How We Handle Pregnancy With An Iud
Our first step is to determine the type of pregnancy, which could be either:
Intrauterine, which is the normal location for pregnancy development, allowing for fetal growth over 9 months, or
Ectopic, which is when a fertilized egg implants in a fallopian tube or other location outside the uterus and poses serious health risks to the woman
We used to believe that having an IUD increased the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. Now we understand that because IUDs are so effective at preventing intrauterine pregnancies that, if a pregnancy does occur, theres a higher likelihood that it developed outside the uterus. But patients arent at increased risk for ectopic pregnancies just because they have an IUD.
Next, we look for the IUD strings in the cervix to potentially remove the device. Studies have shown that the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and infection of the amniotic sac and fluid before delivery is significantly higher when IUDs are left in place during pregnancy compared to pregnancies in which the IUD is removed. However, while taking out the IUD improves the pregnancy outcome, there is still a higher risk of pregnancy complications compared to patients who never had an IUD in place. For most women whose IUD strings are visible through the cervix, we recommend removal of the IUD at the first visit.
Con: Your Ob/gyn Specialist Must Insert It
You cant just buy an IUD at the drugstore. You need your OB/GYN specialist to put it in place, although it takes only a few minutes. In that regard, the procedure is similar to a getting a Pap smear.
You may experience some cramping right after insertion. Regular over-the-counter painkillers should be sufficient to offer you relief. If you have continued pain, have your OB/GYN specialist remove the IUD so you can choose another method of birth control.
My Crash Experience After Mirena Removal
I was off on vacation soaking up the sun, sand, and having lots of fun telling some jokes and then WHAMO. it hit me.
Not knowing about the crash, I had the Mirena IUD removed a couple of weeks prior to leaving for our vacation.
I had trouble with my Mirena from the beginning of getting it inserted. After five years, I had it removed. I could have removed it sooner, but I wanted to keep it in for the full 5 years.
The Mirena crash came out of nowhere.
I went to bed feeling relaxed and happy to be on vacation, and then woke up with a crushing, heavy, almost suffocating feeling of blah. Not just any blah, but an I need to go home now because I cannot stand this feeling anymore blah.
That was just day one.
For four days, I felt a crushing anxiety. Then I realized I was experiencing the dreaded Mirena crash.
I wont lie: it sucked. But after four days, I felt pretty much back to normal. Thank you very much, Mirena.
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How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Iud Removal
If youre hoping to get pregnant soon, know that fertility usually returns within the first menstrual cycle following IUD removal. As soon as the device is taken out by your doctor, you could become pregnant, says Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center, in New York City.
Because no hormones are involved with copper IUD, your body doesnt have to readjustafter the device is out, sperm can swim normally again. Along those lines, with a hormonal IUD, the dose of progestin is low and doesnt get absorbed into your system, so it doesnt interfere much with ovulation. Once the IUD is out, youre probably good to go. You should remove your IUD as soon as you are hoping or willing to get pregnant, says Dr. Sandoval.
Compare this to hormonal birth control methods such as birth control pills, patches, and rings. These release the hormones progestin and sometimes estrogen into the body, which prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation. With these birth control methods, it could take up to three months for fertility to return. And the wait could be even longer if youve been getting the Depo-Provera birth control shotsometimes up to a year.
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.
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How Will I Know When Im Fertile After My Iud Removal
You may be surprised to learn your fertility will be restored almost immediately upon IUD removal. The IUD has no impairment on fertility after it has been removed, as numerous studies have proven. It is true, however, that a female coming off any form of contraception will experience different effects on her hormones, periods, and fertility, albeit, usually only for a short time.
As a matter of fact, the IUD is one of the least disruptive ways to regain your natural fertility and start menstruating normally again. Some women even become pregnant during their first cycle without the IUD, as the hormones used to prevent pregnancy are removed along with the IUD itself.
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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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The Iud Removal Process
IUD removal is a simple and quick procedure, but it must be done by your doctor. . No matter what type of IUD you have, you can have it removed at any time. A non-hormonal copper device should be removed after ten years. Hormonal devices have an expiration period that ranges from three to six years. With such a device, you must have it removed upon its expiration. Delaying its removal can complicate the removal process and can leave you unprotected against pregnancy. Leaving an IUD in past its expiration can also create serious health risks for you, such as an increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy, which can result if you become pregnant with an IUD in place.
