Why do you have to have kids to get an IUD?

Question

Why do you have to have kids to get an IUD?

Answer 1

Ok.  I have an IUD and I've never had children.  I do live in the US.  Since I've never had kids, getting the IUD thru my cervix and into my uterus was VERY painful (the cervix had not streched from childbirth).  Also, IUD's have a risk of infection leaving you infertile.  I think those are the reasons they tell you to have kids first.  My OBGYN did not have a problem and gave me one and I've had it for 2 years.  

Answer 2

Im not sure where about you live but in the UK women who havent had children get them put in all the time.

The only reason that would really prevent a woman who had no children from having one would be that her cervix was unable to dialated to the correct size to insert the IUD (although, it is only a few mm wide and most women do not have this problem.)

If you want one I would suggest talking to your doctor about other options such as having it inserted under anasthetic, which would be painless and therefore make the ability to painlessly dilate the cervix irrelevant.

Answer 3

Yes, Im almost positive you cant put it in without having children first. Like the first answer, I think its about the opening of your cervix.

Answer 4

I wasn't aware you did.  When I was younger and wanted my tubes tied (no kids) my doctor suggested an IUD rather than a tubal in case I changed my mind and wanted kids after all.  I chose the tubal and have been extremely happy ever since.

Answer 5

I'm not 100% sure on this one, but I think it's because if you haven't had kids, it's really hard for them to get the IUD up through your cervix.  Sounds painful to me.

Answer 6

When I was young (around age 19), I wanted to have an IUD inserted.  My doctor explained to me why I could not have one:

IUDs are actually not as safe as they lead you to believe.  They can rupture your uterus and leave you infertile.