Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSteps to TakeRisks and ComplicationsPregnancy SymptomsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Steps to Take
Risks and Complications
Pregnancy Symptoms
Frequently Asked Questions
This article will go over how pregnancy with an IUD can happen. It will also discuss what to do if you think you might be pregnant even though you have an IUD.
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What to Do If You Suspect Pregnancy With an IUD
According to a 2018 research review,unintended pregnancy rates in the first year after IUD insertion are 0.8% for the non-hormonal IUDs and 0.2% for the hormonal IUDs.
It is not uncommon for people with an IUD to assume incorrectly they are pregnant. People may have someirregular bleedingfollowing IUD insertion, and others will stop having their periods altogether. If in doubt, take a pregnancy test.
If you think that you have conceived while using an IUD, there are three steps you should immediately take:
Sometimes, an IUD can move out of place in the uterus. It might get stuck in the wall of the uterus or even come out.If you think your IUD has started to come out, youcan’t feel the stringsor they feel shorter or longer than normal, call your provider. If you have intense pain and bleeding, seek immediate medical attention.
Potential Risks of Pregnancy With an IUD
While you’re not likely to get pregnant with an IUD, the highest risk is in the first year following IUD insertion.If the IUD wholly or partially falls out of the uterus (expulsion), it increases the risk of pregnancy. IUD expulsion happens in about 2% to 10% of cases.
If you do get pregnant with an IUD in place, there are several reasons why providers recommend IUD removal, including an increased risk ofmiscarriage, infection, andpreterm delivery. Removing the IUD significantly reduces the risk of complications but does not eliminate them.
Miscarriage
People who become pregnant with an IUD are more likely to miscarry. Studies have shown that people who decide to leave the IUD in place after conception have a 40% to 50% greater risk of a miscarriage than people who have the devices removed.
Removing the IUD early in pregnancy appears to reduce the risk of miscarriage. However, the overallrisk of miscarriageis still higher if you get pregnant with an IUD than it is in people who get pregnant without an IUD.
Preterm Birth
Studies have shown that removing an IUD after conception reduces the rate of miscarriage from 54% to 20% and preterm delivery from 18% to 4%.
Infection
There is always a possibility of an infection calledchorioamnionitisin people who have IUDs. Chorioamnionitis is a condition of theplacental membranesand theamnioticfluidthat surrounds the fetus. It is severe and potentially life-threatening.
Taking your IUD out decreases the risk of chorioamnionitis—however, there is still some risk.
Placental Abruption
There may also be a link between becoming pregnant with an IUD and developing a complication where the placenta separates from theuteruseither before or during delivery (placental abruption).
This complication can lead to significant blood loss, pregnancy loss, and, in some cases, death of the pregnant person.
Hormone Exposure
Of the five IUDs approved for use in the United States, only one is non-hormonal (Paragard). The other four are hormonal:
If you get pregnant with a hormonal IUD in place, the device will continue to deliver the hormoneprogestinto your uterus. The effect of the exposure on the fetus has not been established, but animal studies have suggested that it could increase the risk of congenital abnormalities.
Symptoms of Pregnancy
While it’s uncommon, it’s possible to get pregnant while you have an IUD. If an IUD has come out, you will no longer be protected against pregnancy.
If you havesigns and symptoms of pregnancy, talk to your provider. Common pregnancy symptoms include:
Summary
An IUD is a reliable form of birth control, but there can be problems with the devices that mean you’re at risk of becoming pregnant.
If you think your IUD has moved or has come out, talk to your provider. They can find out if the IUD is still in place. You may need to use a backup form of birth control until you’re sure that the IUD is still effective.
If you have intense cramps and vaginal bleeding and can’t feel the strings of your IUD or they feel different than they normally do, these can be a sign of a more serious problem where the IUD goes through the wall of your uterus. Seek emergency medical care.
How to Choose the Right IUD
If you get pregnant after inserting an IUD, contact your obstetrician immediately.
