Getting Pregnant With An IUD

I was recently at lunch with a friend when they brought to my attention that someone close to them had gotten pregnant with their IUD. I was shocked. Although, I never deem anything impossible, I had never crossed paths with anyone in this specific situation. It is extremely rare to get pregnant with an IUD. Around 1 in 10,000 women get pregnant with an Intro Uterine Device in place. Just like any method of birth control, it is not going to be 100% effective. That being said, in most cases where pregnancy occurs while having an IUD, the IUD has been misplaced inside the uterus or has fallen out.

 

When getting an IUD inserted it is crucial that you test for placement. This means coming in a month later and checking that it is in the right place in the uterus. They should do this with an ultrasound. Many women skip this visit because they think it’s fine but if the IUD is misplaced then it won’t work correctly.

 

A person’s body can also expel the IUD, meaning it will fall out and leave them unprotected against pregnancy. People can also become pregnant if their IUD expires while still inside them. Remember to replace your IUD on time, you can do it before the expiration date.

 

The symptoms of pregnancy while having an IUD are typically the same as being pregnant without one. This includes nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness. If you are experiencing those symptoms and you’ve missed your period, call your doctor. Many women don’t menstruate when they have an IUD so missing your period might not have much of an effect. Pay attention to other signs and remember to get an in office blood test because they can test pregnancy much earlier than an at home test.

 

If you happen to be pregnant with an IUD in place, there are a few routes you can take. If you decide to keep the baby, there are going to be many pregnancy risks. Women with an IUD in place are 50% more likely to miscarry. It is recommended to remove the IUD if possible and continue the pregnancy. You will still carry the risk of a 25% increase in miscarriage if you do so.

 

There is a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. This is where the fertilized egg stays in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus. If found early this can be treated with medicine or surgery.

 

If you decide to get an abortion they will remove your IUD first and then make sure once again you are pregnant using an ultra sound. Depending how far along you are, they will either do an in office abortion or give you a pill. From all accounts I’ve read online, it seems that clinics prefer to do in house abortions when you’ve gotten pregnant with an IUD but talk to your doctor if you find yourself in this situation.