Is it possible to have an ectopic pregnancy with an IUD? Pregnancy with an intrauterine device: causes and consequences
Intrauterine contraception is one of the preferred methods of contraception today. But even with this seemingly reliable method, incidents can arise. Pregnancy with the IUD occurs in 2% of patients who choose this method of contraception. At the same time, when choosing a method of contraception, women ask the gynecologist why the IUD is better than other means, whether it is possible to get pregnant with the IUD, how dangerous it is for the fetus, and whether it is possible to give birth in such a situation. It should be understood in more detail.
An IUD is a small gynecological device that is made primarily of plastic. Its purpose is to protect a woman from pregnancy by preventing the attachment of the female cell to the uterine endometrium. Such designs come in various shapes: S- or T-shaped, ring-shaped, loop-shaped, spiral-shaped, umbrella-shaped, etc.
According to the assurances of gynecologists and manufacturers, the effectiveness of the protective properties of the IUD reaches 98%, while you do not need to take any hormonal pills and you can live a full sex life. Typically, contraception is installed for 3, 5 or 7 years, after which it must be changed. There are known cases where, when wearing an IUD for a long time, it grew into the tissue of the uterus, so you cannot wear it longer than prescribed.
Types of IUDs
Today there are several types of intrauterine contraception:
![](https://i1.wp.com/jdembaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/vid-1-300x200.jpg)
We found out what kind of spirals there are. It is difficult to say which type and form of IUD is preferable, because only a gynecologist can determine this, knowing the anatomical uterine features of the patient.
What are the advantages of the IUD over other contraceptives?
Intrauterine contraception has many advantages. Spiral designs are more effective than other contraceptives and are suitable for emergency cases when it is necessary to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse. Then the IUD is installed in the first 5 days after sex. Also, intrauterine devices are low in cost. If you install an expensive IUD, then you can forget about contraception for 5-7 years, so you won’t have to spend money on appropriate medications during these years.
The design does not have a teratogenic effect; if a pregnancy occurs with an IUD, the woman decides to leave the baby, then the IUD will not have any effect on the child as a whole. Although this fact has many contradictions, since in practice it turns out that it is not possible to save a child conceived with an IUD. The IUD also has other disadvantages, such as mandatory examination before installation for the presence of STDs, cystic formations, uterine fibroids, and cervical pathologies, various types of developmental anomalies, etc. In addition, the IUD cannot be installed in women who do not have a history of childbirth, i.e. those who have not given birth. Also, you cannot use a spiral contraceptive for women who have several sexual partners.
What is important for women with IUDs to know?
If the doctor recommends installing an intrauterine contraceptive, it must be borne in mind that the design in no way prevents infectious lesions that are transmitted from a sexual partner. It is also unable to protect against ectopic pregnancy. In some way, the spiral even contributes to its emergence. The IUD and ectopic pregnancy have a special relationship. After all, the egg after fertilization cannot pass through the barrier and looks for another place to attach, outside the uterus. When the IUD expires, it loses its contraceptive properties, so it must be removed.
It is necessary to understand that the presence of silver and copper in the device does not protect against pregnancy. The action of the spiral is to terminate pregnancy, i.e. it is abortive in nature. If the female cell is attached to tissue outside the uterine body, then the consequences are unpleasant, because the ectopic pregnancy begins to fully develop.
To exclude inflammatory or infectious lesions, it is recommended to undergo a complete gynecological examination before installing an intrauterine contraceptive device. Installation should only be performed by an experienced gynecologist, who will advise the most reliable type of IUD. Typically, the IUD is installed on days 2-3 of the cycle, when menstruation has not yet ended. Why? Firstly, there is probably no pregnancy during this period, and secondly, during this period the insertion of the IUD is least painful.
Why does pregnancy occur with the IUD?
