People Are Talking About Getting IUDs Now That Trump Will Get Another Supreme Court Pick

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a hot topic after Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced he was retiring.

By
Lauren Strapagiel
by Lauren Strapagiel

BuzzFeed Staff

Justice Anthony Kennedy announced that he'll be retiring from the Supreme Court next month, which means President Trump will be able to nominate a replacement.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Kennedy played an important role as a "swing-vote justice," meaning his vote provided the 5–4 vote needed for a majority ruling on important cases that divided the court.

Supreme Court justices serve for decades — Kennedy did so for more than 30 years. So Trump's nominee will potentially shape important legal decisions for years to come.

New cases could come up that would allow the court to revisit 5–4 decisions Kennedy was part of, like those related to marriage equality and abortion. Kennedy will step down July 31, and Trump has announced that he will select a candidate from a previous list of 25 possible candidates that was issued in November.

That, combined with the recent Supreme Court decision that said unlicensed pregnancy crisis centers in California did not have to provide information about family planning services to patients, has people concerned about their reproductive rights, including access to birth control and safe abortions.

A lot of people are thinking now is a good time to think about getting an IUD.

Sarah Solomon @sarahsolfails

IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN IUD GET ONE NOW

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Zerlina Maxwell @ZerlinaMaxwell

If you are thinking about getting an IUD today is a good day to make that appointment

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Talya Minsberg @tminsberg

I know I'm not the only woman who has a phone full of "so should we get IUDs now?" texts

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Lu @Lucie_Witt

Y'all it's not just abortion that will potentially (probably?) be illegal in the next year or so. It's IUDs and Plan B, which many conservatives view as abortion (an erroneous assertion SCOTUS did not correct in Hobby Lobby)

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In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that Hobby Lobby wouldn't have to provide coverage for employees' birth control due to the owner's religious beliefs.

If you're looking for a long-term birth control method, the IUD — or intrauterine device — is a great option.

Lalocracio / Getty Images

IUDs are inserted into the uterus via the cervix and are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

There are two kinds — hormonal IUDs and copper IUDs. The hormonal version releases hormones that thicken the cervical mucus, making it hard for sperm to get through. They can last three to five years. The copper version can stay in for up to 10 years.

They're not for everyone. They can be more expensive up front, and there are potential side effects such as cramping.

But it's still a relatively low-hassle form of contraception that forgoes the need to take a daily pill or track cycles.

Here are 16 Things You Should Know If You Are Considering Getting an IUD.

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