IUDs?
So I was wondering if any of you know why IUDs seem to be so unpopular as a birth control method? Somehow, I had gotten it into my head that they must be less effective than hormonal birth control, or were somehow outmoded, but it appears that I was wrong. Multiple sources (including webmd) seem to say that, in fact, copper IUDs are actually a more effective method than everything else besides sterilization and perhaps injections (see charts here and here). They don't contain hormones, which is a plus for me since hormonal birth control sends my body a bit out of whack, and I smoke. They also last longer than anything else on the market (10 years!!) but are immediately reversible (and immediately effective, which the pill is not). If you intend to use it long term, it actually works out to be one of the cheapest options as well (although the up-front cost is greater). Also, I was amazed to find out from the wikipedia article that "Insertion of a copper-T IUD as emergency contraception is more than 99% effective, making it more effective than emergency contraceptive pills (ECP or 'morning-after pill')." If this is true, which it looks like it is, how is it that I have managed to go about my life without anyone -- sex ed classes, health care professionals, friends and significant others -- ever having mentioned any of this to me, even though it's been relevant to my life for about 7 years? Why, in all the political hubbub surrounding emergency contraception, am I not hearing any mention of this? And WHY OH WHY has this never been mentioned to me when I tell doctors that I smoke? Do any of you have any insight into this?
Do IUDs take a backseat to hormonal methods because pharmaceutical companies make more off of "the pill," even though it's less effective and actually more dangerous for me as a smoker??