There is a lot of controversy regarding how you can get pregnant with the IUD. According to statistics, about 2 women out of a hundred become pregnant with an intrauterine contraceptive device installed. Experts explain this phenomenon for various reasons:
![](https://i2.wp.com/jdembaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/spiralka-300x199.jpg)
For preventative purposes, a woman with an IUD must undergo a gynecological examination twice a year, which will protect against possible pregnancy and various types of gynecological pathologies.
Signs of pregnancy with IUD
The woman cannot feel the intrauterine device after installation. All processes proceed in the same rhythm - ovulation, menstruation, and endometrial thickening. The design provides mechanical protection, which weakens over time, so the possibility of conception is possible. The main sign of pregnancy with an intrauterine device is a delay in menstruation, but to definitively confirm the diagnosis it is necessary to undergo an hCG test.
Also, the onset of an unplanned pregnancy may be indicated by symptoms such as hyperthermia, an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge, pulling-cutting pain syndrome, periodic nausea, etc. But the main manifestation is the traditional delay of menstruation.
What to do
So, the probability of getting pregnant with the IUD is minimal, but what to do if you are among the “chosen ones”. First, decide whether to give birth or have an abortion. If you decide to get rid of the fetus, then during the intervention the doctor will also remove the IUD. If you still want a baby, albeit unplanned, then the obstetrician-gynecologist must assess the likely risks of pregnancy for the fetus and the degree of likely complications that may follow during and after childbirth. If there is a non-hormonal IUD, then it is generally not dangerous for the fetus. But progesterone-containing intrauterine devices release hormonal substances into the fetal body, which can complicate the process of removing the device due to spontaneous abortion.
What to do if it is impossible to remove the structure safely for the child? The woman is constantly under medical supervision, regularly undergoes ultrasound monitoring, and takes preventive measures to prevent miscarriage. An ultrasound shows when the IUD threatens the fetus and when its location is safe. Gynecologists say that the birth of a normal child is quite possible, the main thing is to remove the IUD from the uterus as early as possible. Then the risk of miscarriage is 25%, while leaving the structure in place leads to spontaneous abortion in half the cases, i.e. reaches 50%.
How dangerous is pregnancy with the IUD and its consequences?
When a woman faces pregnancy with an IUD, she involuntarily wonders whether it is possible to give birth to a baby conceived in this way. More recently, gynecologists unequivocally stated that if this happens, then there is only one solution - abortion. Today the picture has changed somewhat and many women have managed to give birth to healthy children, although conception occurred with an IUD.
The final decision depends only on the pregnant woman, and the doctors’ task is to accurately calculate possible risks and the degree of their likelihood so that the woman can give birth to a healthy baby. If the child persists, the IUD must be removed. Sometimes it falls out on its own as the fetus grows.
Is it possible to get pregnant with IUD? Yes, although unlikely. To minimize the risk of unwanted conception, you need to undergo regular gynecological examinations and monitor the length of the antennae that can be felt in the vagina. When the service life of the spiral ends, it must be replaced or simply removed. Usually, after removal of the IUD, about 35% of patients become pregnant in the first cycle, and about 60% in the first 3-6 months, i.e. the IUD does not affect fertility.
The intrauterine device is one of the most popular means of contraception. It is effective, affordable, safe for the body and provides a fairly high percentage of protection. However, there is no absolute certainty in this case either. We'll find out why now.
Types and principle of operation of intrauterine devices
REFERENCE! The intrauterine device has been known since ancient times: the Bedouins believed that a foreign object in the uterus interfered with conception, and used small stones for contraception. And at the beginning of the 20th century, the first design called the “Lipps loop” appeared - a serpentine plastic spiral of the first generation. Over time, it decreased in size, became more convenient, and various metals were added to its composition, which do not provoke inflammation and increase the effectiveness of the contraceptive. To date, hundreds of samples have been developed that can make a woman’s life easier and prevent unwanted conception.
