Will switching to a hormonal IUD ease my pain and bleeding?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 30 years old and had a copper IUD inserted about a year ago. Since then, my periods have become much heavier and more painful, and I have also started noticing mood changes around my cycle.

So, I am looking for your opinions on the following:

Could the IUD be affecting my hormones or causing inflammation?
Would switching to a hormonal IUD help reduce the pain and bleeding?
Also, my partner and I are considering starting a family in a year or two. How soon after removing the IUD can I conceive?
I am also worried about whether the IUD might have affected my fertility or caused any scarring inside the uterus. Are there tests I should do before planning a pregnancy after an IUD removal?

Kindly suggest.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

Generally, IUDs (intrauterine devices), both copper and hormonal, are well tolerated by most females. That said, the most common reason for removal tends to be excessive pain and bleeding, which is exactly what you are experiencing.

If these symptoms are heavy enough to disrupt your day-to-day routine, removal is something you can absolutely consider. It is also worth knowing that a hormonal IUD may be a better option for you if you decide to try again, as it releases hormones in a very low dose and is often easier on the body.

Coming to your fertility concerns, IUD use does not affect your ability to conceive at all. Once it is removed, which is a quick and simple procedure, conception is possible almost right away. You do not need any special tests before planning a pregnancy after removal.

To make sure your IUD is sitting correctly in the meantime, you can check for the hanging thread yourself. While failure rates of IUDs are low, there have been rare cases of conception occurring even with one in place, sometimes leading to an ectopic pregnancy, so it is good to stay aware.

Overall, your future fertility remains unaffected, and your options going forward are very manageable.

I hope you find this helpful.

For more queries, feel free to reach out to me anytime.

Thank you.