IUD FAQs. The information below is based on my experience and recommendations as a GP practicing in women’s health for nearly a decade. I am not endorsed by any particular device or brand. Please consider all of the advice below and select the device which is best suited for your needs. What is the best contraceptive option? I consider the Hormonal IUD (Mirena or the Kyleena) as the most reliable and convenient contraceptive option for women both before and after having children. The IUD is a long active reversible contraceptive (LARC) which are the contraceptive type recommended by many peak health bodies including the RACGP as first line contraception for women as they are safe, effective and reversible. (https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/october/larcs-as-first-line-contraception) Compared with the oral contraceptive pill, the IUD is set and forget method that lasts up to 5 years. And because they are inserted directly where they are needed to work (in the uterus), they have the least side effects in terms of mood, weight and skin changes compared with the other hormonal contraceptive options. One particular benefit of hormonal IUDs in addition to contraception are that they also often make periods lighter and less crampy. The Mirena IUD is considered first line management for women with troublesome heavy or painful periods due to conditions such as endometriosis. What do you think of the Copper IUD? The copper IUD is also a very reliable form of contraception, but as it increases menstrual blood loss and period cramping in most women. I usually recommend the hormonal IUDs first. Do IUD’s have a negative impact on your fertility? IUDs have been used for over 30 years and have not shown to have a negative impact on fertility. (reference link: https://contraceptionmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40834-018-0064-y ) Why haven’t I heard of the IUD before? Traditionally IUDs have only been inserted by specialists and thus less commonly known about. Thankfully access has improved now that specialist GPs are upskilling in insertion. We are still trying to improve public education around this contraceptive option. The fact that there is a small procedure involved in getting the device also serves as a bit of a barrier. Thankfully due to the increasing number of women looking for alternative contraception to the oral contraceptive pill, it has become a lot more popular in the last decade. I haven’t had children, is the IUD still suitable for me? Yes yes yes! There is a frequent misconception that IUDs are more suitable for women post birth, but that is simply not true. https://societyfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/PIIS0010782416303857.pdf What is the procedure like? For most women, insertion is a short 10-15 minute procedure, but insertion appointments are made for 30-45 minutes to allow for discussion, set up and recovery time. It can be crampy during the procedure and also for 1-2 days after. We advise women to take oral analgesia such as Panadol and Nurofen 1 hour prior to the procedure, and we can discuss further analgesic options that we offer at the clinic at your booking appointment.  What is the best time to do the IUD insertion? If possible, IUD insertions should be timed for during your period. How do I arrange getting an IUD device? While IUDs are suitable for most women, it is still crucial to have a consultation to discuss your personal medical history and your individual benefits and risks of choosing the IUD as contraception. We often also arrange tests prior to doing the insertion, such as an STI screen and cervical screening test (if due). We usually advise a 15-30 minute planning consultation to answer any questions about the insertion and after care as well as arrange any investigations that may be required beforehand.  How do I obtain more information about IUD insertion? You can request general information about the procedure and costs involved before booking in for your initial consultation by discussing with our reception.

Acupuncture is a safe and gentle way to assist women in fertility and pregnancy planning. Just like preparing the soil to plant a tree you want to prepare your internal environment to grow a life. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) suggests that you start fertility preparation three months prior to conception. I recommend starting the woman’s treatments three months prior to conception; once a fortnight which includes Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, dietary and lifestyle guidance as needed. Research has shown that TCM (Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine) can significantly improve the woman’s eggs quality and improve the thickness of the uterine lining by increasing the blood flow to the reproductive organs. Acupuncture can also improve digestion, strengthen the immune system and calm anxiety, which are all important factors for improving a woman’s Fertility and maintain a healthy pregnancy. What Acupuncture and TCM can help with?

• Irregular Menses, unexplained infertility, sub fertility, PCOS and fibroids.
• In early pregnancy-nausea, fatigue and miscarriage prevention.
• Second stages of pregnancy- hemorrhoids, constipation, reflux, heartburn, insomnia, fatigue and exhaustion, anxiety, depression and small for dates.
• Third stage- back and neck pain, sciatica, pubic symphysis pain, rib pain, irritability, carpal tunnel syndrome and oedema.
• Breach babies -optimal at weeks 34-36.
• Pre Labor assistance at home – Partner instruction for acupressure.
• Labor preparation – weekly from week 36.
• Labor induction – Week 40 and 41 (Acupuncture can reduce the need for medical induction and the use of epidurals or caesarean sections).
• Post Labor- Recovery, absence of lactation and mastitis due to blocked mild ducts.