Externally, the spiral can resemble a T-shaped stick made of inert and flexible medical plastic, or have the shape of an umbrella or horseshoe. The sizes are small - from 24 to 35 mm. You can purchase the spiral at any pharmacy without a prescription.
There are 3 groups of IUDs:
- First generation spirals. Consist exclusively of plastic. Such a homogeneous composition often provokes various kinds of complications (infectious diseases, ectopic pregnancy, ulceration of the mucous membrane). These IUDs often fall out during exercise or from heavy menstrual flow. Currently they are trying not to use them.
- Second generation coils. In addition to plastic, the composition includes metal. The most popular is copper, but silver and gold can be added. Spirals have a depressing effect on male sperm, oxidizing the environment. Silver and gold not only increase the shelf life of the device, but also have a good effect on the immune system, protecting a woman from inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.
- Third generation spirals. A certain amount of the hormone levonorgestrel is released, sufficient for contraception, but not capable of causing harm to health: neither male potency nor female hormonal levels. The substances only affect eggs, their maturation and release, do not allow the fertilized egg to attach to the walls of the uterus, and sperm, once in the female genital tract, lose activity and are destroyed. At the same time, the mucous membrane of the cervical canal thickens and endometrial proliferation is inhibited.
REFERENCE! Spirals can be installed not only as a contraceptive, but also for the treatment of a number of gynecological diseases (endometriosis, uterine fibroids and others).
Only an experienced gynecologist should install the spiral. He must first probe the uterus, determining the distance between the uterine angles. Before installation, a number of tests are required:
- blood for hepatitis C, HIV and RW, general analysis;
- colposcopy, ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- smear from the vagina and cervix;
- analysis for hidden sexually transmitted infections;
- Analysis of urine
It is best to install the IUD in the first days of the menstrual cycle (at this time the cervix is slightly open). The procedure is quite painful and is accompanied by blood loss. If side effects appear in the following days (discharge of a small amount of ichor, pain in the lower abdomen), it is allowed to use pain-relieving suppositories.
In the first week after installation, you should avoid increased physical activity. In addition, you cannot:
- lie in a hot bath;
- have vaginal sex;
- use tampons;
- douche;
- visit public baths, saunas and swimming pools, swim in open water;
- take acetylsalicylic acid in tablets or products.
Why does pregnancy occur with the IUD?
The efficiency of the spiral is about 98%. The remaining interest most often falls on situations where:
- the coil was not installed correctly;
- fell out or shifted (for example, due to active sports, lifting weights, after several abortions);
- a low-quality product was purchased;
- expiration date has expired.
IMPORTANT! An expired coil should be removed immediately. Otherwise, it will begin to grow into the walls of the uterus, and surgery will be required to remove it. In addition, the risk of infection, fallopian tube obstruction and infertility increases.
Signs of pregnancy with IUD
In a woman who has an IUD inserted, and in a woman without an IUD, the signs of pregnancy will be absolutely identical. This is swelling of the mammary glands, lightheadedness in the morning, changes in taste, aversion to certain foods and smells, frequent urination, sudden mood changes. And, of course, a delay in menstruation.
REFERENCE! When using some types of contraception, for example, Mirena, there may be no menstruation at all, or they will be irregular and scanty. In this case, pay attention, first of all, to indirect signs.
The first thing a woman who suspects conception should do is take a test. However, it is best to visit a gynecologist and undergo a full examination. Even modern tests can make mistakes, and lost time, especially with an ectopic pregnancy, threatens a woman with big health problems and hassle.
IMPORTANT! The cause of the delay may be a tumor, sexually acquired infection or an inflammatory disease. In this case, the spiral must be removed as soon as possible and the disease treated.
What to do if conception occurs through an IUD?
If the pregnancy is intrauterine and the IUD is not hormonal, it does not need to be removed until delivery. The contraceptive does not affect the child's development in any way, but the risk of spontaneous abortion doubles. In addition to the threat of miscarriage, there is a risk of pulling out the gestational bladder from the uterus.
