I've been thinking and writing a lot about contraception
and as much as it's this social and economic issue
it really can have a huge environmental impact as well.
So right now, the absolute greenest thing that I can do
is to not have a baby until I'm 100 percent ready.
So, what's the most important thing to you about birth control?
I do not want to have any kids right now – [Okay] – but I do want the option of little Eves in the future.
Dr. Prager: Okay, then we should talk about the long-acting
reversible methods because they are
equivalent to sterilization in terms of pregnancy prevention.
Prager: So those methods are intrauterine devices
or IUDs or the contraceptive implant.
Eve: You haven't brought up birth control pills
as a long-term kind of birth control option.
Prager: You have to take a pill every single day. When you look at how birth
control pills are actually used by women versus how
IUDs and implants are actually used by women, birth control pills are 20 times
less effective at preventing pregnancy.
They are the most commonly used method of reversible contraception in the United States.
Eight years ago or so that you were first
interested in being on birth control we were just starting to see an increase
in the use of IUD's. I mean I think we can help with that
but women often listen more to their friends
and other women and they even do to their doctors so
IUDs are placed again through the cervix
into the uterus and they're these long-term devices
but it's easily removable whenever that person wants.
We have IUDs that are medicated with copper.
The implant is a four centimeter kind of rubbery-looking rod – about like that
that gets inserted under the skin and it takes about 30 seconds
Eve: Okay. My number one priority is not having a kid right now
Never thinking about my uterus
I love my uterus – I don't wanna think about it. What would you recommend
as the best method for me with me?
Prager: With the five-year levenogestrel IUD
not only does it work excellently in preventing pregnancy, but it decreases period significantly
Eve: And what are some things to know about having the IUD in you every day?
Prager: Different women react differently to having an IUD in place.
It can be crampy. Complications typically include:
Heavy bleeding, risk of infection, and then risk of damage to the uterus.
However that risk is really low. A lot of women think that they need to come in
and have a pre-visit to talk about an IUD, but we have lots and lots of data
to show that it's perfectly fine to make a decision about an IUD and have an IUD all on the same visit.
Eve: That's great! We can do it right now!
Daniel: How do you feel right now, Eve?
Eve: I'm not gonna lie. I feel a little crampy.
But honestly the whole thing took less than 10 minutes.
It was a very brief procedure.
I know that McDonald's is the opposite of a Grist-approved food institution
but I just had somebody open up my cervix and put a little piece of plastic inside of it.
I just feel like I became a woman – a woman taking control of my reproductive health and reproductive future
This is the day – the day my life changed.
Eve: I'm gonna consult Dr. Prager for how to run my affairs, in general.
Life affairs – not romantic affairs. Although, I'd take her advice there, too, honestly.
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