Despite the male reproductive systems being less complex than a women’s, the World Health Organisation recognises infertility as 50% male and 50% female factors. Acupuncture has been shown to have a positive effect on sperm morphology (shape of the sperm), motility (ability to swim) and sperm count. TCM will also improve the overall health and vitality of a man.

Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day, but simply making sure you eat isn’t enough. What you eat and how much is just as important. Here are few brekkie mistakes many people make that might cause weight gain or derail a healthy lifestyle:

1. Skipping the carbs – with grand intentions, many healthy eaters start their day with a protein-based breakfast of eggs, veges and avocado. Fantastic! But it’s missing a super important component: carbohydrates. Skipping the wholegrain toast means there’s no rise in blood sugar levels after a night of ‘fasting’ and no kick-start the metabolism, which means you’re in danger of being extra hungry later in the day and making up for it then.
2. Overdoing the superfoods – smoothies and blended juices are a great vehicle for a super nutrient-dense meal but overdo it with some ingredients and you’ll end up getting your day’s worth of calories in that one meal. Think coconut oil, coconut milk, chia seeds, flaxseeds, banana, protein powders, cacao, apple, oats, nuts, seeds, almond butter etc etc…
3. Right food, wrong portion – oats are a gold standard breakfast food but they are also incredibly energy dense and overdoing it is really easy. Free-pouring a bowl of muesli or cooking up some porridge can easily lead to two to six times the recommended portion size and a huge hit of carbohydrates to start your day. This is often the reason we feel SO satisfied from this breakfast we can sail right through to a late lunch without feeling hungry.
4. Too light on the fibre – Fibre swells in our tummy and fills us up. Starting your day with a breakfast that is light on fibre means that we’re at risk of being hungry not long afterwards. It may also mean breakfast choices are processed grains such as white breads and sugary cereals that are low in fibre.
5. Coffee calories – for most people, there’s no harm in having a good coffee with breakfast but it’s not the caffeine that’s the problem, it’s the calories, fat and sugar that come along with the type of coffee you order. Large size, full fat milk, soy milk, coconut milk and added syrups, flavourings and sugar all add up. For example a large soy vanilla latte will give you the equivalent of 9 teaspoons of sugar and 330 calories, the number of calories you should have for breakfast alone.
6. Eating because you think you have to – many busy people scoff a quick brekkie racing out the door to work when they’re not actually hungry yet. This super early meal lengthens your eating day and means you need to eat again sooner. By just waiting an hour or so until you’re settled in at work give you a little more time to put together a healthy meal, eating slowly and thoughtfully is better for digestion and when you’re actually hungry so it’s often far more satisfying.
7.  Breakfast’ products – think breakfast biscuits, breakfast bars and breakfast drinks. These highly processed, minimally nutritious products often have a very long list of ingredients that include refined sugar and white flour causing a dramatic spike in blood sugar levels followed by the crash shortly after, making us feel tired – and it’s not even lunchtime yet.
8. Snack for breakfast – sometimes all we have the chance to get down is a banana or yoghurt for breakfast as we run into a meeting or drop the kids to school. Although this is not unhealthy, it’s simply not enough. Having a snack for breakfast is likely to throw out your eating routine for the day and by 10-11am you’re starving.
9. Drinking your breakfast – Smoothies, protein shakes and juices are very popular as an on-the-run breakfast option. They range in nutritional quality but the biggest issue with a liquid breakfast is that it’s often not terribly satisfying. The act of chewing is important for many people to feel satisfaction from a meal. Without that satisfaction from breakfast, we’re left with a void that needs to be filled. This may make you more vulnerable to more ‘satisfying’ foods later in the day.
10. Skipping breakfast altogether – skipping breakfast is often due to a lack of time, lack of appetite or based on recent media reports that fasting until lunchtime may be beneficial for weight loss. There is no cookie-cutter way of eating for anyone but in my experience, a lack of appetite in the morning is usually because too much has been eaten the night before. Fasting until lunchtime isn’t for everyone and the downside is that if you’re starving by lunchtime this can make us susceptible to overeating and making less healthy food choices.