Pregnancy with IUD: é really possibleíable?

2023 Author: Benjamin Dyson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 01:37

A woman who uses the IUD as a contraceptive method can, in fact, become pregnant, but this is an extremely rare situation that occurs mainly when the IUD is not in the correct position, which facilitates pregnancy.

Thus, it is recommended that the woman checks every month if she can feel the IUD thread in the intimate region and, if this does not happen, consult the gynecologist as soon as possible to assess whether it is well positioned.

When pregnancy happens, it is easier to identify when the IUD is copper, because in these cases menstruation, which continues to come, is delayed. With the Mirena IUD, for example, as there is no menstruation, the woman may take time until the first symptoms of pregnancy to suspect that she is pregnant.

How to know the IUD is out of place

In some cases, the displacement of the IUD can cause some signs and symptoms, such as irregular bleeding, abdominal pain and twinges in the wall of the uterus, and it is important that the doctor is consulted.

However, symptoms are not always present and, therefore, to find out if the IUD has moved, self-examination can be carried out, which consists of noticing the length of the string. For this, you must squat down and, with clean hands, insert a finger into the vagina until you reach the cervix, which corresponds to a rounded surface where you can see the presence of the thread, which is usually between 1 and 2 centimeters. During the examination, if an increase in the length of the wire is noticed or it is not possible to find it, it may be an indication that the IUD has moved out of place, and it is important to consult the gynecologist.

To confirm the position of the IUD, the doctor usually requests a transvaginal ultrasound, as this way it is possible to identify with greater precision the location of the IUD and, thus, replace it, if necessary.

How to identify pregnancy with IUD

Symptoms of an IUD pregnancy are similar to any other pregnancy and include:

• Frequent nausea, especially after waking up;
• Increased sensitivity in the breasts;
• Cramping and swelling of the belly;
• Increased urge to urinate;
• Excessive fatigue;
• Sudden mood swings.

However, delay in menstruation, which is one of the most classic signs, only happens in cases of copper IUDs, because in the IUD that releases hormones, the woman does not have her period and, therefore, there is no delay in menstruation.

In some cases, however, a woman who has a hormonal IUD, such as Mirena or Jaydess, may experience pink discharge, which can be one of the first signs of pregnancy.

Learn more about the early signs of pregnancy.

Risks of getting pregnant with IUD

One of the most common complications of becoming pregnant with an IUD is the risk of miscarriage, especially when the device is kept in the uterus for up to a few weeks of pregnancy. However, even when removed, the risk is much higher than that of a woman who became pregnant without the IUD.

In addition, IUD use can also cause an ectopic pregnancy, in which the embryo develops in the fallopian tubes, putting at risk not only the pregnancy, but also the woman's reproductive organs. Understand better what this complication is.

Thus, to reduce the chances of these complications arising, it is advisable to consult the gynecologist as soon as possible to confirm the suspicion of pregnancy and remove the IUD, if necessary.