At Women's Health Site you can gather all the latest and useful information that will help you keep pace with the fast paced times.

From diet to exercise and everything in between, all topics are covered in great detail and focused on women.

IUD Pregnancy

What are the Risks?

Although IUDs are extremely effective as a form of birth control, they are not 100% and a IUD pregnancy can occur. If a woman does become pregnant whilst using the Intrauterine device, then it needs to be removed as soon as possible. Woman having an IUD pregnancy carries greater risks, there is a miscarriage rate of up to 25% compared to the normal rate of 18-20%. A woman having an IUD pregnancy the miscarriage rate can increase up to 50%.

Can a pregnancy be continued with an IUD in place?

In most IUD pregnancys, the device can be removed straight away, the early it is removed the risk is smaller of the string retracting up inside of the uterus. This can then make removal a lot more complicated. The removal of the intravenous device is not always advisable by the doctor if it is embedded into the placenta. The pregnancy can continue, this does carry risks especially in later pregnancy, there is a high probability of premature birth.

Could there be a possibility of ectopic IUD pregnancy?

An accidental IUD pregnancy can produce a higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy occuring raising the chance from 1% to up to 5%. An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg does not attach itself in the inner lining of the uterus. In most cases an ectopic pregnancy usually occurs in the fallopian tubes, but it can also occur in other parts of the body for example, abdominal cavity, ovary or the cervix. If a woman chooses to continue with a IUD pregnancy than an ultra sound will be needed, careful examination will ensure the egg is in the correct place. If the pregnancy is ectopic, then it will require medical attention and the pregnancy will be aborted.

Common reasons for a IUD pregnancy

There is a higher risk of an IUD pregnancy happening in the first few months of having the device fitted, it is essential to check it is still in place after each menstrual period. There are two strings attached to the IUD which hang down these should be checked after each menstrual cycle to avoid a IUD Pregnancy.