Why More Women May Be Turning To This IUD For Birth Control

Brought to you by the maker of LILETTA® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) 52 mg.

When you first become sexually active, everything feels new and exciting — much like when you finally start dating your longtime crush, and each moment with them feels more thrilling than the last. Before diving in though, you may want to figure out a birth control plan that can help prevent pregnancies. (Better safe than sorry, as they say.) Like almost anything, the method of contraception you pick comes down to personal preference and your medical history. For instance, while some might not mind taking a pill daily, those looking for a long-term option may consider using an intrauterine system (IUS) — also commonly known as an intrauterine device (IUD) — which is a small, T-shaped device that is placed in the uterus by your healthcare provider to prevent pregnancy for up to several years.

We're here to tell you a little more specifically about LILETTA (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) 52 mg: the first hormonal IUD approved in the U.S. for pregnancy prevention for up to six years. Keep reading for the lowdown, including Important Risk Information below.

What is LILETTA (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system)?

There are two types of IUDs: non-hormonal and hormonal. LILETTA falls in the latter category. It’s a small, flexible, plastic T-shaped device that’s inserted into the uterus by a healthcare provider to help prevent pregnancy by slowly releasing 52 mg of a progestin hormone (known as levonorgestrel) into the body. This is the same hormone that’s often used in birth control pills. LILETTA may work in several different ways, including thickening cervical mucus, hindering sperm movement, minimizing sperm survival, and thinning the lining of the uterus. However, it is not known exactly how these actions work together to prevent pregnancy.

Once inserted, LILETTA can stay in the body for up to six years and is proven to be over 99% effective for pregnancy prevention. With plentiful birth control options at your fingertips, why should you talk to your doctor about LILETTA? Well, there are a few factors to take into consideration.

It’s An Option Whether Or Not You’ve Had Children

It can be used whether or not you’ve given birth, making it an accessible option for women and vagina-owners of all childbearing ages. Of course, not every woman will be a candidate for an IUD, so your healthcare provider will have to evaluate you and determine if it's appropriate. For example, LILETTA should not be used in women who are or may be pregnant, have a pelvic infection (like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or endometritis), untreated genital infection, certain cancers, unexplained vaginal bleeding, fibroids, or short-term liver disease, get infections easily, or are allergic to its ingredients.

LILETTA is also FDA-approved to prevent pregnancy for up to six years, with one-year failure rates at less than 1%. This means it gives you the option to prevent pregnancy long-term if that’s your goal.

It’s Reversible

LILETTA is also a reversible form of birth control that can be removed at any time by your healthcare provider, which allows you to be flexible and have it taken out whenever you decide the time is right. It must be removed after six years though, at which time you can have a new LILETTA inserted if you like. As soon as LILETTA is removed, you could become pregnant, so you should choose another method of contraception if you don't want to get pregnant. Make sure to have an open conversation with your healthcare provider because your new method may need to be started seven days before LILETTA is removed to prevent pregnancy.

You Won’t Have To Take Anything Daily

If you’re someone who either doesn’t like swallowing pills or tends to be forgetful about taking them, LILETTA may be an option for you to consider. Despite not needing to do anything on a daily basis, you should be checking to feel for the threads every month to ensure that LILETTA is in the right position. If you feel more than just the threads or if you can't feel the threads at all, LILETTA may not be in the proper position and may not prevent pregnancy. You should use non-hormonal back-up birth control (such as condoms and spermicide) and ask your healthcare provider to check that LILETTA is still in the right place.

So, What Should I Do Before Considering LILETTA?

The process of picking out a method of contraception can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. First and foremost, before choosing LILETTA, consult your healthcare provider to determine if you’re an appropriate candidate. This way, you can also share any concerns you might have and get all of your questions answered before making any big decisions. If you get the green light, be aware that some women have reported painful insertion experiences, and that you could experience increased bleeding, spotting and/or cramping after getting a hormonal IUD like LILETTA during the first three to six months. However, after using LILETTA for a while, some women reported having lighter than usual periods, although they may remain irregular. It’s also crucial to know that LILETTA is not a replacement for condoms and won’t prevent the spread of HIV, AIDS, or any other sexually transmitted diseases.

What To Expect With LILETTA

If you do end up deciding on LILETTA, it can be inserted by your healthcare provider during a routine office visit. First, they’ll examine your pelvis to find your uterus, and then they’ll prepare your uterus and vagina for placement of the IUD before inserting it and trimming the threads to the proper length. Possible side effects during and after insertion include pain, bleeding, or dizziness. It's important to let your healthcare provider know if these symptoms do not stop within 30 minutes after LILETTA is inserted because it's possible that it may not have been placed correctly, or these could be symptoms of perforation or expulsion. Your healthcare provider will determine if LILETTA needs to be removed or replaced.

After insertion, you should ask your doctor to show you how to check that LILETTA is in place. They’ll then teach you how to feel for the threads; this is a practice that should be done at least once a month to ensure it’s properly positioned. You should ask your healthcare provider to check that LILETTA is still in the right place if you feel more than just the threads or if you cannot feel them. If LILETTA is not in the right position, it may not prevent pregnancy.

