You can have your intrauterine coil (IUD) removed at any time. It is a relatively simple procedure, not very painful and with few side effects. If you know what to expect and discuss it with your gynecologist, you can prepare yourself and find the right time to have your birth control device removed.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preparation
Step 1. Evaluate the reasons that push you to remove it
There are several reasons why you would like or should ask for the extraction of an intrauterine device; for example, you want to get pregnant, are going through menopause or you want to switch to another type of contraceptive. You should also remove the IUD if the maximum time you can hold it has expired, if it was not effective and you are now pregnant, if you have caught a sexually transmitted disease, or if you need to undergo a medical procedure that requires it to be removed.
- In rare cases, it is necessary to proceed with the extraction of the IUD because the woman has experienced adverse reactions to the device, such as abnormal bleeding, excessive pain or unusually heavy and prolonged menstruation.
- The device should be removed after 5 years; copper models can be left on site for up to 10.
Step 2. Make an appointment with your gynecologist
Once you know the reason why you should take the device out, you can contact the gynecological clinic and make an appointment; tell the person who will reply that you wish to consult with your doctor.
You can also anticipate the times and ask for an appointment directly for the extraction procedure
Step 3. Talk to your gynecologist
You can do this over the phone or during the consultation, but it is important to discuss the removal of the device with your doctor. Inform him of the reasons that lead you to this choice; if any of these are unfounded, your doctor will let you know and will be happy to talk about all your reservations and that you don't want to spiral.
It's best to be completely honest with him so he can help you make the best decision for you
Step 4. Use other forms of contraception
If you have decided to remove the IUD to start a new birth control method, because you have contracted a venereal disease or because you need to undergo another medical procedure, then you should start using the new contraceptive about a week before the date of removal. If you don't practice safe sex in the weeks leading up to the extraction, you could become pregnant after the procedure, even if you haven't had sex since that date. This is possible because sperm can survive up to 5 days inside the body.
If you don't have access to an alternative contraceptive, you should abstain from sexual activity in the week or weeks prior to the extraction procedure
Part 2 of 2: Removal
Step 1. Undergo a preventive examination
When you are in the gynecologist's office, the doctor will ask you to lie on your back and rest your legs on the stirrups of the bed. He will also proceed to check the position of the coil by inserting two fingers into the vagina and placing his other hand on your abdomen, alternatively he will use a speculum. He will proceed to a palpation to make sure the device is still in the upper part of the cervix.
- He might also use a hysteroscope, a thin tube with a light and a camera at one end.
- This preventive visit allows the gynecologist to verify excessive pain to the touch or physiological changes that could prevent the removal of the intrauterine device.
- In rare cases, an ultrasound or x-ray may be necessary, when the doctor is unable to perceive the wires of the IUD. These diagnostic procedures allow you to understand if the device has moved in the abdomen or pelvis.
Step 2. Undergo the extraction
First the gynecologist will insert the speculum, the tool that widens the vagina to allow a better view of the cervix. Now that the doctor is able to see the spiral clearly, he will gently pull the threads, pulling it out of your body.
The spiral arms will fold forward, so they won't create excessive pain as they come out
Step 3. Go through difficult removal
It is possible that the device has moved, the wires are in a hard-to-reach area, or the coil has become stuck in the cervix. If the gynecologist tries unsuccessfully to remove it, then he may use an endocervical brush, a tool similar to a mascara applicator. The brush is inserted, rotated and extracted in an attempt to grasp the retracted or stuck wires of the spiral, in order to be able to remove it.
- If this technique also doesn't work, then the doctor will switch to an IUD hook, a thin metal instrument with a hook on the end. It may take several tries, depending on where and how the spiral moved. The gynecologist will insert the hook and pull it out. If he has not been able to grab the IUD, he will continue to insert and remove the hook until he has grasped the device on all sides.
- As a last resort, day-hospital surgery can be used if it is not possible to remove the device by other methods. Sometimes a hysteroscope (a small video camera) is used to find the wires; in this case the procedure is performed in the clinic.
Step 4. Learn about the normal effects of removal
The only common side effect is some abdominal pain accompanied by slight bleeding; both are short-lived and completely resolve.
In rare cases, the patient may have more severe reactions, which are often due to an underlying disease. Call your gynecologist immediately if you experience very severe abdominal cramps, belly pain or aches, fever, chills, bleeding or sudden vaginal discharge
Step 5. If you wish, you can ask for a new IUD to be inserted
If you underwent the procedure because the IUD had expired, then you can have another one put in immediately. Talk to your gynecologist before the extraction so he can set up the new IUD as well. You may experience slight pain and notice slight bleeding.