Hormonal IUDs can negatively affect the development of the fetus, so they must be removed. But it is not always possible to save the embryo.
REFERENCE! After giving birth, a woman should wait 6-7 weeks before inserting the IUD. After all, during pregnancy the uterus stretches greatly and it takes time for it to return to its previous shape. The same applies to abortion: be sure to wait for the doctor's permission.
Is it possible to give birth with an IUD?
Whether a woman wants to give birth or not is her own business. But with an ectopic pregnancy this cannot be done.
REFERENCE! An ectopic pregnancy is characterized by the fixation of the fertilized egg outside the walls of the uterus. More than half of pregnancies with the IUD are ectopic. The embryo has no chance of normal development, and the woman’s life is at risk: if the moment is missed, a rupture of the fallopian tube, bleeding and peritonitis may occur.
How long before you can plan a pregnancy after removing the IUD?
There are no physical obstacles to conception after removing the IUD. However, doctors advise waiting 3-4 months. Non-hormonal IUDs can cause microdamage to the uterine walls and local inflammation in the endometrium. That’s why you need to give the body time to regenerate, otherwise this factor can cause early miscarriage. Wait some time, get examined by a specialist, take a cytology test and a general smear, and only after that start planning for a child.
The recovery time for the body after hormonal IUDs increases to 6 months. During this time, the “dormant” ovaries will begin to function fully again, and the natural regular cycle will be restored. During this period, you cannot switch to birth control pills; choose condoms.
IMPORTANT! After installing the IUD, you are required to undergo a medical examination: first after a month, then after 3, and then once every six months. It is enough to do an ultrasound of the uterus once a year. Don’t forget to check the length of the IUD antennae yourself - if they become longer, it’s time to see a doctor and have the IUD reinstalled. If the threads cannot be felt at all, this may indicate that the product has fallen out.
ATTENTION! It is rare, but it happens that gynecological diseases arise due to the IUD, which prevents you from conceiving a child. If the desired pregnancy has not occurred a year after the IUD was removed, consult a doctor.
All the pros and cons of using an intrauterine device
IUDs, like other contraceptives, have positive and negative sides.
Positive aspects of installing an IUD:
- the spiral can be purchased at almost any pharmacy and at an affordable price;
- it does not require special care;
- it protects against unwanted pregnancy for several years;
- the spiral can be removed at any time;
- The IUD does not affect the general condition of the woman (nausea, vomiting, weight gain does not occur), does not interfere with lactation and surgical procedures;
- a correctly installed IUD cannot be felt during sex and the fact of the presence of an IUD can be completely hidden from the partner;
- has a positive effect on the body in a number of diseases.
Installation disadvantages:
- since the uterus remains slightly open after insertion of the product, pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate into it and provoke an inflammatory process in the pelvis: the uterus and appendages;
- the installation itself causes discomfort;
- installing an IUD most often makes menstrual bleeding heavier and more painful, which causes discomfort and the need to frequently take painkillers;
- constant damage to the uterine mucosa and the presence of a foreign object in it often causes an increase in menstrual flow and prolongs menstruation;
- the risk of ectopic pregnancy increases;
- The longer a woman uses the IUD, the thinner the endometrium becomes. This can lead to problems with conception in the future and miscarriages;
- if the spiral moves and the woman misses this moment (which most often happens), an unwanted pregnancy will occur;
- the IUD does not protect against sexually transmitted infections;
- Doctors strongly recommend placing an IUD in women who have already given birth.
IMPORTANT! Spirals cannot be installed when:
- sensitivity to product components
- pregnancy
- postpartum endometritis
- malignant formations in the uterus, cervical dysplasia, organ development abnormalities
- genitourinary tract infections, pelvic organ diseases
- deep vein thrombosis of the legs
Conclusion
Each contraceptive method has its own advantages, but there are also many disadvantages. When choosing an intrauterine device, be sure to undergo an examination and consult with an experienced gynecologist. Your health is in your hands.
