Best Birth Control Options

If you are wearing an IUD, or intra-uterine-device, your chances of becoming pregnant are very slim. IUDs are inserted into the uterine and kill any sperm that enter the uterine area. They are incredibly effective at preventing pregnancy, though they are useless against sexually transmitted diseases. Unfortunately, there are situations that can lead to an IUD pregnancy.

Pregnancy Risk Factors

The most common reason for a pregnancy to occur while a woman is wearing an IUD is that the IUD has shifted in the uterine and is not in its proper place anymore. IUDs don't tend to shift often, but it is possible for them to move around in the uterus, which makes them far less effective at preventing a pregnancy. When the IUD moves you may experience some unexpected pain, or a heavier menstrual flow. If you notice anything unusual, visit your doctor and have the IUD inspected. If it has moved, it is a simple process to put it back in place again.

Possibility of Pregnancy With Properly Placed IUD

The only 100% effective form of birth control is complete abstinence. That said, an IUD is as close as you can get to complete protection. Out of 100 women who wear an IUD, 1 woman may become pregnant. The odds are definitely in your favor, but there is always a chance that you will be that 1 woman. If you have sex regularly while wearing an IUD, remember that pregnancy is always a remote possibility.

What to do if You Become Pregnant While Wearing an IUD

If you find that you have become pregnant while you are wearing an IUD, you need to visit the doctor immediately. Wearing an IUD causes an increased chance of en ectopic pregnancy, which means that the fertilized egg implants on the outside wall of the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies are very dangerous for the mother and the child, and need to be discovered as early as possible. Your doctor will decide whether it is safe to remove the IUD after you become pregnant. Sometimes the removal process will increase the danger of a miscarriage, so the doctor may choose to leave the IUD implanted. There is a chance that an implanted IUD can cause some birth defects, so if possible the doctor will choose to remove the device more often than not.