The Intrauterine Device Is One Of The Most Effective Forms Of Reversible Birth Control Available Today Here’s How Copper Iuds And Hormonal Iuds Impact Your Future Chances Of Conception
The intrauterine device is one of the most effective forms of reversible birth control available todayup to 20 times more effective than birth control pills, the patch, or the ring, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But what happens when you decide that you want to get pregnant when you have an IUD? Keep reading to learn about getting pregnant after an IUD, including how this method of birth control impacts your future chances of conception.
When Is An Iud Not A Good Option
An IUD might not be a good option for you if you have:
- a uterus that is not the usual shape
- a current pelvic infection.
The hormonal IUD might not be a good option for you if you have:
- been treated for breast cancer
- severe liver disease.
The copper IUD might not be a good option for you if you have:
How Soon After Iud Removal Can I Get Pregnant
Getting rid of your IUD is often the first step in the journey to getting pregnant.
But how long after your IUD is removed are you able to get pregnant? Some IUD users will experience a delay in time to conceive because the device is so effective as a form of birth control that prevents unwanted pregnancies.
If you have the copper IUD or hormonal IUD, you will have to get it removed if youre trying to conceive. Your period could start again within days or weeks after you remove the intrauterine device, or it might also take a little bit of time for your uterus to get back to normal.
Read on to find out more about trying for a baby after removing your IUD. And if you want to know more about what to expect while youre expecting, then check out this piece on early pregnancy anxiety, or find out how many days after your period you can get pregnant.
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What If I Am Using The Copper Iud And I Want To Become Pregnant
The copper IUD can be removed at any time by a doctor or a nurse. Your fertility will quickly return to what is normal for you.
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How Do Iuds Work
Both copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy by changing the way sperm cells move so they can’t get to an egg. If sperm cant make it to an egg, pregnancy cant happen.
The Paragard IUD uses copper to prevent pregnancy. Sperm doesnt like copper, so the Paragard IUD makes it almost impossible for sperm to get to that egg.
The hormones in the Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla IUDs prevent pregnancy in two ways: 1) they thicken the mucus that lives on the cervix, which blocks and traps the sperm, and 2) the hormones also sometimes stop eggs from leaving your ovaries , which means theres no egg for a sperm to fertilize. No egg, no pregnancy.
One of the awesome things about IUDs is that they last for years but theyre not permanent. If you decide to get pregnant or you just dont want to have your IUD anymore, your nurse or doctor can quickly and easily take it out. Youre able to get pregnant right after the IUD is removed.
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Other Types Of Contraception
There are many contraceptive methods available in Australia. When choosing the method of contraception that best suits your needs, it can help to talk to a doctor or nurse about your options. Different methods may suit you at different times in your life. A doctor or nurse can give you information about:
- the benefits and risks of using various methods of contraception
- how well each method works
- the possible risks and side effects
- how easy it is to use
- how much it costs
- how each method meets your current and future needs.
Other methods include the contraceptive implant or injection, the vaginal ring or the combined oral contraceptive pill.
How Fast Can You Get Pregnant After Iud Taken Out
- What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant After IUD Removal?
- How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant After IUD Removal?
- Ways to Enhance Your Fertility After IUD Removal
Many women, who are not looking to get pregnant , resort to different birth control measures, ranging from pills to hormonal contraceptives like an IUD to prevent pregnancy. But with time, they may want to have babies as they might feel that they are ready for the new responsibility. If your choice of protection was an IUD and now you feel that you are ready for a baby, obviously, you will have to get the IUD removed. But can you get pregnant once the IUD is removed? If yes, then how long will it take for you to conceive? Worry not, we have answers to all your questions.
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Are There Side Effects
IUDs are safe. Some women do have side effects, but most are mild. Serious problems with them are rare.
Some women feel lightheaded right after their doctor inserts the IUD, but the feeling should pass after a few minutes. In the first few days after insertion, you can expect to have period-like cramps.
Youâre very unlikely to get pregnant while you have an IUD. But if it happens, it raises your risk for miscarriage, infection, and early labor and delivery. It also puts you at risk for an ectopic pregnancy, when a fertilized egg implants outside of your uterus. Let your doctor know if you think you might be pregnant or if you have belly pain or vaginal bleeding.