Especially for- Elena Kichak
The IUD is considered one of the most reliable methods of contraception, however, even with this method, incidents can occur. It is believed that 2% of patients conceive a child with the IUD. In some situations this can lead to miscarriage, in others a successful delivery at term is possible. Intrauterine device and pregnancy: how does it happen and what should a woman do in such a situation?
How does pregnancy occur with the IUD?
There are several reasons for this phenomenon:
- Failure of a woman to comply with medical recommendations: if the rules are not followed properly, the contraceptive device may become dislodged or fall out of the uterine cavity.
- Incorrect fastening of the structure.
- Expiration of the IUD: after the specified time, the contraceptive effect ceases and pregnancy occurs.
- Uncontrolled use of the IUD: when a woman, without consulting a specialist, installs a contraceptive device on her own, it may be placed incorrectly, and therefore will not fulfill its purpose.
The Pearl index for the IUD is 0.9-3 (less than 0.5 for the Mirena intrauterine system). This means that out of 100 women who used the IUD, pregnancy for one reason or another occurs in 1-3 of them.
Signs of pregnancy with an IUD
Ectopic pregnancy with IUD: causes, symptoms, what to do
According to statistics, women who have an intrauterine device are most prone to developing ectopic pregnancy. Moreover, the longer the contraceptive lasts, the greater the risk of its occurrence. The fact is that after conception, the zygote cannot move into the uterine cavity, where it is implanted into the endometrium. Because of this, the embryo looks for a place in the tube where it attaches. The IUD provokes atrophy of the cilia of the fallopian tubes, which are designed to transport the zygote to the uterus and prevent its re-implantation.
The spiral can provoke the spread of inflammation from the vagina to the uterus, and then to the fallopian tubes and ovaries. This leads to the occurrence of adhesions and synechiae, which disrupt the passage of the fertilized egg with the appearance of an ectopic pregnancy.
Is pregnancy possible with the IUD? It seems incredible, but the answer is quite possible. Pregnancy with the IUD can occur, despite the fact that this method of birth control is considered one of the most reliable.
About 2 out of 100 women who use an IUD become pregnant with the IUD. Statistics on the survival of such babies were not collected, because in most cases the child is not wanted, and the failed mother is sent for an abortion. But the obvious fact is that if you want to give life to this baby, it will not be easy, the risk of miscarriage or frozen pregnancy increases many times over.
How the IUD works and why pregnancy can occur
By installing an intrauterine device, we do not interfere with the natural processes of ovulation. By and large, the IUD should be considered not a means of contraception (that is, a way to completely prevent conception) but a means of... early termination of pregnancy.
Ovulation occurs, you enter into intimate relationships, and unimpeded fertilization occurs. The zygote makes the usual journey to the uterus, moving along the fallopian tube and without encountering any difficulties. On the 7th day, the blastula enters the uterine cavity. This already multicellular embryo is ready to plunge into the endometrium, to be implanted in order to develop further, but that was not the case, because here is a SPIRAL. This is a purely mechanical obstacle to the development of the embryo; it fails to gain a foothold, it dies and leaves the uterus along with menstrual blood.
So, without knowing it themselves, women can become pregnant almost every cycle, and every cycle, a barely begun pregnancy will be interrupted and the embryo will die. It is for these reasons that the church has an extremely negative attitude towards the IUD as a method of preventing unwanted pregnancy.
But meanwhile, the spiral is not able to fill the entire uterus; the embryo can be fantastically lucky, sometimes it manages to attach, despite this extremely inconvenient proximity. This is how pregnancy with the IUD begins, the signs of which will most likely be revealed at the usual time by delay and classic symptoms indicating imminent motherhood.
