Is the IUD safe for you? Learn about the effectiveness, benefits, risks, and side effects of IUDs. Discover if an IUD is the right birth control option.

Is the IUD Safe?

The IUD (intrauterine device) is generally considered a very safe form of birth control for most people. However, there are certain conditions or factors that can increase the risks or make the IUD less suitable. It’s important to discuss your medical history and any concerns with your healthcare provider to determine if an IUD is the right choice for you.

Who Can Get an IUD?

Most people can safely use an IUD, but there are some situations where it may not be recommended. You may not be able to get an IUD if you:

• Have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or pelvic inflammatory disease
• Think you may be pregnant
• Have cervical or uterine cancer that has not been treated
• Have had a pelvic infection within the past 3 months after childbirth or an abortion

Additionally, you should not get a copper IUD (Paragard) if you have a copper allergy, Wilson’s disease, or a bleeding disorder. Those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be at higher risk of heavy bleeding with a copper IUD.

Hormonal IUDs like Mirena should not be used if you have had breast cancer. Those with SLE and antiphospholipid antibodies are at higher risk of blood clots with hormonal IUDs.

If you have a condition that makes IUDs unsuitable, don’t worry – there are many other effective birth control options available.

What Are the Risks of an IUD?

While serious problems with IUDs are very rare, there are some potential risks to be aware of:

• The IUD can sometimes slip out of the uterus, either partially or completely, which can lead to pregnancy
• Using a menstrual cup with an IUD can cause it to move out of place
• There is a small chance of getting pregnant even with an IUD in place, which increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy
• Insertion of the IUD can sometimes lead to a uterine perforation, where the device pushes through the uterine wall
• The IUD may become embedded in the uterine wall or break, requiring removal by a medical professional

These complications are very uncommon, but it’s important to watch for any warning signs and contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

What Are the Benefits of IUDs?

Despite the potential risks, IUDs offer several significant benefits that make them a highly effective and popular birth control option for many people:

• Extremely high effectiveness in preventing pregnancy (over 99%)
• Convenient and long-lasting – IUDs can provide protection for 3-12 years depending on the type
• No daily pill to remember
• Reversible – fertility returns to normal shortly after IUD removal
• Safe for use during breastfeeding
• May reduce menstrual cramps and bleeding for some users

What Are the Disadvantages of IUDs?

While IUDs have many advantages, there are also some potential downsides to consider:

• Irregular or heavier periods, especially with copper IUDs
• Risk of uterine perforation or device expulsion, though this is rare
• Possible increase in cramping or pain during insertion and the first few months of use
• No protection against sexually transmitted infections
• Slightly higher upfront cost compared to some other birth control methods

It’s important to weigh the pros and cons carefully to determine if an IUD is the best fit for your unique needs and preferences.

How Does IUD Removal Work?

When you’re ready to have your IUD removed, it’s a relatively simple procedure that can typically be done in your healthcare provider’s office. The removal process involves gently pulling on the IUD strings to extract the device from the uterus. This is usually quick and causes minimal discomfort. Your fertility will return to normal soon after the IUD is removed.

Types of IUDs

There are two main types of IUDs: hormonal and non-hormonal (copper).

Hormonal IUDs

Hormonal IUDs like Mirena, Kyleena, and Liletta release a small amount of the hormone progestin into the uterus. This thickens the cervical mucus to block sperm and thins the uterine lining to prevent implantation.

Non-Hormonal (Copper) IUDs

Copper IUDs like ParaGard work by releasing small amounts of copper into the uterus, which is toxic to sperm and prevents fertilization. Copper IUDs do not contain any hormones.

Is the IUD Safe? | See if the IUD is Right For You

In This Section

• IUD

• How effective are IUDs?

• How can I get an IUD?

• What’s an IUD insertion like?

• Are there IUD side effects?

• How safe are IUDs?

• What are the benefits of IUDs?

• What are the disadvantages of IUDs?

• How does IUD removal work?

• What are hormonal IUDs?

• What are non-hormonal IUDs?

