Birth Control Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
Removal of the IUD
Women should never try to remove an IUD themselves. Serious damage can result. A clinician can usually remove an IUD very simply by carefully pulling the string ends at a certain angle. This causes the IUD arms to fold up and the IUD to slide out through the cervix. If the IUD is being replaced, a new one can usually be inserted immediately.
Rarely, the cervix may need to be dilated and a grasping instrument is used to free the IUD. If this occurs, a local anesthetic is used.
Very rarely, hysteroscopic surgery may be necessary, where a small telescope is used to help remove the IUD.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 5/20/2014
Omnia M Samra, MD
Bryan D Cowan, MD
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Lee P Shulman, MD
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