Hesitant about IUDs? Two women share contrasting experiences with long-acting contraception

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), like IUDs and Implanon, are gaining attention, yet uptake in Australia lags significantly behind European countries. While over 30% of women in the UK and other European nations use LARCs, the figure in Australia is just over 10%.

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I have a bit of a personal reluctance, I guess.

Yasmine Cumming, 25, initially hesitated to try a LARC after six years on the contraceptive pill, which had negatively affected her mood. After trying various pills without success, doctors recommended LARCs. Despite initial reluctance due to a lack of peer advice, Yasmine has used a LARC for three to four years. She describes the first month as "quite rough" but now calls it the "best decision" she ever made, noting the absence of periods and associated pain, and that the device is "out of sight, out of mind."

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I'm scared of what the cost would be for me personally, just from an emotional perspective.

In contrast, Alice Gibney, 37, a mother of two, expresses significant reluctance towards LARCs. Having experienced mood stability issues with the pill in her youth, and managing ADHD and autism, she fears hormonal contraceptives could negatively impact her emotional well-being. "I'm scared of what the cost would be for me personally, just from an emotional perspective," she stated.

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I was a little bit hesitant.

Experts like Danielle Mazza, a women's health professor at Monash University, point to misconceptions and disinformation as major barriers to LARC adoption in Australia. The Australian government is attempting to improve accessibility and affordability through funding for bulk-billed specialist LARC centers. However, personal concerns, access issues, and a preference for other methods like the pill contribute to the lower adoption rates compared to international benchmarks.

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I've had no problems. Wouldn't even know it's there.