What Is The Likelihood Of Getting Pregnant With An Iud

The Risks Of Pregnancy With An Iud

I Got Pregnant With An IUD

An IUD pregnancy comes with certain risks and complications. “You’re 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 it’s important to note that you’re 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.

What Happens If I Get Pregnant While Im Using An Iud

If you become pregnant while you are using an IUD, it is important that you 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 losing the pregnancy or delivering the baby early.

The Truth About Getting Pregnant When You Have An Iud

Getting pregnant with an IUD is exactly how things arent supposed to go. After all, if you decide to get an IUD, the entire point is to have an incredibly reliable form of contraception that allows you to control whenif everyou get pregnant. But getting pregnant with an IUD can happen in some extremely rare occasions.

Track athlete Sarah Brown knows this firsthand. In July 2016, just four months after giving birth, Brown was training in hopes of making the U.S. Olympic track team for the 1,500 meter run. Brown didnt plan to be pregnant while training for the Olympics, but her copper IUD failedjust as she was running her best race times ever.

I went from crushing workouts to, all of a sudden, in the second interval of a workout, I thought I was running in sand. Racing wasnt fun anymore, Brown told New York magazines The Cut in 2016 when she was training. It was really frustrating because we had concentrated so hard on doing things right, and I didnt feel like I had overtrained. It was like, Why is this happening? Whats wrong with me?

Brown eventually took an at-home pregnancy test that was negative, but a few weeks later, she went to see her doctor who determined that Brown was, in fact, pregnant. Browns IUD was removed, and her daughter was born in March 2016.

So, how likely is it that getting pregnant with an IUD will happen to you the way it happened to Brown?

You May Like: Does Early Pregnancy Cause Headaches

Has Anyone Ever Gotten Pregnant With An Iud

Hi ladies, so maybe its the quarantine and the fact that I dont have much of anything else to do but sit around and think

Little bit of backstory, I got my IUD in February and I literally bled until about a week ago and then stopped.

Ever since this past weekend, Ive had sore breasts and Ive been nauseous with a headache on Monday, Tuesday and today. Im also extremely fatigued.

I am very attentive to my body… this isnt normal symptoms for me, not even after a period.

… Once again I think Im going crazy because of the quarantine But awhile ago I did the DIY homemade sugar pregnancy test and it indicated a positive Of course I know that that whole thing isnt scientifically backed but anyway… all it did was catapult my low key anxiety

I have a best friend who got pregnant TWICE with an IUD .

I guess what Im asking is… what do you all think about my symptoms? Am I crazily overreacting? Should I be concerned?

I would call my doctor or go to the store for an actual pregnancy test but its almost midnight so

You Feel Pregnancy Fatigue

8 Effective Tips For Getting Pregnant On Birth Control

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.

Read Also: Can You Get Pregnant With An Iud Kyleena

Iuds Do Not Give Protection From Stis

Neither type of IUD gives protection from sexually transmissible infections . Its important to practise safer sex, as well as to prevent an unintended pregnancy. The best way to lessen the risk of STIs is to use barrier methods such as condoms for oral, vaginal and anal sex with all new sexual partners. Condoms can be used with IUDs.

Is The Removal Process Complicated

In most cases, removing or replacing an IUD is pretty straightforwardâthough you cannot do it yourself. When youre ready to have your IUD changed or removed, your provider will use forceps to pull on the IUD strings gently. When your provider does this, the IUD arms will fold in as it comes out of your uturus.

Oh hi! You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts for cutting-edge wellness brands, and exclusive Well+Good content. , our online community of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards instantly.

Dont Miss: Can You Donate Plasma While Pregnant

Recommended Reading: How To Get Pregnant Very Fast

How Can You Get Pregnant Using An Iud

A woman’s photo of her newborn baby just delivered, and with the intrauterine device that failed to prevent her pregnancy clenched in his tiny fist has gone viral. But how does a woman get pregnant while using an IUD?

The woman, Lucy Hellein of Fort Mitchell, Alabama, posted the photo of her newborn son to Facebook last week with the caption Mirena fail!” according to Metro.co.uk. A surgeon discovered the IUD behind the placenta during the delivery, according to Metro. Hellein told Metro that this was her third Mirena IUD, which she had inserted last summer. But in December, she found out she was 18 weeks pregnant. Her doctors initially assumed the IUD had fallen out, but then it turned up during her C-section.

Related: How to get pregnant: Tips and facts to increase fertility

An IUD is a type of long-acting, reversible contraception that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Pregnancy among women who have IUDs is very rare. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , IUDs are one of the most effective forms of birth control, with a failure rate of less than 1 percent during the first year of typical use. That’s about the same rate as sterilization procedures such as “tube tying,” ACOG said. According to Mirena, which makes a hormonal type of IUD, fewer than eight out of 1,000 women become pregnant over five years using the device.

You Use The Pull Out Method

How long will it take to get pregnant after removing the IUD Mirena?

This old-school method of preventing pregnancy is a far cry from a myth. Its 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 thats 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 arent aware of when they release this precum. Because its 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

Read Also: How To Symptoms Of Pregnancy

What Are The Chances Of Pregnancy With An Iud

Thankfully, the odds of conceiving with an IUD inserted is extremely low. “IUDs are very effective,” says Dr. Culwell. “In general, less than 1 percent of women with an IUD get pregnant each year.” In fact, the five brands of IUDs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the U.S. are all more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, according to the companies.

