Searches for IUD Birth Control Spike After Trump Presidential Victory

Social media users advising women to get IUDs before Trump takes office.

ByABC News
November 10, 2016, 11:52 AM

— -- Online searches for long-acting birth control devices spiked significantly in the hours after the presidential election ended.

Many women took to social media to advise other women to get an intrauterine device (IUD) which can "outlast" a conservative presidency.

The posts began over concerns that Trump and the Republican-held houses of Congress will repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the ACA, insurers participating in the healthcare marketplace aremandated to provide coverage for contraception without any co-payment or coinsurance, allowing many more women access to birth control.

In the hours after Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2016 presidential election, Google searches for IUD spiked exponentially, according to Google Trends.

Under related queries, the top two rising search terms were "iud Trump" and "get an iud now."

The IUD is a small implant that, when placed in the uterus, acts as a continuous form of contraception. It is a reversible form of birth control that can be removed any time before it expires and is considered to one of the most effective contraceptive methods available. According the CDC, IUDs have less than one percent failure rates.

Depending on the type of device -- either a copper "T" or hormone-releasing implant -- an IUD can provide approximately three to 10 years of greatly reduced pregnancy risk, potentially outlasting even a two-term Trump presidency.

On Twitter, multiple users advised women to get an IUD now so that their birth control would be covered before Trump takes office on January 20, 2017.

Women, call your docs. Today. Take charge of your health before Jan. 20. Get an IUD, get mammograms, get ultrasounds, get Paps. Do it now.

— Maura Brannigan (@maura_brannigan) November 9, 2016

OB/GYN groups have supported long-acting birth control measures for some time. Dr. Eve Espey, Chair of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Working Group, said that contraception similar to IUDs are "20 times more effective at preventing pregnancy than oral contraceptive pills, patches or rings."

"All women should have access to safe contraceptive methods, including Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), which includes implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) which have a high-up front cost," she told ABC News. "While I certainly hope birth control methods will be readily available under the Trump administration, I can understand women’s concern over losing such access, particularly to high cost methods."

Espey added that, "The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has long recommended easy and affordable access to LARC, as it is the most effective reversible contraceptive option for most women, including those who have not given birth and adolescents who are sexually active."

"Improving access and knowledge about LARC methods may decrease unintended pregnancies, abortions and adolescent birth rates," she said.

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OB/GYN groups have supported long-acting birth control measures for some time. Dr. Eve Espey, Chair of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Working Group, said that contraception similar to IUDs are \"20 times more effective at preventing pregnancy than oral contraceptive pills, patches or rings.\"

\"All women should have access to safe contraceptive methods, including Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), which includes implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) which have a high-up front cost,\" she told ABC News. \"While I certainly hope birth control methods will be readily available under the Trump administration, I can understand women’s concern over losing such access, particularly to high cost methods.\"

Espey added that, \"The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has long recommended easy and affordable access to LARC, as it is the most effective reversible contraceptive option for most women, including those who have not given birth and adolescents who are sexually active.\"

\"Improving access and knowledge about LARC methods may decrease unintended pregnancies, abortions and adolescent birth rates,\" she said.

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