The government has rolled out free Hormonal Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), a contraceptive method often prescribed to women with heavy menstrual bleeding in all public health facilities.

Kenya’s Head of Family Planning, Dr. Albert Ndwiga, said the contraceptive method will offer more choices to women who may not access them due to cost or the medical challenges associated with traditional contraceptive methods.

“There’s a population of women who would benefit more from using hormonal-based family planning, such as the Hormonal Intrauterine Devices (IUDs). The Ministry of Health continues to train healthcare workers to ensure the quality of services provided,” he stated.

 He revealed that Hormonal Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) were previously only available in private health facilities at a cost ranging from Kes 20,000 to Kes 35,000.

Similarly, he stated that besides preventing pregnancy, hormonal IUDs also prevent menorrhagia, a condition characterized by painful or heavy periods that can last up to ten days.

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Further, he stated that if the condition is not treated it can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia.

“Besides preventing pregnancy, hormonal IUDs prevent menorrhagia, a condition characterized by painful or heavy periods that can last up to ten days thereby helping prevent iron-deficiency anaemia,” he said.

According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, a family planning method being incompatible with a woman’s body is one of the reasons why 14 percent of women do not use any modern contraceptive method despite wanting to delay pregnancy.