Skyla

Skyla – IUD – Birth Control

Like the Mirena, the Skyla IUD is a soft, plastic, T-shaped device that contains the same type of hormone. Board-certified Newburgh doctors, Basinski and Juran, insert the device in their office within minutes. The difference between Mirena and Skyla is that the Skyla is slightly smaller, has slightly less hormone, and the tube used to place it inside the uterus is slightly smaller. These differences are intended to make Skyla more comfortable to insert and use, especially for women who have never had a child.

While the Mirena has been shown to be safe and effective for women who have never been pregnant, Skyla is “officially” FDA-approved for women who have never been pregnant, meaning it was specifically tested for women who have not had children. Skyla is the newest IUD on the U.S. market.

How Skyla Works

The Skyla IUD works almost exactly the same way Mirena does – by releasing a low dose of the hormone, progestin, into the uterus slowly and steadily. The hormone thickens cervical mucus, blocks sperm movement, and also aids in reducing the survival of sperm to prevent pregnancy. In addition, the device thins the lining of the uterus, which can reduce heavy periods.

How effective is Skyla?

Skyla is one of the most reliable forms of birth control, where it’s more than 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 100 women with the Skyla will get pregnant. It is as effective as having your tubes tied, but unlike a tubal, you can get pregnant in the future once the Skyla is removed.

Are there risks associated with Skyla?

As with any other form of birth control, there are risks associated with the Skyla device. The most common are pain, bleeding, or dizziness during and after the placement. These symptoms usually subside within a few minutes. In some cases, Skyla can come out on its own. In rare, but serious incidents, a woman can experience Pelvic inflammatory disease or perforation where the IUD can become attached to or go through the uterus’ wall.

Will Skyla help my periods?

Many women’s periods become lighter and less crampy. Because Skyla has less hormone than the Mirena, there is a lesser chance of having your periods stop altogether (about 1 in 17 with Skyla experience no periods, compared to 1 in 5 with Mirena). Like Mirena, you may experience some irregular spotting for the first few months after insertion, but that typically gets better with time. Also like the Mirena, the longer Skyla is in, the greater the chance of having your period stop altogether.

How long does Skyla work for?

Skyla is FDA-approved to provide birth control for 3 years. You may choose to have it removed at any time, though we do encourage you to keep it for at least 3 months before deciding to remove it, because most symptoms of bleeding/cramping will resolve the longer you have Skyla.

Learn More About Skyla

Forget pills, shots, patches, and all the rest with Skyla. This highly effective and convenient birth control is one of the newest and most advanced IUDs on the market. Smaller and more comfortable than other devices, Skyla is specially designed for women who have never been pregnant for better ease of insertion. Our board-certified gynecologists are experienced with this IUD, along with a variety of other forms of birth control. Give us a call today to see if Skyla is the best method for you.