Patient's question:
After giving birth to my baby, I have been using medication for contraception. Later, I heard from a friend that medication-based contraception has side effects, so I went to the hospital to get an IUD. However, after the insertion, my menstrual flow increased. The doctor said it was normal, but I noticed occasional dirty stains on my underwear and wondered if it could be a gynecological issue. What measures should I take?Doctor's answer:
Pregnancy with an IUD accounts for about 4% of all pregnancies, which is higher than in women without an IUD. The incidence of complications such as miscarriage, fetal malformations, intrauterine infections, and bleeding is also higher in women with an IUD who become pregnant, leading to adverse outcomes for both the fetus and the mother.After an IUD is left in place and pregnancy occurs, an ultrasound examination must be performed first to rule out ectopic pregnancy. If the pregnancy is intrauterine, the risk of natural miscarriage is high, and there is also a higher incidence of postpartum bleeding, stillbirths, and premature birth.
Previously, it was believed that pregnancy with an IUD did not affect the fetus, and the IUD would not cause fetal malformations. In such cases, it was unnecessary to terminate the pregnancy or remove the IUD, as the IUD could be expelled along with the placenta after the baby was born. However, recent studies have found that some IUDs can get stuck in the baby's muscles. Therefore, fetuses from pregnancies with an IUD are generally not recommended for preservation, and an early abortion should be performed. Since abortion procedures before 10 weeks of pregnancy cause less harm to the body, it is best to perform the procedure as early as possible.
For special reasons, if the pregnancy has already exceeded three months, it is also necessary to seek medical attention as soon as possible and undergo proper treatment such as mid-trimester induction of labor.