Your first step in having an IUD removed is to consult with your doctor and schedule an appointment to have it removed. Removal can be done at any time of the month in your cycle. No drugs or anesthesia are needed. Removal is faster and easier than having the IUD inserted.
Con: Iuds Dont Protect Against Stds
The IUD works by creating an environment in your uterus thats inhospitable to sperm and conception. Depending on the type of IUD, your uterine lining thins, your cervical mucus thickens, or you stop ovulating.
If you or your partner is at risk for STDs, always use a condom in addition to your IUD. Condoms lower, but dont eliminate, the risk for STDs, so ask your OB/GYN about other safer-sex practices, too.
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How Effective Is An Iud
No type of birth control is 100% effective, the only 100% effective method is abstinence . IUDs have one of the highest rates of effectiveness at over 99%.
This is because once it is inserted, it protects from pregnancy 24 hours a day for every day of the year for up to 10 years. Once an IUD is in place, a woman does not have to remember to do anything else to ensure its effectiveness. IUDs will not protect against STDs, only condoms do this to a certain extent.
How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control
Youve taken steps in your family planning, and now youre ready for a baby. How long after stopping birth control are you fertile again? Well, it depends on the contraceptive.
You have done all the right things in planning your family and now youre ready to have a baby. How long after stopping birth control before you try to get pregnant? How long does it take to be fertile again? And how long is too long?
Start from the top. How do you stop your method of contraception? Well, that seems like an easy question, but sometimes it isnt. You can stop using your condom or diaphragm or contraceptive foam right now and you can take off your patch, take out your ring or stop your pills today.
Taking out your implant or your IUD takes a medical appointment with your clinician or your family planning clinic. Really now, we dont recommend that you or a friend try to take out these medical devices on your own, so getting an appointment may take a few weeks.
Now, how long does it take after stopping birth control before youre fertile? Well, it sort of depends. If youre using barrier methods, such as condoms or diaphragms or foams or jellies, you could get pregnant the next time you have sex without your protection. Of course, you have to ovulate, and that will be on your regular schedule, but barrier methods dont change that.
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Are There Any Risks Of Pregnancy With An Iud
An IUD pregnancy comes with certain risks and complications. Youre 50% more likely to miscarry if the IUD is left in place, so the recommendation is to let the pregnancy continue and remove the IUD, says Dr. Sam. But its important to note that youre still 25% more likely to miscarry even if the IUD is removed, so your doctor will want to monitor any IUD pregnancy closely.
Getting pregnant with an IUD also comes with a higher risk of ectopic or tubal pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg implants somewhere outside the uterus . Ectopic pregnancies are not viable and can be life-threatening for the pregnant person, so they need to be treated quickly. Your doctor will diagnose ectopic pregnancy with blood tests, pelvic exams, and ultrasound. If your pregnancy is ectopic, it will be treated with medication or surgery.
Types Of Pregnancy With An Iud
If your IUD fails, the doctor will find out which type of pregnancy you have:
- Intrauterine pregnancy: This is a normal pregnancy in your uterus where your baby will grow for 9 months.
- Ectopic pregnancy: The embryo tries to grow outside your uterus. It usually happens in your fallopian tubes, which carry eggs to your ovaries and then to your uterus. You can also get an ectopic pregnancy in your ovaries, abdomen, or cervix. A pregnancy in one of these areas canât grow normally. Doctors will end an ectopic pregnancy to protect you from possible bleeding that could put your life at risk.
Since IUDs prevent pregnancies in your uterus, youâre more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy than a regular pregnancy. But this doesnât mean youâre at a higher risk for ectopic pregnancies in general just because you have an IUD.
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In Rare Instances Its Also Possible For Your Body To Expel The Iud
This basically means it can fall out, leaving you unprotected against pregnancy. But dont get too nervous about this. Although theres not a ton of science on the subject, the available data indicate that this doesnt happen that often. According to the ACOG, expulsion happens in anywhere from 2 to 10 percent of all IUD users. This is most likely to take place soon after insertion, which is why that follow-up and checking your strings can be so important.
