Can You Become Pregnant With an IUD In?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs Pregnancy Possible?Signs Your IUD Is Out of PlaceSymptoms of Pregnancy With an IUDRisks of PregnancyWhen to Seek Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Is Pregnancy Possible?

Signs Your IUD Is Out of Place

Symptoms of Pregnancy With an IUD

Risks of Pregnancy

When to Seek Care

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular form of reversible birth control. Bothhormonal and copper IUDsare more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use. However, it still is possible to become pregnant if you have an IUD.

Becoming pregnant with an IUD inserted can be dangerous, so it’s important to contact your healthcare provider if you suspect you may be pregnant. Your healthcare provider will discuss your options for terminating the pregnancy or what to do if you want to continue with the pregnancy.

Verywell / Danie Drankwalter

Is It Possible to Get Pregnant With an IUD?

TheIUDis a small T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus for long-acting, reversible contraception. It is considered a highly effective form of birth control.Theplacement of the IUDis a simple procedure usually done in your healthcare professional’s office. Still, there is a very small risk of unwanted pregnancy, and it is possible to become pregnant with an IUD.

The failure rate of hormonal IUDs may be as low as 0.02% to 0.04%, meaning pregnancy could happen in about one to two out of every 5,000 people with an IUD. Even though the failure rate of copper IUDs is higher, it is still only 0.8%, meaning pregnancy could happen in 40 out of every 5,000 people with this kind of IUD.

There are a few reasons pregnancy could occur in people with an IUD.

Having Unprotected Intercourse Before an IUD Is Effective

In some cases, a person could become pregnant before the IUD is effective since not all types are effective immediately.

Copper IUDs, likeParagard, protect against pregnancy immediately because the copper changes the environment in the uterus, making it toxic to both the sperm and the egg.This prevents the sperm from reaching the egg and the egg from attaching to the uterine wall.

Hormonal IUDs, likeMirenaorKyleena, take about seven days to start working.These types are generally considered effective immediately if inserted during your period because of where you are in your menstrual and ovulation cycles.

If you have a hormonal IUD inserted, it’s recommended to use a backup contraceptive method or abstain from intercourse for seven days.

An IUD Shifting Its Position Internally

In other cases, pregnancy could occur if the IUD shifts its position. In a small number of people, the IUD may slip partially or entirely out of the uterus (called expulsion). If the IUD shifts, even partly out of position, it will no longer be fully effective at preventing pregnancy.

Keeping an IUD in the Body Past Its Expiration Date

Another potential way pregnancy can occur is if the IUD remains in your body longer than its recommended expiration date. The amount of time an IUD can stay in and remain effective depends on the type of IUD. The manufacturer recommendations for a few IUDs are as follows:

If you suspect any problems with your IUD or that you’re pregnant, talk with your healthcare professional immediately.

These signs indicate your IUD is out of place and you may be at risk of pregnancy:

While IUD removal is usually an in-office procedure as simple as IUD placement, it is not advised to try to remove an IUD at home. Although rare, complications (which include the IUD having moved or being embedded in uterine tissue) may arise and require medical attention.

If you do become pregnant with an IUD, you may notice some of the typicalsigns of early pregnancy, such as:

Taking a Pregnancy TestIf you suspect you’re pregnant, consider taking an at-homepregnancy test. These tests claim to be up to 99% effective.In most cases, the tests provide accurate results, but their reliability depends on following the instructions and not testing too early after conception.It’s also recommended that you discuss your concerns and symptoms with your healthcare provider to ensure the IUD is working correctly. They may also perform a pregnancy test in the office to confirm whether you are pregnant.

Taking a Pregnancy Test

If you suspect you’re pregnant, consider taking an at-homepregnancy test. These tests claim to be up to 99% effective.In most cases, the tests provide accurate results, but their reliability depends on following the instructions and not testing too early after conception.It’s also recommended that you discuss your concerns and symptoms with your healthcare provider to ensure the IUD is working correctly. They may also perform a pregnancy test in the office to confirm whether you are pregnant.

If you suspect you’re pregnant, consider taking an at-homepregnancy test. These tests claim to be up to 99% effective.In most cases, the tests provide accurate results, but their reliability depends on following the instructions and not testing too early after conception.

It’s also recommended that you discuss your concerns and symptoms with your healthcare provider to ensure the IUD is working correctly. They may also perform a pregnancy test in the office to confirm whether you are pregnant.

Risks of Pregnancy With an IUD

While pregnancy with an IUD is uncommon, it can be dangerous for the woman and the fetus. In some cases, a pregnancy with an IUD may result in anectopic pregnancy.

An ectopic pregnancy is a rare condition in which the egg attaches to tissue outside of the uterus, such as the lining of the fallopian tubes. If this type of pregnancy isn’t terminated, it can cause tears, bleeding, and even death.

Some initial symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include those that accompany typical pregnancy symptoms, like a missed period, tender breasts, and nausea. Other include:

It is important to consult a healthcare provider with these symptoms immediately before other symptoms, which may indicate a ruptured fallopian tube, develop. These include sudden and severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, and/or weakness, dizziness, or fainting.

Becoming pregnant with an IUD in place increases your risk of:

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you suspect any problems with your IUD or that you’re pregnant, see a healthcare professional immediately. Being pregnant with an IUD in place can be dangerous, and it’s important to determine if you’re pregnant.

Terminating the Pregnancy

If you’re considering ending the pregnancy, talk with your healthcare professional. In cases like an ectopic pregnancy, the pregnancy must be terminated because of health risks to the pregnant person. Also, the embryo is unable to survive when growing outside the uterus.

