Some women who have had intrauterine devices (IUDs) inserted, whether a hormonal IUD or a copper IUD, experience symptoms such as painful cramps, painful sex, pain in their abdomen or cervix, or unusual bleeding between periods. If you have any of these symptoms, you might be experience a misplaced or displaced IUD.
According to Healthline, signs and symptoms of a displaced IUD include:
- not being able to feel the IUD strings with your fingers
- feeling the plastic of the IUD
- bleeding in between periods
- heavy vaginal bleeding cramping, beyond what you normally have during your period
- pain or soreness in your lower abdomen
- unusual vaginal discharge
If you experience any of these symptoms, or think your IUD may have moved since insertion, you should contact your physician immediately.
IUD side effects can include pelvic pain and inflammation, excessive bleeding and longer-than-usual periods, scarring, and damage to other organs. If an IUD moves it can sometimes lead to perforation of the uterus or other organs, although this is rare.
It’s possible your IUD could be in the wrong place because it was misplaced from the beginning, as 10 percent of IUDs are malpositioned. For others, the IUD may have moved because their body may try to expel the IUD over time.
In addition to protecting yourself from health risks of a displaced IUD, it is also important to know if your IUD is misplaced because it may not function as effective birth control when displaced. If you get pregnant with an IUD, it can lead to dangerous pregnancy complications such as an ectopic pregnancy. Some babies have been born with an IUD in the placenta.
Some women react differently to IUDs than others. One woman with a copper IUD shared how she experienced dizziness and other symptoms before deciding to have her IUD removed:
. . . and once we started the process to remove it she noticed right away that it was already out of place and in my cervix, on its way out! My body was going to get that IUD out, one way or another! The pain stopped immediately, and ever since that day I have not had a single dizzy spell or mood swing like I experienced those months I was on the IUD. I cannot say enough about how much of a relief it was to have those symptoms gone and to know that I can really trust my intuition when it comes to my body and what it’s trying to tell me.
It is important that you get the care you need to make sure you are not suffering dangerous and painful effects of a misplaced IUD. If you are looking for a hormone-free and effective method of birth control, there are safe alternatives.
If you have experienced effects of a misplaced or displaced IUD, we welcome you to share your story here. Sharing your testimonial could help other women know they are not alone in the experience.