The IUD is very safe for most people. Here’s how to figure out if the IUD is safe for you.

Can I get an IUD?

Most people can use IUDs safely, but there are some conditions that make side effects or complications more likely. Talk to your nurse or doctor to find out if IUDs are safe for you.

You may not be able to get an IUD if you

• have certain STDs or pelvic infection

• think you might be pregnant

• have cervical cancer that hasn’t been treated

• have cancer of the uterus

• have had a pelvic infection after either childbirth or an abortion in the past 3 months

You also shouldn’t get a Paragard IUD if you have a copper allergy, Wilson’s Disease, or a bleeding disorder that makes it hard for your blood to clot. If you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), you’re at higher risk for extra heavy bleeding on Paragard.

Don’t get a hormonal IUD if you’ve had breast cancer. If you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and you have antiphospholipid antibodies (or if you don’t know), you’re at higher risk for serious blood clots while using a hormonal IUD.

Very rarely, the size or shape of someone’s uterus makes it hard to place an IUD correctly.

If you have a condition that rules out an IUD for you, don’t worry. You’ve got lots of other birth control options.

What are the risks of an IUD?

There are possible risks with an IUD, but serious problems are really rare.

The IUD can sometimes slip out of your uterus — it can come all the way out or just a little bit. If this happens, you can get pregnant. If the IUD only comes out part of the way, a nurse or doctor has to remove it.

Don’t use a menstrual cup with an IUD. Using a menstrual cup can cause your IUD to move out of place. If you do decide to use a menstrual cup, you need to check your IUD strings monthly, and contact your nurse or doctor if your IUD strings are missing.

It’s possible — though extremely unlikely — to get pregnant even if your IUD is in the right spot. If you get pregnant, a nurse or doctor will need to remove your IUD as soon as possible. If you get pregnant with an IUD in place, there’s an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and other serious health problems.

It’s possible to get an infection if bacteria gets into your uterus when the IUD is put in. If the infection isn’t treated, it may make it harder for you to get pregnant in the future.

When the nurse or doctor puts the IUD in, it could push through the wall of your uterus. This sounds painful, but it usually doesn’t hurt. But if this happens, you may need surgery to remove the IUD. However, this is very rare.

It’s also possible for an IUD to get stuck in the wall of your uterus, and your nurse or doctor may need to use an instrument to remove it (or rarely, you may need a surgical procedure). The IUD may break, or the copper on a non-hormonal IUD may fall off  — to treat this, your nurse or doctor may just watch and wait for a while, use an instrument to remove it, or do a surgical procedure to remove it. All of these situations are very, very rare.

What warning signs should I know about?

Chances are that you’ll have no problems with your IUD. But it’s still important to pay attention to your body and how you feel after you get your IUD. Here are the warning signs to watch out for. Call your nurse or doctor right away if:

• the length of your IUD string feels shorter or longer than it was

• you can feel the hard plastic bottom of the IUD coming out through your cervix

• you think you might be pregnant

• you have bad cramping, pain, or soreness in your lower belly or stomach

• there’s pain or bleeding during sex

• you get unexplained fever, chills, or have trouble breathing

• your vaginal discharge is different than normal

• you have vaginal bleeding that is heavier than usual

If you have unprotected sex with someone who has an STD, see your nurse or doctor for any tests or treatments you may need.

Is it safe to use the IUD while breastfeeding?

Yes, it’s safe to use the IUD while you’re breastfeeding.  It shouldn’t have any effect on how much milk you produce, and it won’t hurt your baby. In fact, the IUD is a great method to use if you’re breastfeeding and you don’t want to get pregnant.

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IUD

• 99% effective

• Costs up to $1,300, but can be $0

• Put in by a doctor or nurse

• Lasts up to 12 years

This IUD doesn’t protect you from STDs. Use a condom with your IUD to help stop pregnancy and STDs.