Pregnancies can be terminated with:

Depending on where you live, your options for terminating the pregnancy may vary.

What Happens if You Want to Continue the Pregnancy?

If you choose to continue with the pregnancy, a healthcare professional will likely remove the IUD. This may help reduce the risks of complications, but the pregnancy will still be considered high risk.

The risk of an ectopic pregnancy as opposed to an intrauterine pregnancy is higher with IUDs than with other types of birth control.However, it is important to note that in general IUD users have a significantly lower risk of pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy, compared to those not using contraception or utilizing other barrier methods of contraception.

Summary

An IUD is a highly effective form of birth control. In rare instances, you can still become pregnant with an IUD, especially if it has become dislodged or is past its effective period. Pregnancy with an IUD in place brings increased risks to the pregnant person and the fetus.

If you suspect your IUD is not effective, contact your healthcare professional. If you are pregnant and wish to continue the pregnancy, you will likely need to have the IUD removed and be monitored for complications throughout your pregnancy.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception and birth control methods.Klein DA, Arnold JJ, Reese ES.Provision of contraception: Key recommendations from the CDC.AFP. 2015;91(9):625-633.University of Michigan Health Service.Intrauterine device.Planned Parenthood.How does IUD removal work?.Foxcroft KF, Callaway LK, Byrne NM, Webster J.Development and validation of a pregnancy symptoms inventory.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013;13:3. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-13-3Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy tests.Li C, Zhao W-H, Meng C-X, et al.Contraceptive use and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: A multi-center case-control study.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115031The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy.Ozgu-Erdinc AS, Tasdemir UG, Uygur D, Aktulay A, Tasdemir N, Gulerman HC.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis.Contraception. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002American Academy of Family Physicians.Ending a pregnancy.Neth MR, Thompson MA, Gibson CB, Gullett JP, Pigott DC.Ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the presence of an intrauterine device.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2019;3(1):51-54. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2019.1.41345Schultheis P, Montoya MN, Zhao Q, Archer J, Madden T, Peipert JF.Contraception and ectopic pregnancy risk: a prospective observational analysis.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021;224(2):228-229. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.013

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception and birth control methods.Klein DA, Arnold JJ, Reese ES.Provision of contraception: Key recommendations from the CDC.AFP. 2015;91(9):625-633.University of Michigan Health Service.Intrauterine device.Planned Parenthood.How does IUD removal work?.Foxcroft KF, Callaway LK, Byrne NM, Webster J.Development and validation of a pregnancy symptoms inventory.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013;13:3. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-13-3Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy tests.Li C, Zhao W-H, Meng C-X, et al.Contraceptive use and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: A multi-center case-control study.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115031The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy.Ozgu-Erdinc AS, Tasdemir UG, Uygur D, Aktulay A, Tasdemir N, Gulerman HC.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis.Contraception. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002American Academy of Family Physicians.Ending a pregnancy.Neth MR, Thompson MA, Gibson CB, Gullett JP, Pigott DC.Ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the presence of an intrauterine device.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2019;3(1):51-54. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2019.1.41345Schultheis P, Montoya MN, Zhao Q, Archer J, Madden T, Peipert JF.Contraception and ectopic pregnancy risk: a prospective observational analysis.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021;224(2):228-229. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.013

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception and birth control methods.Klein DA, Arnold JJ, Reese ES.Provision of contraception: Key recommendations from the CDC.AFP. 2015;91(9):625-633.University of Michigan Health Service.Intrauterine device.Planned Parenthood.How does IUD removal work?.Foxcroft KF, Callaway LK, Byrne NM, Webster J.Development and validation of a pregnancy symptoms inventory.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013;13:3. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-13-3Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy tests.Li C, Zhao W-H, Meng C-X, et al.Contraceptive use and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: A multi-center case-control study.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115031The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy.Ozgu-Erdinc AS, Tasdemir UG, Uygur D, Aktulay A, Tasdemir N, Gulerman HC.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis.Contraception. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002American Academy of Family Physicians.Ending a pregnancy.Neth MR, Thompson MA, Gibson CB, Gullett JP, Pigott DC.Ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the presence of an intrauterine device.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2019;3(1):51-54. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2019.1.41345Schultheis P, Montoya MN, Zhao Q, Archer J, Madden T, Peipert JF.Contraception and ectopic pregnancy risk: a prospective observational analysis.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021;224(2):228-229. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.013

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception and birth control methods.

Klein DA, Arnold JJ, Reese ES.Provision of contraception: Key recommendations from the CDC.AFP. 2015;91(9):625-633.

University of Michigan Health Service.Intrauterine device.

Planned Parenthood.How does IUD removal work?.

Foxcroft KF, Callaway LK, Byrne NM, Webster J.Development and validation of a pregnancy symptoms inventory.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013;13:3. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-13-3

Office on Women’s Health.Pregnancy tests.

Li C, Zhao W-H, Meng C-X, et al.Contraceptive use and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: A multi-center case-control study.PLoS ONE. 2014;9(12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115031

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Ectopic pregnancy.

Ozgu-Erdinc AS, Tasdemir UG, Uygur D, Aktulay A, Tasdemir N, Gulerman HC.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis.Contraception. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002

American Academy of Family Physicians.Ending a pregnancy.

Neth MR, Thompson MA, Gibson CB, Gullett JP, Pigott DC.Ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the presence of an intrauterine device.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2019;3(1):51-54. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2019.1.41345

Schultheis P, Montoya MN, Zhao Q, Archer J, Madden T, Peipert JF.Contraception and ectopic pregnancy risk: a prospective observational analysis.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021;224(2):228-229. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.013

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