You Missed Your Period
If you have an IUD, then you know some of its less than thrilling side effects, the biggest one of which is bleeding. And if your IUD is copper, it can cause heavy bleeding, as was found in the study, âSide effects from the copper IUD: do they decrease over time?â But while your period might get heavier , a missed period is often a marker of pregnancy, the Cleveland Clinic reported, whether you have an IUD or not.
Is There Any Chance I Can Get Pregnant While I Have An Iud
It’s tiny, but, yes, there is chance. Of 1,000 women using Paragard typically eight will become pregnant in a given year. For 1,000 women using a hormonal IUD , two will have IUDs that fail.
This can happen for two reasons. There’s the possibility that a woman could have an expulsion and not realize it. This is especially true for women using Paragard, who often experience heavy bleeding after insertion and heavier periods during the first few months or year.
“The first two periods after Paragard you might have a blood clot the size of a half-dollar,” said MacIsaac. “So the IUD could fall out in the toilet, and you may not notice.”
“There’s, like, a billion sperm every time a man ejaculates, and they’re really stubborn”
And even if the IUD stays in, there’s a small chance that somehow, some way, a very persistent sperm will manage to still swim its way through the IUD’s best defenses. Or as MacIsaac put it, “Theres, like, a billion sperm every time a man ejaculates, and theyre really stubborn.”
With the copper IUD, for example, there’s that teeny, tiny chance that the copper ions that block sperm from entering the uterus left a tiny bit uncovered. And a sperm happened to make its way to the egg.
To repeat, this is rare. But it does happen, even when a doctor has inserted an IUD perfectly.
Getting Pregnant In Your 20s
Many sources, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, still believe that a womans best years to have a baby are her 20s. A healthy couple under 30 has approximately a 95% chance of getting pregnant after a year of having unprotected sex. Unless you have a health condition impacting fertility, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome , you can reasonably expect to get pregnant in your 20s with relative ease. Your risks of miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and genetic problems with your baby are also lowest in your 20s, given that you are overall healthy.
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You Use The Pull Out Method
This old-school method of preventing pregnancy is a far cry from a myth. It’s not foolproof and it can certainly result in pregnancy, but it does significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. In case you need a refresher course on the pull-out method, also known as withdrawal, it involves the male partner pulling out of the vagina before he ejaculates. The problem, however, is that pre-ejaculate or precum, the bodily fluid that’s released from the penis before an actual ejaculation, very well may contain active and viable sperm.
Additionally, Mark Trolice, M.D., reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at My Fertility CARE: The IVF Center in Winter Park, Florida, explains that most men aren’t aware of when they release this precum. “Because it’s hard to predict when pre-ejaculation occurs, the withdrawal method is often fraught with peril and certainly not the most reliable method out there,” he says.
How hard is it to get pregnant while using withdrawal? Withdrawal is about 96 percent effective with perfect use and 82 percent effective with typical use. If you really want to avoid pregnancy, choose a different contraceptive method
How Does It Happen
In a small number of people between 2 and 10 percent the IUD can slip partly or completely out of the uterus.
If this happens, you can get pregnant. You might not realize the IUD has fallen out of place.
In some cases, pregnancy can happen because the IUD hasnt started to work.
The copper IUD, Paragard, protects against pregnancy immediately.
But hormonal IUDs, such as Mirena and Skyla, can take up to seven days to become effective. You could get pregnant if you have sex without a condom or other form of protection during this window.
You may also experience IUD failure if the IUD has been in place for longer than the manufacturer recommends.
Although one 2015 study found that Mirena may protect against pregnancy for a full year after its FDA-approved expiration date, more research is needed to confirm this finding.
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How Effective Is Paragard
No type of birth control is 100% effective, the only 100% effective method is abstinence . IUDs, such as Paragard, 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. Paragard will not protect against STDs, only condoms do this to a certain extent.
What To Do If You Get Pregnant With An Iud
First and foremost, if you find or even suspect you are pregnant and you have an IUD, contact your healthcare provider immediately. He or she can talk to you about your options and your risk of complications if you choose to continue the pregnancy. You may choose to terminate your pregnancy or continue to carry the baby.
If you choose to continue your pregnancy, your healthcare provider will likely remove the IUD if its possible. This decreases the likelihood of complications, but you are still more likely to experience complications when compared to someone who didnt have an IUD when they got pregnant.
With close monitoring, care, and early removal of the IUD, many women do go on to have healthy babies after getting pregnant with an IUD.
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Contact The Experts At Raleigh Gynecology And Wellness For More Information About Iud Removal
When you are ready to have your IUD removed, contact the specialists at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness to schedule an appointment. They are available to answer your questions about what to expect after removal, how to protect your reproductive health, and help you with your goal of getting pregnant.
Are There Any Side Effects From Using The Hormonal Iud
Possible side effects include:
- When it is first inserted some users have period-type cramping that usually settles after a few days.
- Sometimes the IUD can come out. This is more common in the first 3 months of it being inserted.
- Your period will change. Spotting or frequent bleeding is common in the first 3 to 6 months. By 6 months around 95% of users will have a light regular period or no bleeding at all .
- You may experience tender breasts, headaches, skin changes and mood changes. These side effects nearly always settle with time. The hormonal IUD has not been shown to cause weight gain.