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IUD (Intrauterine Device) Birth Control: Effectiveness & Side-Effects

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Murtaza Cassoobhoy, MD on March 09, 2023

• What Is an IUD?
• How Effective Are IUDs?
• What Are the Benefits of IUDs?
• Who Can Use Them?
• How Is an IUD Inserted?
• How to Prepare for IUD Insertion
• How Long Does IUD Insertion Take?
• Is IUD Insertion Painful?
• What Can I Expect After My IUD Insertion?
• What Not to Do After IUD Insertion
• When Can I Have Sex After IUD Insertion?
• How Soon Do IUDs Start Working?
• How Long Does an IUD Last?
• Will My Periods Change?
• Can My Partner Feel It?
• Are There Side Effects?
• Can My IUD Fall Out?
• Do IUDs Cause Abortions?
• How Much Do IUDs Cost?
• What if I Want to Have Kids in the Future?
• How Is an IUD Removed?
• More

If you’re looking into your options for birth control, one method you may want to think about is the IUD. They are long lasting, easily reversible, safe and more than 99% effective in preventing unintended pregnancy.

“IUD” stands for “intrauterine device.” Shaped like a “T” and a bit bigger than a quarter, an IUD fits inside your uterus. It prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching and fertilizing eggs.

Five types are available in the United States.

Four — Liletta, Kyleena, Mirena, and Skyla — release small amounts of the hormone progestin (levonorgestrel) into your body. It’s the same hormone used in many birth control pills. These types of IUDs tend to make your period lighter and may be a good option if you have heavy periods.

The fifth is ParaGard, also called the copper T IUD. It’s hormone-free. The copper triggers your immune system to prevent pregnancy. It can cause your periods to be heavier, especially at first. But ParaGard lasts longer than hormonal IUDs. 

Considered a long acting reversible contraceptive, IUDs along with hormonal implants are the most effective reversible method of preventing a pregnancy. With an IUD your chance of getting pregnant is less than 1%. A study in Finland showed providing free long acting reversible contraception (LARC) like the IUD or implants resulted in more LARC use and fewer abortions in the community. 

• They last a long time.
• They’re hassle-free. Once you have one inserted, you don’t have to think about it and neither does your partner.
• It’s one cost, upfront.
• They’re safe to use if you’re breastfeeding.

Read more about other benefits of birth control beyond pregnancy prevention.

Most healthy people can use an IUD. They’re especially suitable for those with one partner and who are at low risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). IUDs don’t protect against STDs. You shouldn’t use one if:

• You have an STD or had a recent pelvic infection.
• You’re pregnant.
• You have cancer of the cervix or uterus.
• You have unexplained vaginal bleeding.

You can’t use the copper IUD if you have an allergy to copper or have Wilson’s disease, which causes your body to hold too much copper.

Hormonal IUDs are considered safe unless you have liver disease, breast cancer, or are at a high risk for breast cancer.

In rare cases, the size or shape of your uterus may make it tough to place an IUD. Watch a video on the truth about IUDs and their safety.

Your doctor will insert the IUD during an office visit. You’ll lie on an exam table with your feet in stirrups. Your doctor will gently insert a speculum into your vagina to hold it open. 

The doctor will:

• Check the size and position of your uterus.
• Clean your cervix and vagina with an antiseptic liquid.
• Look for any problems with your uterus.
• Line up your cervix with your uterus.

The doctor will fold the IUD, place it into an applicator tube, then insert the tube through your cervix into your uterus. Once the IUD is in place, the IUD’s “arms” will release and the doctor will remove the applicator.

IUDs have a string at the bottom that hangs down into your cervix and vagina. The doctor will trim this string so only about an inch or two hangs into your vagina.

You can have most IUDs placed at any time in your menstrual cycle. But it may be more comfortable to have one inserted while you’re having your period. This is when your cervix is most open. Find out more on what to expect with IUD insertion.

Before you go to the doctor’s office, eat a light meal or snack so you don’t get dizzy. Also drink some water. You’ll need to give a urine sample so your doctor can make sure you’re not pregnant.

Ask your doctor if you should take a pain reliever, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, a few hours before your appointment. This may help prevent cramping during the procedure.