The spiral has another extremely unpleasant property - due to its presence in the uterine cavity, the peristalsis of the fallopian tubes is disrupted, and sometimes the embryo does not have time to reach the uterine cavity. It is forced to implant in the fallopian tube, and an ectopic pregnancy with a coil develops. Doctors admit that having an IUD does increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Fortunately, the likelihood of pregnancy with an IUD is not high, but any IUD carrier should remember that this is possible. The type of coil does not matter, even if it is the vaunted Mirena or the widespread multiload - conception can occur.
How does this unusual pregnancy threaten the child and his mother?
Symptoms of pregnancy with IUD
As a rule, pregnancy proceeds unusually from the first days. It is possible to have the usual symptoms, such as breast engorgement, delayed menstruation, morning sickness, weakness, etc., but since this is still a risky, and frankly speaking, pathological pregnancy, the formation of the baby’s placenta is often not effective enough, the hCG level grows slowly, although the pregnancy is developing. This leads to the fact that the symptoms of pregnancy with the IUD may be mild, and menstruation occurs at a normal time. Such a pregnancy (with the IUD and menstruation at normal times) may not be recognized by the expectant mother for a long time.
If the fetus survives, you have an advanced pregnancy with the IUD, there may or may not be consequences.
Most often, it is spontaneously interrupted in the early stages, because the spiral takes up space in the uterus, preventing the fetus from developing mechanically, because it disrupts the contractile activity of the myometrium, because in its presence the endometrium is formed thin and weak. Conditions for the development of the baby are not favorable.
When contacting early for pregnancy, the doctor can remove some types of IUDs from the uterine cavity without harming the baby. Then nothing will interfere with pregnancy.
In some cases, the child turns out to be stronger than all the obstacles, and survives the first difficult weeks, despite the presence of a spiral. The growing amniotic sac pushes the coil aside, the pregnancy develops successfully, a healthy baby is born on time, and the coil is found on the membranes of the fetus after birth.
If you are using an IUD for contraception and you suspect that you are pregnant with the IUD, you will decide what to do with your doctor. Of course, most likely you will be offered an abortion, but if you really want this baby, you can try to save the pregnancy. An ultrasound will be prescribed to make sure that the fetus is developing in the uterus and to find out whether it is possible to remove the device, or whether it is better not to touch it.
Of course, you have a chance to bear a child, although this baby will come into our world not thanks to your desire, but rather, in spite of all circumstances.
Read also
Most often, it is difficult to establish the exact cause that led to the development of this disease (each case is studied and considered individually), although doctors name several of the most common points. Among them:
- uncontrolled use of various medications, which include dietary supplements and vitamins, consumed by expectant mothers without consulting a specialist;
- viral diseases (flu, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, etc.);
- smoking;
- drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy;
- taking illegal drugs, etc.
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Today we want to tell you about the possibility of becoming a mother after using a contraceptive device such as the IUD.
Today, in almost all countries, women can independently control and plan their pregnancy. Many methods and methods of contraception have been developed. One of them is the IUD (installation of an intrauterine device). For a long time, there was an opinion that installing an IUD is the best means of protection against unwanted pregnancy. However, recently, through research into the statistics of requests from pregnant women who have an IUD installed, this statement has been shaken.
Probability of pregnancy with IUD
The intrauterine device acts as a means of protecting against unwanted pregnancy by 98%, that is, there is still a 2% chance of becoming pregnant. Also, the likelihood of getting pregnant increases if a woman is negligent: she skips sessions with a gynecologist, ignores and does not go to an appointment with a gynecologist unscheduled if any discomfort and unpleasant sensations occur in the lower abdomen and during intercourse.
After all, there is a risk of incorrect installation of the IUD or its partial exit from the uterus.
And as a given, the IUD has an expiration date, after which it must be replaced. Hence the conclusion: you need to monitor and visit your gynecologist regularly.
Briefly about the intrauterine device
An IUD is a device made of plastic, plastic mixed with metal, that can be equipped with hormonal drugs that are released evenly over a long period of time into the uterus and provide additional protection.
