Current:Home > StocksCan you get pregnant with an IUD? It's unlikely but not impossible. Here's what you need to know. -EquityExchange
Can you get pregnant with an IUD? It's unlikely but not impossible. Here's what you need to know.
View
Date:2025-04-18 16:59:36
More than 65% of women in the U.S. between the ages of 15 and 49 used some form of contraception between 2017 and 2019, according to the most recent National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) analysis.
More than 10% of them used an intrauterine device (IUD) or other kind of long-term contraceptive implant. For context, that's less than those who used oral contraceptive pills (14%) but more than the amount who used condoms (8.4%).
As lawmakers across the United States attempt to ban or limit contraception options, medical experts are hoping to clear up misinformation.
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are a long-term, reversible form of birth control that lessens the ability of sperm to reach and fertilize an egg. The small T-shaped device inserted through the vagina into the uterus and can remain in the body for three to 10 years depending on the type, according to Yale Medicine.
Here's what medical experts want you to know about IUDs.
Can you get pregnant with an IUD?
IUDs are "one of the most effective birth control methods," gynecologist Karen Tang, M.D., tells USA TODAY, noting that they're more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. That makes it one of the most effective forms of birth control alongside hormonal implants and permanent sterilization, per statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Of course, there's always that 1% chance of getting pregnant. It's unlikely, but if the IUD happens to move or start to fall out, pregnancy is possible, adds Tang, author of the upcoming book “It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told)."
Can anything make an IUD less effective?
There aren't any known medications, foods or other substances that would lessen the efficacy of an IUD.
It's also worth noting that hormonal IUDs start to work within a week of insertion, while copper IUDs work immediately, according to Yale Medicine.
What is IVF?Explaining the procedure in Alabama's controversial Supreme Court ruling.
What are signs of pregnancy while on IUD?
If you do happen to become pregnant while on an IUD, regular pregnancy symptoms including missed periods, cramping or light spotting may arise. Unfortunately, many of those are also side effects of having an IUD, which can make it more difficult to decipher.
If the IUD begins falling out, or if you have any other reason to believe you may be pregnant with an IUD in place, Tang stresses that you should call a gynecologist "immediately." It's important in these cases to take a pregnancy test and get an ultrasound to determine whether the IUD is still in place.
In the meantime, she suggests you either abstain from sex or use another form of birth control, such as condoms.
Vegan birth control:What is it and does it work?
veryGood! (626)
Related
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- In 'No Hard Feelings,' Jennifer Lawrence throws herself into comedy
- 6 killed in shooting at Hamburg, Germany, Jehovah's Witness hall, including an unborn child, police say
- Aleeza Ben Shalom on matchmaking and breaking up with A.I.
- Average rate on 30
- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Star Crystal Kung Minkoff Shares Must-Haves for People on the Go
- Transcript: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Face the Nation, March 12, 2023
- Madhur Jaffrey's no fuss introduction to Indian cooking
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- The Negro League revolutionized baseball – MLB's new rules are part of its legacy
Ranking
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- We unpack the 2023 Emmy nominations
- Khloe Kardashian Has the Perfect Response to Critical Comment About Tumor Removal Bandage
- Find Out Which Office Alum Has Joined the Mean Girls Movie Musical
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Soccer player dies after collapsing during practice in South Africa
- James Cameron says the Titan passengers probably knew the submersible was in trouble
- Gisele Bündchen Shares Her Advice for When Life Gets Challenging
Recommendation
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Madhur Jaffrey's no fuss introduction to Indian cooking
'Mission: Impossible' is back, but will you accept it, or will it self-destruct?
Rumor sends hundreds of migrants rushing for U.S. border at El Paso, but they hit a wall of police
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Ukrainian dancers celebrate country's culture and resilience even in the face of war
Find Out Which Office Alum Has Joined the Mean Girls Movie Musical
Will There Be a Parent Trap 2? Lisa Ann Walter Reveals Whether She’s Down