An IUD placement takes between 5 and 15 minutes. You may want to stay at the doctor’s office for a few minutes afterward to make sure you feel OK.

For most people, it may be uncomfortable, but shouldn’t hurt too much. You might feel some cramping when the doctor inserts your IUD. Some people get dizzy or faint when they try to stand up afterward. Lie down until you feel well enough to stand, then get up slowly.

Severe discomfort is possible, but rare. But it’s hard to predict who will have intense pain. Because of this, it’s a good idea to plan for pain relief before you get an IUD.

You can try:

Painkillers. This may include:

• Lidocaine gel or spray inside your vagina
• A numbing medication that your doctor injects around your cervix
• Pills like tramadol (ConZip, Ultram) and naproxen (Anaprox DS, Flanax, Mediproxen)

Anti-anxiety medication. Some people get nervous about their procedure. Your doctor may suggest medication such as lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol) to help calm your nerves.

Anesthesia. This medication puts you to sleep during the procedure. Your doctor may suggest it if you usually have pain during a pelvic exam. It also may help if you’ve had a painful experience with inserting IUDs or if you have chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis.

It’s normal to feel slight cramping in your uterus after your procedure (you might have mild cramps for as long as 3-6 months). Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to ease any discomfort. You can also place a heating pad or hot water bottle on your belly. If you have very painful cramps, call your doctor right away.

Irregular bleeding or spotting is common for the first few months.  Some people have it for up to 6 months after their procedure. It should ease over time. But if you have a lot of bleeding, or if it’s not getting better, call your doctor.

During the first 3 months after you get an IUD, check once a month that you can still feel the string coming out of your cervix. To find it, wash your hands and insert a finger into your vagina. The hard area at the top is your cervix. The string should stick out 1-2 inches from your cervix.

If the string feels shorter or longer than usual, your IUD may have moved. Call your doctor and use a condom or other backup birth control method to prevent pregnancy.

It’s fine to resume your normal daily activities. But don’t insert anything – including a tampon or menstrual cup – or have vaginal sex for at least 24 hours after the procedure. It’s also best to avoid baths and swimming.

Once a full day has passed, you can have vaginal sex again. Some doctors recommend waiting longer, so ask your doctor for their recommendation.

The non-hormonal ParaGard is effective as soon as it’s inserted.

If hormonal IUDs are put in during your period, they start working right away. Otherwise, this type may take up to 7 days to be effective. Use a back-up method of birth control, such as condoms, during that time.   

This depends on what kind of IUD you get.

• 3 years for Skyla
• 5 years for Kyleena
• 8 years for Liletta and Mirena
• 10 years for ParaGard

Learn more about the types of IUDs and which one is right for you.

With hormonal IUDs, many people have fewer cramps. Eventually, most who use them will have light periods or no periods at all. Pregnancies rarely happen with IUDs, but if not having a period will make you constantly worry that you’re pregnant, you may want to consider the copper IUD instead.

The copper ParaGard may make your periods heavier and cramping worse. This may go away after a few months. Read more on how to use birth control to stop your period.

Your partner shouldn’t be able to feel anything, but if they do, it will only be minor contact with the strings of the IUD. This shouldn’t cause any discomfort. The strings soften the longer you have the IUD and can be trimmed shorter.

IUDs are safe. Some side effects can occur, but most are mild. Serious problems are rare.

You’re very unlikely to get pregnant while you have an IUD. But if it happens, it raises your risk for miscarriage, infection, and early labor and delivery. It also puts you at risk for an ectopic pregnancy, when a fertilized egg implants outside of your uterus. Let your doctor know if you think you might be pregnant or if you have belly pain or vaginal bleeding.

About 1 in 10 people will get ovarian cysts in the first year after they get an IUD. They’re usually harmless and go away on their own within 3 months. But some can cause bloating, swelling, or pain in the lower belly. If a cyst ruptures, it will cause severe pain. See your doctor if you have these symptoms.

