IUD Risks and Complications (2023)

FAQs

What is a serious complication of IUD use? ›

Infection. One of the most serious complications that can arise because of an IUD is infection. IUD infections are generally a result of the insertion process. The risk of infection is very minimal, and if an infection occurs, it can be treated without removing the IUD.

What are the possible complications of using an IUD? Possible complications of using an IUD include perforation, pelvic infection, and expulsion (when the IUD partially or completely comes out of the uterus). Since IUD insertion is performed by a health professional, perforation is very rare.

An IUD can increase your risk of having a serious infection of the female organs, called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or endometritis (pregnancy-related), which can be serious, even life threatening.

Spotting and bleeding are common after you get an IUD, but heavy or abnormal bleeding could mean it's in the wrong spot. “Heavy vaginal bleeding may accompany a uterine perforation,” Nwegbo-Banks says. You have severe cramping, abnormal discharge, or fever. These are other signs that your IUD has moved.

The major health risks associated with IUD use are perforation of the uterus, pregnancy (both intrauterine and ectopic), and pelvic inflammatory disease. Perforation of the uterus by an IUD is a serious complication and this is possible both during the insertion and later.

The rates of IUD expulsion fall somewhere between . 05% and 8%. There are a few different factors that can affect the possibility of expulsion, like your age and pregnancy history, how long it's been since the IUD was inserted, and even how well your health care provider inserted the IUD in the first place.

Both the pill and IUDs are extremely effective in preventing pregnancy. The IUD is 99% effective, while the pill is 91% effective. The reason the pill is sometimes less effective is due to improper use, such as failure to take it regularly.

Disadvantages: Your periods may become heavier, longer or more painful, though this may improve after a few months. It does not protect against STIs, so you may need to use condoms as well. If you get an infection when you have an IUD fitted, it could lead to a pelvic infection if not treated.

Immediately after insertion, it is important not to insert anything into the vagina for 48 hours (i.e. no tampons, bath, swimming, hot tub, sexual intercourse). There is about 1% chance of the IUD slipping or being expelled, and the chance is highest in the first few weeks.

Common IUD side effects include: irregular bleeding for several months. lighter or shorter periods or no periods at all. symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which include headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, and skin blemishes.

Which IUD is safest? ›

Mirena is the hormonal IUD that's been around the longest, and it's one of the longest lasting (it's been proven effective for up to 7 years in practice, though it's officially FDA-approved for up to 5 years). It's perfectly safe and effective for people who've never given birth.

You can check that your IUD is in the right position by putting a finger in the vagina to feel the IUD threads coming out of the cervix. You should not be able to feel the IUD itself. It is advisable to check your IUD in this way once a month, ideally just after your period finishes.

More serious IUD perforation symptoms arise if the device punctures the uterine wall and affects other organs, or if it causes an infection or internal bleeding: Severe or sudden pelvic or abdominal pain. Shortness of breath. Bruised or swollen abdomen.

Will an IUD Impact Your Fertility After You Take It Out? The simple answer is no, it will not. IUDs are one of the least disruptive ways to control your fertility cycles. Although some women may experience differences in menstrual cycles after removal, the effects are typically temporary.

If an IUD is expelled only partially, it may become lodged in the cervix or vaginal canal, which can cause pain, discomfort, or heavy bleeding. Instead of trying to move the device back into place yourself, call your healthcare provider right away.

You also shouldn't get a Paragard IUD if you have a copper allergy, Wilson's Disease, or a bleeding disorder that makes it hard for your blood to clot. And you shouldn't get a hormonal IUD if you have had breast cancer. Very rarely, the size or shape of someone's uterus makes it hard to place an IUD correctly.

What's the bottom line? Although it's theoretically possible for a tampon to dislodge or pull out an IUD, cases are extremely rare. So there's really little need to worry. If you're concerned, just remember to check your IUD strings each month.

If your IUD has only shifted slightly, you might not notice any signs. However, if your IUD becomes displaced, the signs and symptoms will typically include: not being able to feel the IUD strings with your fingers. feeling the plastic of the IUD.

Insertion Can Hurt

It's common to feel pain or discomfort when your doctor inserts an IUD. Some women feel mild pressure. Others have more intense pain. “I wish I'd known how much it hurts,” says Melissa James, a copy designer in Yorktown, VA.

People usually feel some cramping or pain when they're getting their IUD placed. The pain can be worse for some, but luckily it only lasts for a minute or two. Some doctors tell you to take pain medicine before you get the IUD to help prevent cramps.

Can you use a tampon with an IUD? ›

Yes, you can use a tampon if you have an IUD (intrauterine device). When the IUD is placed, it is guided through your vagina and cervix and then into the uterus. The IUD stays in the uterus—not in the vagina, where a tampon is used. See Long-Acting Reversible Contraception to learn more about the IUD.

Weight gain can happen with hormonal IUDs due to the hormone, progestin. Any IUD weight gain is likely not an increase in body fat, but instead an increase in water retention. The hormone progestin may increase water retention that causes bloating, typically adding about five pounds.

How effective are IUDs when used as birth control? IUDs are one of the best birth control methods out there — more than 99% effective. That means fewer than 1 out of 100 people who use an IUD will get pregnant each year. IUDs are so effective because there's no chance of making a mistake.

It may cause a slight increase in the likelihood of vaginal dryness, flushing, headaches, nausea and acne.

