Lorde is answering our birth control prayers

Meg started it all by bringing us hot girl summer 🔥

Charli gifted us brat summer 🍏

And now Lorde is blessing us with IUD summer 🙏🏾

Many fans have been waiting patiently for Lorde’s upcoming album, Virgin. And with the recent album art drop, we noticed one of our fave birth control methods—the IUD—makes an appearance. (But if we’re being so for real, all the birth control methods are our fave and there’s no “best” method.)

If Lorde’s album has you curious about the IUD, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a little IUD 101 to get you ready for that summer heat. 😉

What is the IUD?

The intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, flexible T-shaped birth control method made of medical-grade plastic that goes inside your uterus. The IUD mainly prevents pregnancy by making it harder for sperm to move, preventing those swimmers from reaching an egg and fertilizing it. Some IUDs also affect ovulation (releasing the egg), so there’s no egg available to be fertilized. In both cases, no fertilization = no pregnancy.

So wait, there’s more than one IUD?

Yup! You’ve got choices, babe. There are currently 5 IUDs you can get in the U.S.: Kyleena, LILETTA, Mirena, Paragard, and Skyla.

These 5 can be divided into two groups—IUDs with hormones and without. Kyleena, LILETTA, Mirena, and Skyla IUDs release a small amount of the hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy. The Paragard IUD is hormone-free—it uses a small amount of natural, safe copper to prevent pregnancy. Just keep in mind that none of the IUDs protect against STIs, so use condoms or internal condoms for that.

How well do IUDs work at preventing pregnancy, really?

The IUD works very well—it’s one of the most effective birth control methods out there. It’s over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy and super safe to use. In other words, if 100 people use an IUD, less than 1 will get pregnant in a year. The perk of a birth control method like the IUD is that it’s super easy to use. No trips to the pharmacy. Nothing you have to put in and take out of your body before sex. Just ‘round the clock protection.

How long does the IUD last?

IUDs can offer years of protection from pregnancy. How long they last depends on the type you get. Here’s the breakdown:

• Paragard: up to 12 years
• Mirena: up to 8 years
• Kyleena: up to 5 years
• LILETTA: up to 8 years
• Skyla: up to 3 years

But remember, just because they last that long doesn’t mean you have to use them for that long. You can use the IUD for whatever amount of time works for you and your life.

It can’t all be cupcakes and rainbows. What kind of side effects can I expect with the IUD?

The fact is, the IUD is super safe and, like, really really good at preventing pregnancy. But it also comes with a few potential side effects, just like any other medication.

Cramping and spotting are pretty common in the first few months, but tend to get better with time. And for a lot of people that get a hormonal IUD, many of the side effects are beneficial. Hormonal IUDs can often help with painful periods, PMS symptoms, and even make periods lighter or stop periods from coming at all.

With the non-hormonal IUD, a common side effect is heavier or longer periods. But the good news is that those symptoms often get better after a few months. Over-the-counter pain meds like Aleve (naproxen sodium) or Advil (ibuprofen) can also help.

But that insertion though…

Ok, we’re not even going to front. Having an IUD can be great, but it can also be pretty painful for some people when it’s inserted. The procedure is super quick (think 5-10 minutes), and oftentimes, people describe the feeling as similar to when you have bad cramps. It’s different for everyone. But that pain—and the fear of it—is real and worth addressing. Luckily, because people have shared their stories and firsthand experiences on social media, there’s a lot more focus on this issue. We’re now seeing more research and a greater focus on helping providers offer better ways to manage potential pain.

Your experience is valid, and you deserve to have a provider that takes your pain management concerns seriously. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for what you need for your IUD placement—and any other health care, for that matter.

What if I get the IUD and don’t like it?

No problem, bb. If you’re not vibing with the IUD, you can have it removed by a health care provider. Although it can take a few months for your body to adjust to your IUD and side effects often go away, you can get the IUD removed at any time. It is always your choice. The removal procedure is quick, easy, and often not very painful—you may feel a little cramping as it’s being removed and immediately after.

Your periods and fertility should go back to what’s normal for you after your IUD is removed. So if you don’t want to get pregnant, it’s important to use another birth control method.

And if you’re not down to join IUD summer, the good news is that there are plenty of other birth control methods out there. Check out our method explorer to find the right BC for you—just in time for summer.