An IUD slightly raises your odds for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Signs include:

• Belly pain
• Pain during sex
• Smelly vaginal discharge
• Heavy bleeding
• Chills
• Fever

Let your doctor know about these symptoms right away. It’s important to treat PID quickly to prevent more serious problems.

It’s rare, but an IUD can poke through the wall of your uterus as your doctor puts it in. It’s called perforation. If it happens, your doctor will have to remove the device. Know more about the side effects of an IUD.

Your doctor will check your device during your regular office visits. Your cervix should hold the IUD in place, but in rare cases, it can fall all the way or part of the way out.

This is more likely if:

• You don’t have children.
• You’re under 20 years old.
• You had the IUD put in right after having a baby or after having a second-trimester abortion.
• You have fibroids in your uterus.
• Your uterus is an unusual size or shape.

IUDs are more likely to come out during your period. You may see the device on a pad or tampon. Check periodically to make sure you can feel the strings. If they feel shorter or longer or if you can feel the IUD itself pushing against your cervix, it may have moved. If this happens, contact your doctor.

No. Some people mistakenly believe that an IUD is an abortifacient, a method that terminates a pregnancy. Instead, an IUD is a contraceptive, meaning that it prevents conception in the first place.

You could use a copper IUD as an emergency contraceptive right after you’ve had sex. But it’s still not an abortifacient because it works by preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg.

Some people have been concerned that IUDs would be banned because of growing restrictions on abortion laws. But experts expect IUDs to remain legal since their purpose is to block, not end, a pregnancy.

If you have insurance through an employer, a private health plan you bought, or Medicaid, you most likely can get an IUD without any cost to you. That means you won’t have any copays or other out-of-pocket costs. That goes for not only the IUD itself, but for your doctor visits and to insert or remove the device.

Medicaid is a federal-state public insurance program for low-income people. Almost every state allows free access to both hormonal and copper IUDs.

If you don’t have insurance, the IUDs typically cost a little over $1,000 for the device alone. Some manufacturers have prescription programs that will help you get the IUD for free. Some health centers operated by Planned Parenthood and local and state governments also provide IUD insertion and removal for free or a low cost depending on your income.

Using an IUD shouldn’t affect your ability to have children later on. If you want to get pregnant, ask your doctor to take out your IUD. Your cycle should return to normal as soon as the IUD is removed. Get more information on pregnancy and IUDs.

Your doctor will take out the IUD in their office. It should only take a few minutes. You’ll put your feet in stirrups and the doctor will use forceps to slowly pull the IUD out. You may have some cramping and bleeding, but this should go away in 1-2 days. Learn more about what to expect with IUD removal.

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Birth control: what do women want?

Medaboutme. ru

May 10, 2018, 07:45 PM

© Medaboutme.ru

More than 200 years ago, long before the advent of modern contraception, on May 10, 1800, Charles Knowlton was born – the future doctor, atheist and promoter of “safe sex”. His ideas about birth control by means of contraception seemed offensive, outrageous and unacceptable to the public of the 19th century. But time shows that Knowlton was right – although in a very unexpected way, in some way even contrary to his ideas.

Video of the Day

MedAboutMe looked into citizen birth control and found out which methods really work today – if they work at all.

Children, humanity and the swing of survival

It should be noted that the mass propaganda of contraception in the time of Knowlton was just beginning, which was largely promoted by the ideas of the Englishman Thomas Malthus. The latter developed a whole demographic theory about the coming overpopulation of the planet. In his opinion, uncontrollably multiplying humanity will inevitably fall into the so-called “Malthusian trap” – this is when the population multiplies exponentially, and the scale of food production – only in arithmetic.

Malthus, being a religious man, suggested that citizens abstain from sexual intercourse in order to save humanity from a possible catastrophe. Malthus denied the use of contraceptives. But his less religious contemporaries, including Dr. Knowlton, believed that contraception should become the main method of birth control.

The activity of supporters of birth control led to the fact that at the beginning of the 20th century the National Council for Family Planning appeared in London, and in New York – the Birth Control League, on the basis of which the American Planned Parenthood Federation was later created. These organizations promoted the use of contraceptives and advocated the legalization of abortion. In the middle of the 20th century, the International Family Planning Organization was created at the expense of large businessmen, which quickly acquired branches in many countries of the world.

