Get Smart: Most Women Misunderstand IUD as Birth Control

Here's the truth

Most women have misperceptions about the safety and effectiveness of intrauterine devices (IUDs) as a contraceptive. Now U.S. researchers are urging doctors to talk more about the benefits of the devices. According to a study, only one in five women knew that IUDs are more effective at preventing pregnancy (99 percent) than the pill (95 percent). These misperceptions lead to underuse of "one of the most safe and effective methods" of birth control, said Dr. Jeffrey Peipert, an obstetrics and gynecology professor. IUDs can be left implanted for years, and cost between $500 and $1,000, whereas birth control pills can cost between $15 and $50 a month - so they become more expensive over time. "We need to educate more primary care providers about the facts about IUDs so that they can counsel their patients," said Dr. Rebecca Allen, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Brown University. (Reuters)

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