Abstaining from sex helps protect you from developing a serious pelvic inflammatory disease. Also, you may experience uncomfortable side effects that occur for a day or two after your IUD is inserted.

All IUDs have strings on them so your nurse or doctor can pull it out of your uterus when you want it removed. When an IUD is in the right place in your uterus, about 1-2 inches of that string sticks out through your cervix — you may be able to feel it if you put your finger deep into your vagina and touch your cervix.

You don't have to groom down there.

“So many women worry about whether they've waxed or shaved before they come in for an exam, but honestly, I never even notice!” Hill says. Also, as much as you'd like to smell sweet down there for your doc, it's a bad idea to douche before an appointment -- or ever.

On average, it can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months before your body fully adjusts to the IUD. Whether this means no bleeding, constant leakage, or something in between comes down to the type of IUD you have and your own body's reaction to the device. Hormonal IUDs tend to cause a lighter period or no period over time.

If it is bothersome, you have a couple of options—the strings often soften after the IUD has been in place for a few months, but if it is still an issue your provider may be able to cut the strings shorter.

Why is the Mirena IUD being recalled? ›

Beginning in 2012, women who previously inserted Mirena IUDs began filing lawsuits against Bayer alleging that the Mirena IUD caused idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a dangerous fluid build-up in the brain, or perforation of the uterus.

Copper IUDs last the longest. Paragard can last for up to 10 years before needing to be replaced or removed, while hormonal IUDs last between 3 and 6 years. Of the hormonal options, Skyla lasts the shortest (3 years) and Mirena lasts the longest (7 years). Liletta lasts for 6 years and Kyleena lasts for 5 years.

Abstinence is the only birth control that is 100% effective. It means you never have sexual intercourse. It's also the only way to protect yourself from STDs.

The IUD works by creating an environment in your uterus that's inhospitable to sperm and conception. Depending on the type of IUD, your uterine lining thins, your cervical mucus thickens, or you stop ovulating. However, the IUD doesn't block semen and sperm from passing into your vagina and uterus during ejaculation.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are considered a safe, convenient and effective method of birth control. But occasionally these small devices can slip out of place.

Insertion of the IUD can take place at any time during the menstrual cycle provided the woman is not pregnant. Before insertion, a bimanual examination and a sounding of the uterus are necessary to determine the uterus position and the depth of the uterine cavity.

If the IUD has perforated your uterus wall, you'll have to have it surgically removed in the hospital. But if it's simply out of place or has partially expelled, your doctor will remove it during your appointment. First, your cervix will be dilated, or opened. This can be done with a medication called misoprostol.

Check That Your IUD Is in the Right Place

If the strings are in place, so is the device. You can also check yourself by feeling for these thin strings every month, after your period, or if you feel unusual cramping during your period. You should feel just the strings and not the device itself.

Embedded. Part or all of the IUD is embedded in the myometrium. Generally, embedded IUDs require removal, although not emergently. If the IUD is minimally embedded, it may be able to be removed with the standard procedure.

If your IUD is left in your uterus past the expiration date, the most serious danger would be infection. Serious infections can cause infertility. The other risk is that an expired IUD will not be an effective birth control method.

Why do you have to wait a week after IUD? ›

Abstaining from sex helps protect you from developing a serious pelvic inflammatory disease. Also, you may experience uncomfortable side effects that occur for a day or two after your IUD is inserted.

severe pelvic pain after insertion (worse than period cramps) pain or heavy bleeding after insertion which continues for more than a few weeks. sudden changes in periods. pain during sex.

Although the levonorgestrel-releasing IUD can be inserted in a nonpregnant woman at any time, including immediately postpartum, the risk of perforation is greatest during the 12 weeks after giving birth and while the patient is lactating.

You can check that your IUD is in the right position by putting a finger in the vagina to feel the IUD threads coming out of the cervix. You should not be able to feel the IUD itself. It is advisable to check your IUD in this way once a month, ideally just after your period finishes.

An intrauterine device or IUD is a popular birth control device. Symptoms of a moved IUD include being able to feel the IUD with your fingers or during sex, painful intercourse, abdominal cramping, foul-smelling vaginal discharge and fever.

There's a slight chance that your IUD won't come out easily. It may get stuck in the wall of your uterus. If this happens, your doctor may need to widen your cervix with medicine and use forceps to pull it out. They may use a thin, lighted scope to look inside your vagina and uterus to remove the IUD.

We identified low-lying IUDs, defined as IUDs located in the lower uterine segment and/or cervix, during a screening ultrasound examination systematically conducted at study enrollment for a large prospective study of uterine fibroid development [24].

The IUD works by creating an environment in your uterus that's inhospitable to sperm and conception. Depending on the type of IUD, your uterine lining thins, your cervical mucus thickens, or you stop ovulating. However, the IUD doesn't block semen and sperm from passing into your vagina and uterus during ejaculation.

Weight gain can happen with hormonal IUDs due to the hormone, progestin. Any IUD weight gain is likely not an increase in body fat, but instead an increase in water retention. The hormone progestin may increase water retention that causes bloating, typically adding about five pounds.

How long does it take for IUD strings to soften? ›

If it is bothersome, you have a couple of options—the strings often soften after the IUD has been in place for a few months, but if it is still an issue your provider may be able to cut the strings shorter.