Against the backdrop of the baby boom of the 1960s in the United States, passions for impending overpopulation flared up with renewed vigor. Neo-Malthusians started talking about the “overpopulation bomb” and expanded the topic to include environmental issues. In 1972, the report “The Limits to Growth”, prepared by D. Meadows and his group of scientists, was published, which quickly became famous. The report was devoted to the policy of curbing the birth rate in underdeveloped countries to get them out of the “circle of poverty”.

It was in those years that China and India deployed a tough state policy of “one family – one child.” According to experts, the Chinese program has prevented the birth of 400 million children. In India, 200,000 men and almost 8.6 million women were sterilized as part of a population control program in 2011-2014 alone.

And then it turned out that overpopulation does not threaten the world. Because if in underdeveloped countries the birth rate, even under state control, remained quite high, then in developed countries and flagship states demonstrating a strong economy and excellent conditions for their citizens, the birth rate began to decline rapidly. And somewhere since the 1980-1990s, the authorities of developed countries noted with horror the progressive decline in the population and the rapid decline in the desire to have children on the part of even wealthy citizens.

Fact!

According to UN experts, even 7 years of education for women leads to a 20% reduction in fertility in poor countries. The more educated a woman is, the less likely she is to get married and the more she uses contraceptives.

Rollback: how to increase the birth rate?

In 1991, according to UN experts, in 20 countries out of 174 children were born too few. In 74 of the total number of countries, fertility was doing well, and in 80 it was estimated as overestimated. However, according to an expert in the field of oriental studies, Professor A. Lankov, today even in the poorest countries of Africa and India, the birth rate is declining. Moreover, in the latter, the birth rate today is only slightly better than in Russia.

Infanticide as a way to control the population

There was another way to reduce the number of children in the family – the murder of an infant, the birth of which in one way or another significantly worsened the situation of a woman. Infanticide did not arise from scratch. Another one and a half to two hundred years ago, women in Russia gave birth to 10-15 children, but only a few of them survived. The death of children was perceived by the poorly educated sections of the population as part of “God’s plan.” The church also added fuel to the fire, condemning extramarital relationships, especially on the part of a woman. Today, cases of neonatal homicide are rare. But do not forget that only 20 years ago, at 19In 1996, an article on the murder of a newborn by a mother was added to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

While the politicians were breaking spears and saving humanity, the population was trying to adapt to the decrees of the authorities in all possible ways. Religious institutions turned out to be unable to influence society to such an extent as to reduce a person’s natural thirst for sexual contacts to zero. Therefore, the authorities have tried to regulate other methods that directly affect fertility: contraception and abortion. And at this point, a seemingly logical sentence arises:

Limit contraception so that more and more women reproduce. Prohibit abortion so that, having conceived, a woman unconditionally gave birth.

Of course, the birth rate in a country depends not only on the availability and quality of contraceptives or abortions. For example, before the 1920s in Russia, a large number of children was beneficial, as it influenced the size of the land allotment. And in the first place in terms of number were families ranging in size from 4 to 6 people. On the second – families up to 10 people. Together, such families accounted for up to 75% of all families. But if earlier children were potential workers and helpers, today, according to scientists, children are more needed to meet the emotional needs of their parents. And for this, 1-2 children are enough.

Another significant factor is the attitude towards marriage. In the same 1920s, more than 70% of married men and more than 80% of married women were under 24 years old. At the same time, divorces were rare, and illegitimate children were born infrequently. For comparison: in the first months of 2018, 92 divorces were registered per 100 marriages.

Finally, material issues also play a role – where to live and what to grow on … However, even with regard to direct methods of influencing the birth rate, statistics say that everything is not so simple.

Abortion and birth control

Abortion, despite improvements in contraception, is still a fairly popular method of birth control. Only half of women who have children have never had an abortion. At the same time, a quarter of the world’s population lives in countries where abortion is prohibited, just over 60% live in countries where abortion is a regular medical service, and the rest can have an abortion under certain conditions.