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Chances Of Getting Pregnant With An Iud
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Risks Of Becoming Pregnant With An Iud
Intrauterine devices small, flexible devices shaped like the letter T that are inserted into a woman’s uterus by a healthcare providerare one of the most effective reversible methods of birth control available. That said, around one of 100 women with an IUD get pregnant each year, with the highest risk occurring within the first year following the insertion.
While it is rare to become pregnant with an IUD, it does occur, and it is important to learn about the risks and complications associated with an IUD pregnancy.
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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.
During the removal procedure, you will lie down on the exam table like you would for a pelvic examination..To remove the IUD, your doctor will insert a speculum and find the IUD strings that hang into your vagina. If needed, your doctor may use a small brush or tool to coax the strings into view.Once the strings are located, your doctor will use forceps to grasp the strings and pull the IUD gently down through your cervix, through your vagina, and out of your body. You likely will feel a little cramping as it passes through your cervix.
What Happens If I Get Pregnant With An Iud
The intrauterine device is one of the most popular and reliable form of reversible birth control on themarket. Its a small T-shaped device made of either copper or hormone-embedded plasticthat is inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity and designed to preventfertilization. There are two strings attached that a doctor, advanced practicenurse, or physician assistant can use to remove the IUD when it expires , when a patient chooses to becomepregnant, or, in rare cases, when a complication develops.
About 10 percent of women choose this type ofbirth control because the risk of pregnancy is so low less than 1 percent peryear. Many women have an IUD placed right after delivery so they go homefrom the hospital with an established birth control method.
However, no form of birth control is 100percent effective. While rare, its possible to become pregnant while using anIUD. Such was the case for a patient I saw in the spring of 2018. She had anIUD, and when she took a home pregnancy test, it was positive. The patient camein for an ultrasound, and the reason for the IUD failure was obvious the IUDwas sitting in the cervix, not higher up in the uterus where it could have beenthree times as effective at preventing pregnancy.
In the rare event that pregnancy occurs whenan IUD is in place, there are risks to the patient and the pregnancy. Womenneed to seek care from an Ob/Gyn to reduce the risk of serious complications.
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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.
Who Can Use Iuds
It is recommended to almost all healthy women to use IUDs. However, one should avoid using IUDs if there is a high probability of catching an STD through a variety of partners. IUDs do not help in protecting a person from catching STD. Sizes and shapes of IUDs may also pose a problem for various numbers of women. However, women having the following concerns are not advised to use IUDs:
- Pregnancy.
- STD or recent pelvic infection.
- Cervical or Uterus cancer
- Vaginal bleeding.
Nonetheless, certain precautions also need to be kept in mind before choosing the type of IUD you wish to use. For example, you cannot opt to use the Copper IUD if you are allergic to Copper. Also, for that matter, you have Wilsons disease because you cannot afford to have any more amount of Copper in your body. If you are suffering from liver disease or have the risk of having breast cancer or already have it, then it is advised not to use the hormonal IUD. Discuss your requirements with IUD specialist and see what suits your body.
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Even With Iuds There’s A Chance Of Pregnancy
What are the chances of an IUD not working? Can you get pregnant with an IUD?
No method of birth control is perfect, but the intrauterine device is one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy. The risk of getting pregnant when an IUD is in place is less than 1 percent.
Another advantage of the IUD, compared to other birth control options, is convenience. Once it is placed, the woman does not need to do anything for it to work. There are two different IUDs available in the United States. Both are small, plastic devices. One contains copper . The other contains a progesterone-like hormone . The ParaGard device lasts up to 12 years. The Mirena type is changed after five years.
The progesterone-like hormone in the Mirena acts within the uterus and only minimal amounts actually get into the bloodstream. Women who have significant menstrual cramps or heaving bleeding may prefer this device. Most women notice a decrease in cramping and less blood loss. But it can vary.
The IUD does not prevent sexually transmitted infections . It is not a good choice for women who are at increased risk for STIs. This includes women who have had a prior pelvic infection and those who are not in mutually monogamous relationships. The IUD should not be used in women who have an abnormally shaped uterine cavity.
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What Happens If You Do Become Pregnant While An Iud Is Inserted
If you do become pregnant with an IUD in place, and the egg has implanted itself in the lining of your uterus, then you are at an increased risk of miscarriage, sepsis, premature labor, and premature delivery.
You should go to your doctor straight away and get the IUD removed if the strings are visible or can be retrieved however, the success of this depends on how far along your pregnancy already is. Research has shown the risk of miscarriage is up to 27% when the IUD was removed compared with 77% if the IUD was left in place.
Leaving an IUD in place if you become pregnant increases your risk of spontaneous abortion, septic abortion, septicemia, septic shock, premature labor, premature delivery, a hysterectomy or permanent infertility, or death.
If an IUD cannot be removed or if you choose not to have it removed, you will need to monitor yourself and report immediately to your doctor any flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, cramping, pain, bleeding, vaginal discharge, or leakage of fluid, or any other symptom that suggests complications of the pregnancy.
Women who are already pregnant should not have an IUD inserted because it may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Can The Iud Cause Any Serious Health Problems
In about 1 in 500 users, 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 users 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 . This should be medically assessed urgently and treated as required.
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.
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