Possible common side effects both during and after insertion include pain, bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. If you experience any of these adverse effects, alert your doctor right away.

For the first few months after getting LILETTA, you may notice your period will become more unpredictable, whether it be more bleeding than usual, frequent spotting, or light bleeding and increased cramping. It’s worth noting that some women may have heavy bleeding during this period. Over time though, this may change. For some women, menstrual periods will stop altogether. In fact, in the LILETTA clinical trial, 19% of women experienced no periods after a year of using LILETTA, and this increased to 40% of women at the end of the sixth year of use. When and if LILETTA is removed, your period will likely return back to its normal pattern.

Are There Any Side Effects?

As with any form of birth control, there are potential side effects, some of which can be serious. For example, pelvic infections (like PID or endometritis) can occur, so tell your healthcare provider right away if you have long-lasting or heavy bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge, low abdominal pain, painful sex, chills, or fever. And, if LILETTA comes out of the uterus (expulsion), tell your healthcare provider and use back-up birth control. LILETTA may also attach to (become embedded) or go through the wall of the uterus (perforate) and cause other problems. Some of the most common side effects include yeast infections and acne. More than 10% of users experienced nausea or vomiting while on LILETTA. You can read more Important Risk Information below or on Liletta's website, which has a ton of info on what to expect.

While all of that was a lot of information, actually having birth control options to choose from that may fit your lifestyle and needs is exciting. As soon as you start being sexually active, consult your doctor to find out what method of birth control may be appropriate for you. It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed by the myriad options available, but once you sit down with your doctor and talk through it all, you’ll likely feel much more in control.

IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION

Do not use LILETTA if you:

- Are or might be pregnant; LILETTA cannot be used as an emergency contraceptive

- Have a serious pelvic infection called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or endometritis unless you have had a normal pregnancy after the infection went away (PID occurs in less than 1% of users)

- Have an untreated lower genital infection now

- Have had an infection from an abortion within the last 3 months

- Can get infections easily; for example, if you:

• Have problems with your immune system
• Have multiple sexual partners or your partner has multiple sexual partners
• Use or abuse intravenous drugs

- Have or suspect you might have cancer of the uterus or cervix

- Have bleeding from the vagina that has not been explained

- Have short-term (acute) liver disease or liver tumor

- Have breast cancer or any other cancer that is sensitive to progestin (a female hormone), now or in the past

- Have an intrauterine system (IUS) in your uterus already

- Have a condition of the uterus that changes the shape of the uterine cavity, such as large fibroid tumors

- Are allergic to levonorgestrel, silicone, polyethylene, or barium sulfate

Call your healthcare provider right away if you think you are pregnant. If you get pregnant while using LILETTA, you may have an ectopic pregnancy, which means the pregnancy is not in the uterus. Unusual vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain especially with missed periods may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding. There are also risks if you get pregnant while using LILETTA and the pregnancy is in the uterus. Severe infection and premature labor or delivery can occur with pregnancies that continue with an IUS

Although uncommon, pregnancy while using LILETTA can be life-threatening and may result in loss of pregnancy or fertility

Bleeding and spotting may increase in the first 3 to 6 months and remain irregular. Periods over time usually become shorter, lighter or may stop

Life-threatening infection can occur within the first few days after LILETTA is placed. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop severe pain or fever shortly after LILETTA is placed

Some IUS users get a serious pelvic infection called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or endometritis. These are usually sexually transmitted. You have a higher chance of getting PID or endometritis if you or your partner has sex with other partners. PID or endometritis can cause serious problems such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy or pelvic pain that does not go away. More serious cases of PID or endometritis may require surgery. Removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) is sometimes needed. In rare cases, infections that start as PID or endometritis can even cause death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these signs of PID or endometritis: long-lasting or heavy bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge, low abdominal pain, painful sex, chills, or fever

LILETTA may partially go into (become embedded) or go completely through (perforate) the wall of the uterus. If perforation occurs, LILETTA may move outside the uterus and can cause internal scarring, infection, or damage to other organs. You may need surgery to have LILETTA removed if it is embedded or perforation occurs. Risk of perforation is increased in breastfeeding women

LILETTA may come out of your uterus (expulsion). Expulsion occurs in about 4 out of 100 women, most often in the first year of use. You may become pregnant if LILETTA comes out. If you think that LILETTA has come out, use another birth control method like condoms and spermicide or do not have sex (vaginal intercourse) until you are seen by a healthcare provider

Ovarian cysts may occur but usually disappear

LILETTA does not protect against HIV or STDs.

INDICATION

LILETTA® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system) 52 mg is a hormone-releasing system placed in your uterus to prevent pregnancy for as long as you want for up to 6 years.

Available by prescription only.

Please also see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for LILETTA: https://media.allergan.com/actavis/actavis/media/allergan-pdf-documents/product-prescribing/liletta_pi.pdf