Getting pregnant when you have an IUD isn’t common, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. I wanted to create this blog post to touch upon this important topic and to answer some of the questions that I get asked from you girls and some of my patients when they are looking into IUD’s as a form of birth control. One of the main reason I started my blog was because I wanted to share knowledge on women’s health and to open the conversation to the topics that aren’t often discussed. So here we go!
Let’s start with the basics. What is an IUD?
The intrauterine device (IUD) is one of the most popular forms of birth control. It is a tiny T shaped device that is placed in your uterus to prevent pregnancy and is extremely effective for long-term use. It’s also it’s easily reversible for when you are ready to have it removed.
Here’s what you need to know about the symptoms of pregnancy with an IUD:
When you have an IUD, your periods might not be as regular to begin with. It is important to tune into your body and look out for other typical pregnancy symptoms such as: nausea, fatigue, and tender breasts.
What happens if you think or find out you are pregnant?
“Dr. Ali—I have the Mirena IUD and I just took a positive pregnancy test! HELP. What do I do?!” If this is you—I encourage you to call your OBGYN ASAP and make an appointment. It’s important to identify where the IUD is. For some people the IUD might have actually exposed (fallen out) and they didn’t notice.
Now if the IUD in the uterus there are two options…
If on pelvic exam we can see the strings it’s recommended to remove the IUD. If left in place it can lead to an infection or miscarriage. So if we can see the strings we gently remove it. I want to be honest and say unfortunately getting pregnant with an IUD in place does have a high chance of miscarriage altogether.
What if you can’t see the strings?
Well it will likely be pushed against the wall of the uterus and often embeds in the placenta. This again is risky and could lead to miscarriage, infection, and can lead to preterm delivery.
Now keep in mind that chance of pregnancy with an IUD is very very low. Usually anywhere from 0.2-0.8 percent chance. So if you are considering an IUD or have one already I wouldn’t be too concerned.
If you have any questions on this topic, I encourage you to reach out to your doctor and I would be more than happy to answer generic questions you girls have in the comments!