Of course, you can further minimize the chances of pregnancy with an IUD by also using condoms, which have a 13 percent typical failure rate, according to the CDC. This form of contraception blocks sperm from entering the uterus and thus prevents pregnancy and, unlike IUDs, also prevents STI transmission, per the CDC.

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.

Don’t Miss: What Are Early Early Signs Of Pregnancy

Are There Any Problems With Iuds

The most common side effects of the IUD include:

  • irregular bleeding for the first few months
  • with the copper IUD, heavier periods with more cramps
  • lighter and shorter periods with some kinds of progestin IUDs
  • PMS-like symptoms such as moodiness, headaches, acne, nausea, and breast tenderness with the hormonal IUD

Rare problems include:

Expulsion. An IUD can come out of the uterus by accident . Sometimes a woman doesn’t know this has happened. If an IUD comes even part of the way out, it does not protect against pregnancy. After someone has an IUD inserted, she’ll need to go back for a follow-up visit to check that the IUD is properly in place.

Perforation of the uterus. There’s an extremely small risk that an IUD might push through the wall of the uterus while it is being put in.

Pelvic inflammatory disease . There’s a very low risk of infection from bacteria getting into the uterus during IUD insertion. Most such infections happen in the first 20 days after placement of the IUD.

How Effective Is An Iud

Milenium Home Tips: chances of getting pregnant on mirena after 5 years

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.

You May Like: What To Wear While Pregnant

Does An Iud Help Prevent Stds

No. The IUD does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases . Couples who are having sex must always use condoms along with the IUD to protect against STDs.

A doctor or nurse practitioner will check to be sure a woman doesn’t have any STDs before putting in an IUD. Getting an IUD put in while she has an STD could lead to pelvic inflammatory disease .

Abstinence is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.

Myth: Sexual Desire And Sexual Pleasure

Some couples do not want to use the IUD because they incorrectly believe that the IUD will cause inconvenience during sex, pain for the male partner because the strings will hurt the penis, or that using the IUD causes discomfort and pain for the woman during sex.

Fact: It might make you more relaxed about unintended pregnancies and enjoy sex even more!

There is no reason why an IUD should negatively affect sexual pleasure. On the contrary, being free from fear of pregnancy may allow both partners, especially the woman, to enjoy their sexual life.

There is no reason why an IUD should cause discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse unless the woman is already having cramps, which sometimes occur during the first few weeks after insertion. Sexual intercourse cannot displace an IUD.

Don’t Miss: When Are You More Prone To Get Pregnant

Improper Iud Placement Due To Migration

The proper placement is key to the IUDs effectiveness. Once you choose to use this form of birth control, your healthcare professional will place the device at the fundus of the uterus. This is the top of the organ in between where the fallopian tubes attach.

Unfortunately, even when an experienced doctor places the IUD accurately in place, the device can move into the cervix or other parts of the body. Women younger than 25 and those with severe period cramps or heavy bleeding are more at risk for this movement. Certain medications and herbal supplements have also been shown to interact with hormonal therapies.

Myth: Change Of Menstrual Pattern

Can I miscarry if I get pregnant right after having the Mirena IUD removed?

Many couples do not want to use the IUD because they incorrectly believe that using the IUD will cause either no monthly bleeding or heavier, painful, and more frequent menstrual bleeding, and this is harmful for your system.

Fact: change in bleeding patterns are not harmful

Women can experience changes in bleeding patterns depending on the type of IUD.

Women using copper-bearing IUDs may experience:

  • Heavy and prolonged monthly bleeding
  • Irregular bleeding
  • More cramps and pain during monthly bleeding

These bleeding changes are normal and usually are not signs of illness. They are most common in the first 3 to 6 months after insertion and usually lessen with time. A provider should evaluate for an underlying condition unrelated to method use if:

  • Cramping continues and occurs between monthly bleeding
  • Heavy or prolonged bleeding continues, or if bleeding starts suddenly after several months of normal bleeding or long after the IUD was inserted, or
  • Irregular bleeding persists after 6 months, or starts suddenly after several months of normal bleeding.

Severe anaemia requires careful consideration because if heavier menstrual periods are experienced, the additional monthly blood loss could worsen existing anaemia. The anaemia should be treated before an IUD is inserted. The LNG-IUD may actually help to reduce anaemia by reducing blood loss.

Women using the LNG-IUD may experience heavy, prolonged, or irregular bleeding in the first few months, but then experience:

Also Check: What To Do If You Are Not Getting Pregnant

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.

fbShare Email

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.

Get the latest news on Long Islands reopening from COVID-19 restrictions, updated safety guidelines and vaccination rates.

Is It Actually Possible

Yes, you can get pregnant while using an IUD but its rare.

IUDs are more than 99 percent effective. This means that less than 1 out of every 100 people who have an IUD will become pregnant.

All IUDs hormonal, non-hormonal, or copper have a similar failure rate.

Read on to learn why this happens, your options for emergency contraception, when to take a pregnancy test, and more.

You May Like: What Is Safe To Take For Heartburn While Pregnant

What Causes An Iud To Fail

Your IUD may not prevent pregnancy if it:

  • Falls out. If the IUD falls out of your vagina, 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. But itâs still less than 1%. 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.

Related Posts

Recent Stories