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By Mayo Clinic staffYour health care provider will evaluate your overall health and do a pelvic exam before inserting ParaGard. He or she may also recommend screening for STIs. You can have ParaGard inserted anytime during a normal menstrual cycle if you've been consistently using another birth control method or you haven't had sex since your last period. If you're breast-feeding, have irregular periods or haven't been consistently using birth control, you may need to take a pregnancy test before ParaGard is inserted or have it inserted during a period.
Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), one to two hours before the procedure can help reduce cramping.
- Dean G, et al. Approach to intrauterine contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Kottke M. Nondaily contraceptive options: User benefits, potential for high continuation and counseling issues. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 2008;63:661.
- Dean G, et al. Management of problems related to intrauterine contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Carusi DA, et al. Insertion and removal of an intrauterine contraceptive device. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- ParaGard (prescribing information). Pomona, N.Y.: Duramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2006. http://www.paragard.com. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- The intrauterine device. http://www.acog.org/publications/faq/faq014.cfm. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Intrauterine contraceptives. In: Zieman M, et al. A Pocket Guide to Managing Contraception. Tiger, Ga.: Bridging the Gap Communications; 2010:82.
- Birth control methods fact sheet. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/birth-control-methods.cfm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Emergency contraception. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/faq/faq114.cfm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2011.
- Castellsague X, et al. Intrauterine device use, cervical infection with human papillomavirus, and risk of cervical cancer: A pooled analysis of 26 epidemiological studies. The Lancet Oncology. 2011;12:1023.
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