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I had an IUD inserted about 5 months ago. Up until now my partner and I have still been using condoms just to be safe. How risky is it to not use condoms and to completely rely on my IUD to prevent pregnancy when my partner ejaculates inside of me?

The Paragard IUD is effective immediately after it’s inserted. The Mirena IUD is effective immediately if it’s inserted within seven days after the start of your period — if it’s inserted any time after that, you’ll need to use a backup method of birth control for seven days. So either way, it’s safe to say that at this point, you can absolutely depend on your IUD to prevent pregnancy.

The IUD is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, making it one of the most effective forms of birth control around. Since the IUD is inserted by a health care provider and can stay in for years, you can’t forget to use it or use it incorrectly — factors that can make other birth control methods less effective.

One more thing: the IUD protects you from pregnancy, but it doesn’t protect you from STDs. Condoms are the only form of birth control that also protects you from STDs. So even if you have an IUD, it’s still a really good idea to keep using condoms.

Tags: IUD, condoms, unprotected sex

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