About 1 in 10 women will get ovarian cysts in the first year after they get an IUD. Theyâre usually harmless and go away on their own within 3 months. But some can cause bloating, swelling, or pain in the lower belly. If a cyst ruptures, it will cause severe pain. See your doctor if you have these symptoms.
An IUD slightly raises your odds for pelvic inflammatory disease , which is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Signs include belly pain, pain during sex, smelly vaginal discharge, heavy bleeding, chills, and fever. Let your doctor know about these symptoms right away. Itâs important to treat PID quickly to prevent more serious problems.
Who Is An Iud Right For
IUDs are a good birth control option for many people, but aren’t recommended for someone:
- with PID or an active STD infection
- who is already pregnant or may be pregnant
- who has problems with her uterus, like a disease or malformation, or has abnormal bleeding
Experts recommend IUDs as a good birth control option for younger adults and teens because they last for many years, need no daily care, and are very effective at preventing pregnancy.
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Can You Get A New Iud Immediately After Removal
You can! IUD replacement is done in the same appointment as removal. The removal of the old one and insertion of the new one typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
Just like with the initial insertion appointment, you can ask your clinician to prescribe medication in advance to help with discomfort and anxiety.
IUD removal and replacement isnt at least anecdotally considered as painful as when you first get an IUD.
Pregnancy When Using An Iud
If you become pregnant while using an IUD, see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible and have the IUD removed. The doctor or nurse will also need to rule out a pregnancy in your fallopian tubes .
If the IUD is removed, you can choose to continue or terminate the pregnancy .
If the IUD is not removed and you continue with the pregnancy, there is a higher risk of miscarriage or delivering the baby early .
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How Is An Iud Removed
IUD removal is usually a quick and simple process. Your clinician will use forceps to gently pull the IUDs strings, which causes the arms to collapse upward so the IUD slides out.
If needed, your clinician has special instruments that can be used to get it out. Surgery is used in the rare event that it cant be removed.
Continue To Use Other Forms Of Birth Control
You can make a birth control pill even more effective by using backup methods, like condoms and other barrier methods during sex.
Condoms are 98 percent effective, so when combined with the 99 percent effectiveness of a birth control pill, your chances of becoming pregnant are much better.
The chances lower even more if you decide to get a form of birth control like an IUD, as these are one of the best methods on the market.
These are over 99 percent effective. These are more effective than birth control pills because there is no chance of making a mistake by forgetting to take your pills the device is permanently inside your body until removed by a professional.
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What Causes An Iud To Fail
Your IUD may not prevent pregnancy if it:
- Falls out. If the IUD falls out of your , you arenât protected against pregnancy anymore. Itâs important to check for the strings connected to the IUD to make sure itâs still inside you.
- Moves out of place. An IUD can also be in the wrong position. It wonât properly protect you if it isnât correctly fitted inside your uterus.
- Expires. IUDs have expiration dates. If you keep one in longer than the suggested amount of time, you have a slightly higher chance of pregnancy. You probably wonât have any side effects if you keep an IUD in after it expires, but we need more research to safely recommend this option.
- Hasnât started to work. A copper IUD, like Paragard, begins to work right after the doctor inserts it. But hormonal IUDs, like Mirena, donât start to work for 7 days. Use backup birth control, like condoms, for those 7 days to prevent pregnancy.
Iud And Potential Health Risks
In about 1 in 500 people, a small hole in the wall of the uterus may be created while the IUD is being inserted. The IUD can move through the hole and sit in the wrong place. If this happens, keyhole surgery is required to have the IUD removed.
Around 1 in 300, may get an infection when the IUD is first inserted. This can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
It is very unlikely to get pregnant when using an IUD. If you do get pregnant with an IUD in place, there is a higher chance of ectopic pregnancy. This means that the pregnancy may settle in the fallopian tubes . If this happens, seek urgent medical assistance.
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Can My Iud Fall Out
Your doctor will check your device during your regular office visits. Your cervix should hold the IUD in place, but in rare cases, it can fall all the way or part of the way out.
This is more likely if:
- You don’t have children.
- Youâre under 20 years old.
