THE DOCTOR IS IN The Truth About IUDs

The benefits of these small but mighty devices go beyond birth control.

- LAUREN STREICHER, M.D.

For more than 100 years, women have had small gadgets placed in their uteruses to prevent pregnancies. Today, intrauterine devices (IUDs) not only provide excellent "set it and forget it" reversible contraception but also, depending on the IUD, may lead to other benefits such as lighter periods, fewer cramps, better-controlled endometriosis, and even reduced risk of uterine cancer. But social media has disseminated some unfortunate inaccuracies about them, so I'm happy to set the record straight here.

Ectopic pregnancies aren't caused by IUDs.