IUD (intrauterine device): Another birth control option

You're probably referring to a method of contraception known in the United States as the intrauterine device or IUD for short. An IUD is a small long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) which is placed in the uterus by a health care provider and can prevent pregnancy for up to three to ten years. Some IUDs have a coiled shape, which may explain the German translation that you mentioned. Others, such as the ones available in the U.S., resemble the letter "T." To answer your question, before the approval of the current generation of IUDs, some people experienced severe complications from earlier generations of devices. However, they were removed from the market and replaced by low-risk and highly effective IUDs (more on those in a bit!). Due to the complications with the earlier generations, many remain skeptical of IUDs. As a result, they?re not as common of a contraceptive method in the U.S. as they are in many countries in Europe, although they're becoming more popular.