The IUD can be S-shaped (but these are no longer used, as they have not lived up to their purpose - reliable protection against pregnancy) and T-shaped (at the moment, only this form of IUD is used).
How does the spiral work? The IUD is installed inside the woman’s uterus and does not protect the egg from fertilization, but is a stimulant that prevents the fertilized egg from settling inside the uterus and beginning to develop, that is, roughly speaking, the IUD contributes, one might say, to miscarriage at the very beginning of creation.
Signs of pregnancy with IUD
And so, we found out that the probability of pregnancy with the IUD is about 2%. But it can be extremely difficult for a woman to determine in the early stages of pregnancy that fertilization was successful, since sometimes it is asymptomatic. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and control the onset of menstruation, and if it is delayed, immediately (as soon as possible) contact your gynecologist; pain in the lower abdomen, swelling of the mammary glands, and weight gain can also be a hint of pregnancy and a visit to the doctor.
If pregnancy is confirmed upon examination, then two options are obvious:
- the desire to become a mother and bear a healthy child;
- desire to terminate the pregnancy.
If you decide to become a mother
With the first option, it is important to remove/remove the IUD from the body of the expectant mother as soon as possible. Otherwise, if extraction is delayed, an unfavorable development of events is possible - a miscarriage (in 50% of cases, the IUD is not removed in the early stages of pregnancy). However, even if the IUD was successfully removed, the risk of miscarriage is about 25%.
To avoid falling into this risk group, be sure to follow all the advice and recommendations of your doctor.
It is also possible that the intrauterine device was not removed by the woman and the pregnancy was not terminated, and in the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy the IUD came off on its own, or rather, the stronger fetus contributed to this, so to speak, here there is a struggle of the unborn baby for survival, and came out afterwards with amniotic fluid. But such favorable outcomes are quite rare. But if the gynecologist did not voice any obstacles to removing the IUD, then, of course, it needs to be removed, since the IUD threads can become a source of infectious diseases or serve as carriers of them, which can disrupt the natural development of the fetus and lead to serious consequences, both for for the expectant mother and for the child.
Intrauterine pregnancy with IUD
An IUD can contribute to the occurrence of an ectopic pregnancy, which is currently the subject of fierce debate - is it possible to carry a fetus to term healthy and not harm your body?
Signs that the pregnancy is ectopic are: nagging pain in the lower abdomen, one-sided in nature, and accompanied by bleeding.
Note: During an ectopic pregnancy with an IUD, most often the fetus attaches and develops on the cervix.
Despite improvements in medications, technology, etc. and despite the fact that at the moment many women have already carried and given birth to a child whose development occurred outside the uterus, it still remains a rather risky step - not to have an operation to remove an incorrectly positioned fetus. Possible consequences may be the following: rupture of the fallopian tube and bleeding; also, a poorly attached embryo either on the cervix or in the fallopian tube can break off and enter the abdominal cavity, which will cause internal bleeding. All this is quite difficult and painful and may subsequently adversely affect subsequent attempts to become pregnant.
The health of children conceived while a woman has an IUD
In general, children who were conceived and born with an intrauterine device do not have any complications or disorders both at birth and during further growth and development.
Abortion with IUD
If you wish to terminate the pregnancy or have an abortion, you just need to make an appointment and have an operation in which both the fetus itself and the intrauterine device are removed.
Let's summarize:
- It is necessary to visit a gynecologist as planned (at least once every six months), and also do an ultrasound;
- For more careful control, you can check the length of the spiral threads yourself. Their absence or increase in length will indicate that it is necessary to visit your doctor unscheduled;
- Remember that intrauterine devices have an expiration date, after which you need to insert a new IUD;
- Under no circumstances should you try to remove the intrauterine device yourself;
- Follow the advice of your gynecologist flawlessly.
Such simple precautions will help you avoid an unplanned pregnancy, as well as not harm your body and the body of the child if you do happen to become pregnant.