- You had the IUD put in right after having a baby or after having a second-trimester abortion.
- You have fibroids in your uterus.
- Your uterus is an unusual size or shape.
IUDs are more likely to come out during your period. You may see the device on a pad or tampon. Check periodically to make sure you can feel the strings. If they feel shorter or longer or if you can feel the IUD itself pushing against your cervix, it may have moved. If this happens, contact your doctor.
When To See A Doctor
Both hormonal and copper IUDs can cause unpleasant side effects when a doctor fits an IUD and afterward.
People may experience temporary pain, bleeding, or dizziness immediately after receiving an IUD. People should contact their doctor if these symptoms last longer than 30 minutes.
Some women may find that their body expels or rejects an IUD. In some cases, part of the IUD might dislodge from the uterus, or puncture the uterine wall. If this happens, a doctor needs to remove it as soon as possible.
Although rare, people can become pregnant with an IUD. This can lead to serious health complications, such as
People wishing to change their birth control can discuss their options with a doctor. A doctor will assess the individuals risk of developing adverse side effects. Some factors that the doctor may take into consideration include:
- their medical history
- their current health status
- any medications a person is taking
The risk of having an unintended pregnancy increases when a person switches birth control methods. Doctors try to avoid gaps in protection by overlapping the new contraceptive with a previous birth control method.
People should consider using condoms or some other form of backup contraception until the new birth control takes effect.
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Pro: Its Ready When You Are
Having an IUD means that as long as youre practicing safer sex, you can be spontaneous without worrying about pregnancy. Your IUD offers reliable contraception for years at a time. The copper IUD starts working instantly.
Hormone-releasing IUDs should be removed and replaced every 3-10 years, depending on the brand. The copper-wrapped IUD can stay in place and offer continuous protection for up to 12 years.
Though It Rarely Ever Occurs People With Iuds Can Get Pregnant For A Few Reasons
The one thats really in your control: Keeping your IUD past its removal deadline.
You may be more likely to get pregnant if you dont remove your IUD per the manufacturer-approved timeline, Jessica Shepherd, M.D., a minimally-invasive gynecologist at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, tells SELF. How long is too long to keep your IUD past its deadline?
Whats interesting about this is that some research shows IUDs are actually effective past their manufacturer-approved expiration dates, but only in certain populations . For instance, a 2014 review in the journal Contraception found that Mirena was actually effective for up to seven years when its only recommended up to five, but these results were specifically in people who were at least 25 with children at the time of insertion. In that same demographic, Paragard was effective for up to 12 years . But, on the other hand, no evidence showed that Skyla was effective past its three-year deadline in any group of people.
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Desire To Continue The Pregnancy
If the woman wishes to continue with the pregnancy, a doctor will perform a pelvic examination. If the IUD strings are visible, the doctor will remove the IUD gently.
If the IUD strings are not visible, a woman may need to undergo an ultrasound to determine its location. The next course of action depends on the location, as below:
- No IUD found: The woman will need an X-ray to locate the device.
- IUD within the cervix: The doctor will remove the IUD by pulling the strings.
- IUD above the cervix: The doctor will talk about the risks and complications of continuing the pregnancy.
Learn More About Period Changes With The Iud
After two years, about half of people using the 52 mg hormonal IUD will stop experiencing periods . Lower doses of hormones impact monthly bleeding less . If you are using the IUD, itâs helpful to track your bleeding patterns so you can evaluate how itâs working for you. Read more about bleeding on the IUD here.
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Who Can Use Them
Most healthy women can use an IUD. Theyâre especially suited to women with one partner and at low risk of contracting an STD. IUDs don’t protect against STDs. You shouldnât use one if:
- You have an STD or had a recent pelvic infection.
- Youâre pregnant.
- You have cancer of the cervix or uterus.
- You have unexplained vaginal bleeding.
You canât use the copper IUD if you have an allergy to copper or have Wilson’s disease, which causes your body to hold too much copper.
Hormonal IUDs are considered safe unless you have liver disease, breast cancer, or are at a high risk for breast cancer.
In rare cases, the size or shape of your uterus may make it tough to place an IUD. Watch a video on the truth about IUDs and their safety.
