Women's Experiences with Intrauterine Devices: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Reddit Posts

Abstract

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a form of long acting reversable contraception (LARC) that sits inside the woman's uterus. This study used conventional qualitative content analysis to answer the questions "what are women's experiences with IUDs?" and "how do women use the subreddit r/birthcontrol to share experiences and information regarding IUDs?" The data were reddit forum posts that mentioned IUDs in the month of July 2022 from the subreddit r/birthcontrol. This month was chosen as it was following the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States, which removed abortions from being a constitutional right, resulting in some states severely restricting abortion access. The changing in political circumstances for many users created an interesting context that allowed for an exploration into how the wider political context may influence women's opinions and self-reported behaviours surrounding the use of contraception and IUDs. Of the 456 reddit posts, 401 codes were created, condensed into 36 subcategories, with 10 overarching categories. Despite IUD insertion being painful and participants experiencing various painful side effects, in many cases they felt as though their pain and concerns were not taken seriously by medical staff. This was often in the form of feeling dismissed and not being given adequate pain management options before procedures such as IUD insertions and removals. The findings provide insight into women's perspectives and opinions on the care they receive from medical professionals surrounding their IUD. They highlight areas that need improvement, such as providing more pain management options and more transparency regarding potential risks and side effects of having an IUD.