The Soviet Union is a visual aid to the effect of abortion on fertility. During the last century, our country managed to allow abortion, prohibit it and allow it again with certain restrictions.

So, the RSFSR became the first country to legally allow abortion back in 1920, but from 1936 to 1955 a ban on this procedure was again introduced, except for abortions for medical reasons. Statistics show that the positive effect of the criminalization of abortion in the form of a reduction in their number and an increase in births was very short-lived. Already in 1937, the number of abortions began to grow, and a significant part of them remained outside the statistics, as they were carried out illegally. As a result, the mortality rate among women who decided to have an abortion, as well as the level of infanticide, has rapidly increased.

Infanticide as a method of population control

Infanticide is the killing of an infant, the birth of which in one way or another significantly worsened the situation of a woman. Infanticide did not arise from scratch. Another one and a half to two hundred years ago, women in Russia gave birth to 10-15 children, but only a few of them survived. The death of children was perceived by the poorly educated sections of the population as part of “God’s plan.” The church also added fuel to the fire, condemning extramarital relationships, especially on the part of a woman. Today, cases of neonatal homicide are rare. But do not forget that only 20 years ago, at 19In 1996, an article on the murder of a newborn by a mother was added to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Even after abortion was legislated, it was still a “popular” method of birth control for a long time. This is explained by the fact that contraceptives 50-60 years ago in our country were in short supply and not of the highest quality.

Fact!

The history of the evolution of contraceptives and early delivery methods is not a read for the faint of heart. Rubber condoms look like an overachievement of human civilization compared to various methods of preventing pregnancy and provoking miscarriage. Tinctures and decoctions used for these purposes often led to severe pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. Mechanical methods (lifting weights, jumping from a height, etc.) were far from always effective. Tampons, sponges, douching and instillation of special powders often caused infertility if the woman did not die from heavy bleeding.

The situation improved significantly in the late 1990s, when high-quality contraceptives flooded into the country in sufficient quantities to provide them to all those in need. So, back in 1998, 4.6 million abortions were performed in Russia, and in 2003 this figure fell three times – to 1.7 million. In recent years, the number of abortions in Russia continues to decline and today is about 1 million cases per year.

So, has the ban on abortion succeeded in increasing the birth rate? Unfortunately no. Rather, the opposite effect was achieved. The outright ban on abortion has led women to turn to underground doctors. The number of complications, cases of infertility after such procedures has increased. Thus, the method of restricting abortion cannot be considered an effective method of birth control.

Contraception: birth restriction or stimulation?

In the last 10 years, the birth rate in our country has been steadily declining. Last year, according to Rosstat, this figure was 11% lower than in 2016. This is largely the result of a decline in the birth rate in the 1990s. In addition, according to experts, in the next 15 years the number of Russian women of childbearing age will decrease by 28%. So the number of births, at best, will remain at the same level, and at worst, it will continue to decline in order to reach another minimum.

At the same time, the head of the Center for Human Demography and Ecology A.G. Vishnevsky is sure that there is no clear connection between the growing popularity of contraception and the decline in the birth rate. So, according to him, today the birth rate in Russia is about the same as in Germany. However, the proportion of abortions in our country is an order of magnitude (10 times) higher than that of the Germans.

Doctors emphasize that third-generation contraceptives are effective and safe. A maximum of 3 months after the start of their intake, the body fully adapts to hormonal replenishment and various side effects disappear. Modern drugs give a woman the opportunity to regulate her family life on a more subtle level. And in this regard, contraception not only does not reduce the birth rate, but, on the contrary, contributes to it. Because the child is desired, planned, conceived by a healthy woman, whose body has not experienced abortions, this is an increased likelihood that he will grow up as a healthy person.

What prevents childbirth?

The number of abortions is declining, and a woman’s ability to plan a pregnancy is growing. What’s stopping you from increasing the birth rate? Most likely, we should talk about a combination of factors.

