MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Planned Parenthood encouraged teenagers to ask their doctors about IUDs or IUCs, intrauterine devices, as part of Teen Pregnancy Prevention month.
“Here in Shelby County, we’ve seen pregnancy rates and births rates for teens go down. But our birth rates in Shelby County remain 30-percent higher than teen pregnancy and birth rates in the rest of Tennessee,” Ashley Coffield of Planned Parenthood said.
That’s why they were pushing IUDs, the most affective form of birth control available, excluding abstinence.
“They are 99% affective at preventing pregnancy,” Vice President of Patient Services Tarsha Elliott said.
Many doctors used to recommended IUDs only for women who already had children, but local providers said those standards have changed.
“Research has shown that with the Mirena and with the Paraguard, they can be inserted into a patient who’s never had a pregnancy before,” Elliott said.
It’s more effective than the pill, but Elliot said some people didn’t like the idea of having an implant.
Still, she said there were very few health risks associated with IUDs.
IUDs could help prevent pregnancy anywhere from 3 to 10 years depending on the brand.
Planned Parenthood said they offer them for free.
“We know here in Shelby County we still have a lot of folks who are uninsured,” Coffield said. “So, we are offering these highly affective forms of birth control free of charge.”
While some area groups like Pinky Promise International wanted teens to abstain from sex completely, Planned Parenthood believed it’s important parents talk with their teens about safe sex practices and make sure they know to use condoms, even with an IUD, to prevent STIs.
Anyone under the age of 13 must have parental consent before receiving birth control from Planned Parenthood.
