Removing my IUD

[FeralFox]

I have had a generic copper IUD since the beginning of last year (2010) and I'm really sick of it and want it out.  We want to TTC now, and besides that it gives really heavy, super painful periods.  I have an appointment for mid-December, but the period from hell is due to start any time now, and I'm so ready for it to be the last period from hell that I ever have.  So, because that's the time of the month that they're easiest to remove, I want to give it a try myself.  The question is, how do I do it?  I've searched the internet and seen a lot of "mine came out on its own" and "I took mine out myself and it went fine", but no instructions on how to take it out myself.  I can feel the string, and there's enough there to pinch between my fingers.  Do I just pull slowly and see what happens?  Most of the mainstream info says something about doctors pulling them out at a certain angle, but those articles also say that no one else should ever do it ever, so I wonder if the "certain angle" bit is to scare women away from trying it at home.

So, what's the angle?  And if you removed your own, how did you do it?

[TiredX2]

I understand your desire to have it out ASAP, but that is not something I would risk. 

The options I would consider:

1) Going to a local clinic

2) Calling your doctor and being put on the cancellation list--- they should call you if you if they have a last minute appointment.

I would be very hesitant to remove it yourself *especially* given that you plan on TTC soon--- you don't want to introduce even short lived scar tissue right now.

[TiredX2]

I wanted to make clear that I did not give a well researched opinion, simply a gut check.  I can see that for some people removing their own IUD may make sense (it is causing irritation, no access to medical care, trained midwife or OB, etc..) but the risks in your situation seem high.  Even a fairly benign result--- a simple infection--- is not not something you want to be dealing with while TTC.

[HappyHappyMommy]

I've had an IUD removed (by a doctor) and I would highly recommended not removing an IUD on your own as there is a risk of infection and of tearing or other injury. I agree with the PP to seek out a local clinic, doctor, midwife, or nurse practitioner; if you don't want want to go to a midwife or OB, if have an internal medicine doctor or family medicine doctor, he/she may be able to do the removal.

[tracymom1]

I agree with the previous posters. Please don't remove it yourself - call planned parenthood and see if they can get you in if your doctor can't. The risk of infection and injury is small but very real and if you are ttc you need to avoid potential serious health issues - especially with your reproductive organs.

[FeralFox]

Hmm, not really sure why I'd be at a higher risk of infection or scarring if I do it myself.  For one thing, I'd be doing it in my own home around my own germs, not doctor's office germs.  For a second thing, if I'm doing it myself I'd be better able to judge by feel whether it seems like it doesn't want to come out, and stop pulling.  A doctor might feel resistance and keep tugging, even if it's causing me pain due to being enbedded, which would cause more damage.  Plus, I have easy access to surgical scrub and sterile gloves because I work in an intensive care area of a hospital, so that shoudl cut any infection risk down very low.  If having sex during af doesn't cause an infection, why would expelling an IUD while I'm already open and expelling blood put me at a higher infection risk?  If I'm overlooking something please enlighten me, because it doesn't make any sense to me.

[tracymom1]

Originally Posted by FeralFox 

For a second thing, if I'm doing it myself I'd be better able to judge by feel whether it seems like it doesn't want to come out, and stop pulling.  A doctor might feel resistance and keep tugging, even if it's causing me pain due to being enbedded, which would cause more damage.

Well, I have to politely disagree with you regarding this. Having worked in Ob/gyn, I have seen a couple of IUD removals that have been embedded and since you have (I assume) never removed one yourself, I don't think you would be the best judge of what a *normal* extraction would feel like - how much resistance is too much? What if you experience pain and/or excessive bleeding? As someone who is trying to conceive, I would think that having a professional remove it would be best just in case of any complications.

That's just my opinion, though. I don't go to the doctor much, but I would for this.

Best of luck!!!

[koofie]

I had a NP accidentally push it up inadvertently when I was about to get it removed because she had not read the note on my chart that it was there and going to be removed. It took a very good OB to get it out w/o going to the hospital. However, I would still suggest going with going in versus doing it yourself. There is a lot that can go wrong when trying to remove it and you don't want to chance it. An office who is used to doing it can usually take it out quickly, easily and safely w/o too much risk for germs etc. If you feel pain when trying to remove it yourself, you may have already damaged something. Personally mine was nearly painless even though it had migrated pretty far up.

The reason some people's fall out is because of the person's body or how it was placed, not that it is easy to remove. Think about how it looks - see an image. It is similar to those toggle bolts (alligator clips?) you put in drywall to hold in screws - it is meant to stay in until you want it removed and then there is a way to do it so you don't damage the surrounding tissue. Do it incorrectly and you can cause quite a bit of harm.