IUD

An intrauterine device created for birth control. Women wear a small piece of plastic or metal inside their uterus. It may or may not have a medicine in it (such as the progestin-releasing IUD, Mirena®). It is inserted through the cervix and has a string for its eventual removal. An IUD slightly increases menstrual flow (except for the progestin-releasing one) plus it may cause increased cramps.