Risks of IUDs
Inserting an IUD can lead to an infection. Infections in the pelvic area can lead to permanent sterility. Doctors take precautions to prevent infections when they insert the devices. Most infections occur within three weeks of insertion.
Another risk with the IUD is expulsion. Sometimes an IUD falls out, or partially falls out. If this is the case, then the IUD has to be removed. You will have to talk to your health care provider about whether or not you should try another IUD.
Women who have not had children before are more prone to expulsion. It is also more common among younger women.
When an IUD is inserted, there is a slight risk of perforating the vagina or the uterus. This does not normally cause much pain. However, it is generally discovered and fixed soon. If, however, an IUD pokes through your uterus, it can move into other parts of the pelvic area and damage the organs. If this is the case, it would need to be removed with surgery. This rarely happens.
Women run the risk of unwanted pregnancy if their IUD slips or moves and they don’t know. Find out when to call your doctor with your IUD to help you keep your IUD in place to prevent pregnancy.
If you do become pregnant with an IUD, try to have the IUD removed if at all possible. If this is not possible, the pregnancy will be supervised. If you get pregnant with an IUD, there is a risk that the pregnancy will be ectopic. There is also risk of miscarriage and premature labor.
