IUD removal

A trained provider removes an IUD by pulling gently on its strings. Sometimes a piece breaks off. See what to ask, which records matter, and what the Paragard lawsuits claim.

What is IUD removal, and why is it done?

An IUD is a small T-shaped device placed in the uterus for birth control. Paragard is a copper IUD that must come out no later than 10 years after it goes in. A provider can take it out sooner, at any time you choose.

It may also need to come out early because of a problem, such as an IUD that has slipped partly out or pushed through the wall of the uterus.

To take it out, the provider grips the strings with a tool and pulls gently. The arms of the T fold up as it slides out.

When should I talk to my doctor about IUD removal?

Talk with your provider when you want the IUD out, and never try to pull it out yourself. Call right away if you have a fever, chills, cramps, pain or bleeding. Also call if you cannot feel the strings.

Only you and your provider should decide if and when the IUD comes out. Never have a device removed just for a lawsuit.

If a piece is left behind, ask what your choices are and what each one risks. Write your questions down before the visit.

How is a broken IUD found and treated?

The provider should check that the whole IUD came out. If a piece is missing, an x-ray or ultrasound can help find it. A piece stuck in the uterus may need a scope or surgery to remove.

The Paragard label says the IUD can break during removal, and that one stuck in the wall of the uterus can be hard to take out. A thin, lighted scope called a hysteroscope can go into the uterus to remove an IUD.

After hysteroscopy, you may go home the same day. Its risks include a hole in the wall of the uterus, infection and scarring.

Which records matter after IUD removal?

Ask for the note from the visit when the IUD came out. The label tells providers to check that the IUD is whole, so the note may say what they saw. If a piece stayed in, also ask for the imaging reports.

If you had surgery, ask for the operative report. Federal hospital rules say it must describe what the surgeon found and any tissue removed. Ask for the pathology report too, if tissue went to the lab.

Ask for the note from the visit when the IUD was put in. The label tells providers to write down the date and the lot number, so check that the note names the brand, date and lot number.

Ask whether the removed IUD and any broken piece were kept, and where they are now. FDA’s problem report form asks whether a product is still available to be checked.

You can get copies of these records, including x-rays and other images. To ask for them in writing, you can use our medical records request tool.

What does research say about Paragard breaking during removal?

The Paragard label lists breakage among problems people reported after it was approved. These reports are sent by choice, from a group of unknown size. So they often cannot show how often it breaks or prove what caused it.

In one published case, a piece broke off during removal and stayed in the wall of the uterus. Because of other health issues she had, such as fibroids and past abnormal Pap tests, her doctors removed her uterus to take the piece out. The authors say pieces left behind are treated with thin scopes, through the cervix or through the belly.

A case report describes one patient or a few, like this one. It can show that something happened, but not how often it happens.

The federal court in Georgia calls the Paragard claims allegations. A summary of claims is not a finding that the IUD is unsafe.

Who brings IUD claims in the Paragard cases?

People who say their Paragard broke when it was taken out brought these federal cases. Some say they needed surgery to remove a broken piece, or that they had pain or trouble getting pregnant. A lawyer can look at your records and tell you if you may have a claim.

The cases are grouped before Judge Leigh Martin May in the federal court for northern Georgia. The Paragard case page explains what is happening in them now.

Can a family member get records after an IUD removal?

Sometimes. Parents can often see a minor child’s records. But if state law let the teen get birth control care on their own, the parent may not have that right. An adult can name someone in a health care power of attorney to act for them.

After a death, the person who runs the estate can get the records linked to that role. Providers may share some facts with a relative who helped with care, unless the patient asked them not to. Your state’s law adds details.