-danielsson K. Practical advice for avoidance of pain associated with insertion of intrauterine contraceptives. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2014;40(1):54-60. doi:10.1136/jfprhc-2013-100636
- Goldstuck ND, Wildemeersch D. Role of uterine forces in intrauterine device embedment, perforation, and expulsion. Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:735-44. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S63167
- Brima N, Akintomide H, Iguyovwe V, Mann S. A comparison of the expected and actual pain experienced by women during insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device. Open Access J Contracept. 2015;6:21-26. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S74624
- Melo J, Tschann M, Soon R, Kuwahara M, Kaneshiro B. Women's willingness and ability to feel the strings of their intrauterine device. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017;137(3):309-313. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12130
- Hubacher D, Chen PL, Park S. Side effects from the copper IUD: do they decrease over time? Contraception. 2009;79(5):356-62. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2008.11.012
- Elkhouly NI, Maher MA. Different analgesics prior to intrauterine device insertion: is there any evidence of efficacy? Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2017;1-5.
- Melo J, Tschann M, Soon R, Kuwahara M, Kaneshiro B. Women's willingness and ability to feel the strings of their intrauterine device. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017;137(3):309-313.
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