In recent years, due to the increasing influence of the church in solving social issues, various restrictions are gradually being introduced in this area – so far uncritical and so far only valid in certain regions: “week of silence”, educational lectures, demonstration ultrasounds with listening to the fetal heartbeat, etc. It looks like the “swing” is slowly but surely moving back. Increasingly, there are calls for tougher restrictions on abortion, if not a re-ban. Such an attitude does not in any way contribute to the calmness and confidence in the future of potential expectant mothers.

A few “windows of life” are criticized – baby boxes, devices at maternity hospitals, where a woman can anonymously leave a child whom she cannot raise for some reason. This method of combating the manifestations of infanticide has positively proven itself not only in other countries, but also in Russia. But officials see it as a threat to the birth rate.

Despite the growing financial support of young parents, the unstable situation in our country is also not conducive to acquiring offspring. The Russians still do not seek to increase the birth rate.

Finally, the childfree movement is expanding in the country – today already 6% of our compatriots deliberately refuse to have children (back in 2005 this figure was zero).

It seems that experts’ forecasts for the coming years will come true in full measure. One thing is for sure: in the first place in the matter of birth control should be the freedom of choice of a woman as a potential mother. And it doesn’t matter what it is about: abortion or contraceptives. Confidence in yourself and your future can be an impetus for procreation.

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Other, Thomas Malthus

The Ministry of Labor announced the impossibility of increasing the population due to the birth rate – RBC

According to the head of the department, in the coming years in Russia the number of women of reproductive age will decrease by more than a quarter and the situation with the birth rate in the country will not improve

Photo: Anton Belitsky / Kommersant

Russia’s birth rate is not enough to support population growth, and the situation will only get worse in the coming years, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Maxim Topilin warned.

“The birth rate today is not the factor, not the tool, and not the element of demographic policy that an increase in the population can give,” the minister said (quoted by RIA Novosti) at the forum of the All-Russian Popular Front (ONF).

According to Topilin, in the coming years the number of women of childbearing age living in Russia will decrease by a quarter or even more.

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“The number of women of reproductive age will decrease by 28% by 2032 or 2035. It is unfortunate to assume that in this situation the absolute number of births will remain at the level of 1.8–1.9 million,” Topilin said.

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At the same time, the minister stressed that in terms of the birth rate, Russia is still “in a very good situation in relation to the developed European countries”, which cannot be said about the death rate.

“If we fail to reduce the death rate to 1.5 million people a year in the short term, we will not achieve any results in terms of natural increase,” the minister added.

In 2016, according to Rosstat, approximately 1.89 million people died in Russia. Compared with the previous year, the death rate slightly decreased (in 2015 there were 1.9 million deaths), but despite this, the natural increase in the country’s population for the first time in three years was replaced by a decrease due to a noticeable decrease in the birth rate (from 1.94 million to 1.888 million).

In mid-June 2017, Putin called on the authorities not to be greedy when pursuing a policy aimed at stimulating the birth rate. The statement was made against the backdrop of a deteriorating demographic situation – in January-May 2017 alone, the natural population decline due to the excess of deaths over births amounted to 111.8 thousand people, which was almost three times higher than the natural decline in the first five months of 2016 (41.6 thousand).

According to the results of January-September 2017, the natural decline in the population of Russia, according to Rosstat, amounted to 106. 2 thousand people, and in the first nine months of 2016, the number of births exceeded the number of deaths by 18.2 thousand people. The main reason for the change in trend was a sharp decline in the birth rate, year-on-year, the number of newborns decreased by almost 164 thousand people. In general, in Russia in January-September 2017, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births by 8.3%, and in some regions, the death rate exceeded the birth rate by 1.5-1.8 times.

At the end of September, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development, Maxim Oreshkin, called the demographic situation in Russia one of the most difficult in the world, warning that in the next five or six years Russia would annually lose about 800 thousand people, classified by statistics as the able-bodied population.

At the end of November, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “reset” of Russia’s “demographic development” policy, announcing the introduction in 2018 of monthly payments to families in which the first child was born.