A pregnancy test is the only way to know if you are pregnant. After getting an IUD, many women stop getting periods after a few months.Hormonal IUDs can also sometimes cause side effects that mimic pregnancy symptoms.
A pregnancy test is the only way to know if you are pregnant. After getting an IUD, many women stop getting periods after a few months.
Hormonal IUDs can also sometimes cause side effects that mimic pregnancy symptoms.
If you get pregnant with an IUD, call your doctor right away. There is a risk of ectopic pregnancy with an IUD, which can become a medical emergency.
How to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider About Birth Control
7 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.Sanders AP, Sanders BC.Retained intrauterine devices in pregnancy. 2018;190(14):E440-E440. doi:10.1503/cmaj.171059American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Long-acting reversible contraception: intrauterine device and implant.UW Medicine.IUD perforation is rare, but women should still know about it.Jatlaoui TC, Halley E.M. Riley, Curtis KM.The safety of intrauterine devices among young women: a systematic review. 2017;95(1):17-39. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.10.006A. Seval Ozgu-Erdinc, Ufuk Goker Tasdemir, Dilek Uygur, et al.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002Micks E, Raglan GB, Schulkin J.Bridging progestogens in pregnancy and pregnancy prevention. 2015;4(4):R81-R92. doi:10.1530/ec-15-0093National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some common signs of pregnancy?.
7 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.Sanders AP, Sanders BC.Retained intrauterine devices in pregnancy. 2018;190(14):E440-E440. doi:10.1503/cmaj.171059American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Long-acting reversible contraception: intrauterine device and implant.UW Medicine.IUD perforation is rare, but women should still know about it.Jatlaoui TC, Halley E.M. Riley, Curtis KM.The safety of intrauterine devices among young women: a systematic review. 2017;95(1):17-39. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.10.006A. Seval Ozgu-Erdinc, Ufuk Goker Tasdemir, Dilek Uygur, et al.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002Micks E, Raglan GB, Schulkin J.Bridging progestogens in pregnancy and pregnancy prevention. 2015;4(4):R81-R92. doi:10.1530/ec-15-0093National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some common signs of pregnancy?.
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.
Sanders AP, Sanders BC.Retained intrauterine devices in pregnancy. 2018;190(14):E440-E440. doi:10.1503/cmaj.171059American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Long-acting reversible contraception: intrauterine device and implant.UW Medicine.IUD perforation is rare, but women should still know about it.Jatlaoui TC, Halley E.M. Riley, Curtis KM.The safety of intrauterine devices among young women: a systematic review. 2017;95(1):17-39. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.10.006A. Seval Ozgu-Erdinc, Ufuk Goker Tasdemir, Dilek Uygur, et al.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002Micks E, Raglan GB, Schulkin J.Bridging progestogens in pregnancy and pregnancy prevention. 2015;4(4):R81-R92. doi:10.1530/ec-15-0093National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some common signs of pregnancy?.
Sanders AP, Sanders BC.Retained intrauterine devices in pregnancy. 2018;190(14):E440-E440. doi:10.1503/cmaj.171059
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Long-acting reversible contraception: intrauterine device and implant.
UW Medicine.IUD perforation is rare, but women should still know about it.
Jatlaoui TC, Halley E.M. Riley, Curtis KM.The safety of intrauterine devices among young women: a systematic review. 2017;95(1):17-39. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2016.10.006
A. Seval Ozgu-Erdinc, Ufuk Goker Tasdemir, Dilek Uygur, et al.Outcome of intrauterine pregnancies with intrauterine device in place and effects of device location on prognosis. 2014;89(5):426-430. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.01.002
Micks E, Raglan GB, Schulkin J.Bridging progestogens in pregnancy and pregnancy prevention. 2015;4(4):R81-R92. doi:10.1530/ec-15-0093
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are some common signs of pregnancy?.
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