Taking out an IUD at home...really stupid or cost effective?

[BettinaAuSucre]

What do you incredibly intelligent ladies think? I dont want to spend any more money on this IUD at it has already cost me $243 to have it put in. Come May 2011 i will be TTC officially and at that time, having been a year, would it be wise to take it out myself?

[libranbutterfly]

You could try. I have heard of people removing it themselves, or having their partner remove it. I couldnt get mine out myself, so I went to Planned Parenthood. They work on a sliding sale, and my income was low enough that I did not pay anything, even when they had to do an ultrasound to locate it.

[Baby_Cakes]

I wanted to try to take mine out myself, but couldn't get two fingers in to grab the strings evenly. I was very afraid I would tug unevenly and cause it to puncture my poor ute. I gladly spent the $15 copay to some lame OB to pull it out. Took 5 min.

Everything I read online said don't do it yourself. I just couldn't shake the fear that I would hurt myself. Maybe if I had a speculum and tweezers and a good mirror I would try, but just blindly feeling around in there, I wouldn't chance it.

[earthyamber]

I didn't want to pay the $200 every local place was going to charge me (even though I am very low income). Even planned parenthood was going to charge me $175 and said they don't do sliding scale for removal of IUDs (every place may be differant). So, one place I called I talked to a nurse. She told me to do it myself and save my money. So, I had my husband do it for me. No pain and it came out easy. Now that I am pregnant, even my OB and my primary dr agree that it was fine to do as long as you have no current infections. So, I say go for it!

[Strong Mama]

I went and got mine out at the health department. I had a pap scheduled there, and then i just asked them to take it out while they were down there. They did, and everything was for free Gyno was gonna charge me $300!!!!

[RachelL321]

I pulled mine no problems, just a little tug and it came right out, was pregnant less than a month later! Good luck, and just make sure and wash your hands really good first lol

[Mummoth]

I pulled mine, nothing bad happened and it came out easily. I had been reacting to (I think) the nickel in it, and felt instantly a bit better once it was out and completely better about 12 hours later. About 3 days later I started a heavy period, but I hadn't had one for several months and it didn't set off any alarm bells for me.

[BettinaAuSucre]

Oh i am so glad that you ladies had an easy time getting it out and got pregnant pretty quickly afterwards!

[Climbergirl]

I had a homebirth midwife come to my house and do it. She charged me $125 and is filing it with my insurance. I would not have been comfortable doing it myself since my strings were very short.

[EdnaMarie]

Wow, this is an interesting thread. I was going to suggest Planned Parenthood as well. Seems many people have had success doing it themselves. I can't comment on that as I'm not an expert.

[Jane]

I pulled mine myself, b/c I'm kinda a do-it-herself kind of person. I cut off my own skin tags, too. Anyway, it was not a big deal, but I'd encourage you to only do it if you feel comfortable. Surprisingly simple. However, I haven't been able to get knocked up.
DoomaYula's got a thread from ages ago about it with instructions.

[MommatoAandA]

When mine was pulled it seemed sooo easy. All the midwife did was insert some long tweezer looking things and had me cough while she pulled. Out it came! I bet you could totally pull it yourself.

[PancakesMancakes]

I pulled out mine and it was no problem. My bff couldn't belive that I was going to do it myself, but i'm cheap like that and didn't want to spend the $50 to get it taken out

[aea89]

okay i am reading this and i have been wanting to take mine out but i am scared to do it myself but its so expensive to get it out so question do i just bend over and reach for it and try to just pull it is there a certin way to do this???