Risks If Pregnancy Occurs With An Iud
Because IUDs are so effective at preventing intrauterine pregnancies, if a pregnancy does occur, theres a higher likelihood that it developed outside the uterus. For this reason, if you do become pregnant while using an IUD, you should be evaluated for an ectopic pregnancy.
“The chance of getting pregnant with an IUD is rare,” says Dr. Cackovic. “However, if you do get pregnant with an IUD in place, it’s more likely to be ectopic pregnancy as they primarily occur in the fallopian tubes, away from the contraceptive effect of the device.”
It also is important to understand that you are not at an increased risk for ectopic pregnancy just because you might have an IUD. Pregnancy, if it does occur, is just more than likely to occur outside the uterus with an IUD. For this reason, you should be evaluated right away if you suspect you are pregnant. ” can be very dangerous and cause life-threatening hemorrhage if undiagnosed and untreated,” Dr. Cackovic says.
Conversely, if it is an intrauterine pregnancy and not an ectopic pregnancy, it is generally recommended that the IUD be removed, Dr. Cackovic adds. But even after removal, there are some additional risks associated with pregnancy with an IUD.
“If there is an intrauterine pregnancy with an IUD in place, there are increased risks for miscarriage, infections such as septic abortion and chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, and abruption,” Dr. Meng says.
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Pregnancy After Iud Removal
How soon can you get pregnant after IUD removal? According to some experts, women can get pregnant within the first month after intrauterine device removal. Since this is considered immediate, you do not necessarily need to have it removed earlier for your body to go back to normal.
Of course, the precise answer to how soon can you get pregnant after IUD removal will vary from one person to the next. Pregnancy after IUD removal will take more than one month for some women. Overall, the average time youll need to wait for conception depends on your medical history, age, and whether you have other gynecological problems.
Here are some rough estimates on what to expect when it comes to pregnancy after IUD removal:
- Women below the age of 35 have a 20% chance per month of conceiving a child, with up to 90% conceiving by one full year
- Women above the age of 35 have a 10 to 15% less chance of conceiving per month
- Women over the age of 40 may experience another 5% decrease in chances per month
You Feel Pregnancy Fatigue
Cant get out of bed lately? Even with an IUD, you might be pregnant, Dr. Langdon explains. Fatigue is a big sign that you might be expecting, she says. If youve been pregnant before, you might recognize that all-consuming tiredness you feel early on when youre expecting. Fatigue affects up to 60% of all pregnant women, What To Expect reported. So if all you want to do is sink into your bed and sleep all day, you might want to take a pregnancy test just in case.
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Is There A Risk Of Ectopic Pregnancy With An Iud
Using an IUD puts you at a higher risk of ectopic pregnancies than pregnancy in the general population. Research has shown that the incidence of ectopic pregnancy with Paragard was 0.06% and the incidence of ectopic pregnancy with Mirena and Skyla was 0.1% .
Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies that occur outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy can’t proceed normally because the fertilized egg cannot survive if it is not in the uterus. In addition, if the embryo is left to develop, the growing tissue may cause life-threatening bleeding. If you develop an ectopic pregnancy while Paragard, Mirena, or Skyla is inserted, you may require surgery.
Is It Safe To Get Pregnant After Mirena Removal
It is safe to get pregnant after the removal of Mirena. Having Mirena inserted into the uterus does not lower the chances of conceiving after it has been removed. Women who wish to get pregnant can easily do so after the Mirena has been removed. The device itself works on the basis of its release of hormones such as progesterone which is the main element in the prevention of ovulation and menstruation. When you wish to get pregnant, your doctor will take the IUD out. Once the hormone releaser is away, your body is ready to ovulate and conceive.
Are There Complications of Getting Pregnant After Mirena?
Most women were able to get pregnant soon after removing Mirena. But some of them reported miscarriages, though there are other factors that account for such complications. In some very rare cases, the Mirena may not have been placed properly into the uterus and therefore causes a hole in the uterine wall, thereby embedding itself in the uterus. In these cases, surgery is required to remove the Mirena. If the damage to the tissues is too excessive in some extreme cases, a hysterectomy may be required and pregnancy may not be easily achieved.
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