Can you get pregnant with an IUD? Here's what experts want you to know
You may have seen it on social media: a newborn baby holding the IUD its mother had in place when she became pregnant. Videos of these seemingly shocking moments have gone viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, yet in reality, these moments are staged — such as the viral 2017 pic of Lucy Tyler's newborn, who had her IUD placed in his hand for a funny photo. More recently, 20-year-old mom Violet Quick took to TikTok to share a since removed video of her own baby holding an IUD. (Quick did not respond to Yahoo Life's requests for comment.)
While babies don't come out of the womb holding an IUD triumphantly, these images do raise another question: How can someone with an IUD become pregnant?
First, what is an IUD?
An IUD, short for "intrauterine device," is one of the most effective forms of long-term birth control on the market. There are two types of IUDs, both of which are T-shaped and inserted into the cervix to prevent pregnancy. The hormonal IUD uses the hormone progestin to thicken mucus in the cervix to help stop sperm from fertilizing the egg, as well as thins the lining of the uterus and partially suppress ovulation, according to the Mayo Clinic. There's also a copper IUD, which does not use hormones — instead, it prevents pregnancy due to the copper providing an inflammatory reaction that is toxic to sperm and eggs.
While results vary between brands and types, it's possible for an IUD to prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years — and one can even be used as emergency contraception if it's placed within five days of unprotected sex, per Planned Parenthood.
Why does pregnancy occur with an IUD?
Dr. Hugh Taylor, chair of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life that "pregnancy is uncommon but not impossible" and occurs in less than 1% of women with an IUD in place.
So how might a pregnancy be more likely to occur, given these odds?
"Pregnancy is more common if the IUD has slipped into the cervix or actually fallen out or has expired," explains Taylor. In addition, "a hormonal IUD may not have full effectiveness for a few days after insertion."
Dr. Jonathan Schaffir, physician in obstetrics and gynecology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells Yahoo Life, "With millions of sperm in any ejaculate, it is hard for any method to block 100% of sperm that are present. Also, an IUD that slips out of place and doesn't occupy the uterine cavity correctly will not prevent implantation."
He adds: "The overall chance of an IUD being expelled is 3-4%, so the majority of pregnancies that occur are in women who think they still have an IUD present when it may have fallen out without their knowledge."
Is it possible for a baby to grab an IUD as it's being born?
In short: not really.
"While the IUD and baby are both in the uterus, the baby grows in a sac of amniotic fluid," explains Taylor. "The IUD would be found in the uterus but not in the amniotic sac. The baby could not hold the IUD."
Taylor adds: "The IUD should be removed early in pregnancy, but if not it often comes out at the time of delivery, often with the placenta."
In fact, Tyler wrote on social media that her Mirena brand of IUD was "found behind my placenta."
What should you do if you become pregnant with an IUD inserted?
If you plan on continuing with a pregnancy, it's important to remove the IUD as soon as possible, according to Taylor, as "the risk of miscarriage and premature delivery is increased." There is also a risk of having an ectopic pregnancy, in which an egg is fertilized outside of the uterus (typically in the fallopian tubes).
Dr. Alice Sutton, associate program director in the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at UC San Diego Health, tells Yahoo Life, "If a patient does not want to continue the pregnancy, the IUD can be removed at the time of surgical abortion or before a medical abortion."
If you or someone you know needs help obtaining an abortion or additional information and resources, visit abortionfunds.org or abortionfinder.org. You can also call or text the All-Options hotline at 1-888-493-0092; it offers "unconditional, judgment-free support for people in all of their decisions, feelings and experiences with pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption."
Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
