Newbie with an IUD question

slaven · June 2016

DH and I are planning to have my IUD taking out in August with a TTC start date in Oct. I have heard that when you have an IUD you can start right away, I've heard to wait a month, and I've heard to wait 2 months. I'm stationed in Korea with my husband (he's active duty, not me) and I'm not fully confident that when I ask my gyno about it that they really know what I'm asking.

I've read the old threads but I have one thing still on my mind: I still get my periods with my IUD, even after 2 years of having it in.

Is the reason you're supposed to wait because you don't have a period for so long and the uterine lining needs to be replaced before proper implantation? If that were the case, since I have my period do I need to wait? I'm mostly just looking for some magical unicorn on here who happens to have had a hormonal IUD, had their period the whole time, and has started TTC. If you are that magical unicorn, what did your gyno tell you about waiting? I really wish I had an English speaking gyno!

I'm sorry if this has been answered but the search function has been difficult to find what I'm actually looking for.

KirstinH88 · June 2016

When I had my IUD removed, the Dr told me to wait until I got my first period (I didn't normally have them) and she told me that it was to allow the uterine lining to be built back up. However, I am not sure that just because you are having AF regularly doesn't mean that your uterine lining doesn't need to be built back up. I've read that the IUD does affect the uterine lining regardless of whether you have AF regularly or not. IMO I would wait until you get AF to start trying. Mine started 4 days after I had it removed so it wasn't like I had to wait long.

KirstinH88 · June 2016

**TW** Also, I thought I was pretty fertile since I got KU after one month of trying with my son, but it's now been 8 months and 1 MC later and I'm still in the TTGP group. So, while I've heard and have friends that have gotten pregnant right after having their IUD removed, be prepared for some length of time for your cycle to get back to a new normal. Fx for you TTC.

slaven · June 2016

@KirstinH88 Thank you for your response and I'm sorry for your loss. I understood the reasoning behind waiting one month, but I was confused about waiting 2. I think an AF after stopping BC is a good idea. DH thinks it'll happen right away but I keep reminding him that it might not. Our plans may temporarily be on hold anyway because we don't know when we're leaving Korea. I'm pretty sure I can't fly back past 7 months and DH is dead set against me delivering here. But that's a completely different story.

weareturtles · June 2016

I just had my IUD removed on June 3rd. My OB/GYN told me no need to wait to start trying. She specifically stated that I should expect to bleed a bit within a few days of the removal (as a result of the removal) and stressed that this bleeding was not to be confused with AF. AF would resume at some point, assuming I don't get KU beforehand.

I have read that some people have gotten KU from BD a few days before having the IUD removed, so that's something to keep in mind.

I've not had AF for at least 10 years thanks to various forms of BC, so I have no idea what my cycles will be like now that I am off BC...

[Deleted User] · June 2016

I didn't have an iud but my bff did.

Unfortunately, she had an awful time with the removal. Apparently it migrated deeper into her uterus and was very painful and difficult to remove. That was 1.5 years ago, and now after 7 cycles TTC, she is going to follow up with her doctor to see if there may have been any further complications/damage/adhesions. I really hope she's going to be okay....

That said - basically just a random scary iud story illustrating precisely why I never had one or wouldn't recommend them to anyone who asked my opinion about various forms of bc... Which you didn't! Lol So at any rate, hopefully it will be fine, but you're right that it could still take longer than he thinks to get ku - really for Anybody - let alone following iud removal.

Hers was the copper one, so she said her doctor said she didn't have to wait. Also, she said it made AF like 10x worse than normal! But I would just say if your doctor said to wait a cycle, just do it. It's really not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things. Maybe they won't do an ultrasound to check the lining or anything, but at any rate if even 2+cycles means not only is your ute better prepared, but you also have time to sort out other things, makes timing better for travel etc., then those are factors you and your DH will have to sit down and work through together. GL and ((Hugs))

meganh2016 · June 2016

Ultimately, I think every person is different and there's no telling how your body will react. *TW* I got my IUD removed, was pregnant 2 weeks later and ended up with an ectopic loss. Maybe that was random, but my doctor seems to think there is some chance the IUD negatively impacted my chances of a healthy pregnancy. If I could go back, I would wait one cycle. Not because I think the result would necessarily be different, but because the loss was so so hard, I just wish I knew my IUD wasn't a part of it... In any event, good luck!!!!

slaven · June 2016

Thanks for all the input. I believe there is a consensus of waiting a month. Originally I had heard to wait two but I agree that one month is good unless there are problems with the removal. One AF and everything should be reset so to speak. Plus I think I have the benefit of having a consistent AF while having the IUD.

virginiaham · June 2016

slavenski said:

Thanks for all the input. I believe there is a consensus of waiting a month. Originally I had heard to wait two but I agree that one month is good unless there are problems with the removal. One AF and everything should be reset so to speak. Plus I think I have the benefit of having a consistent AF while having the IUD.

Hopefully this is the case, but don't be surprised if the change in hormones (if you have the Mirena IUD, bc it is a hormonal IUD) throws that all off for a cycle or two. My only advice is to consider starting temping and charting during that first cycle after removal so you can know when/if you've ovulated. That was my biggest regret post-IUD. I also thought I would've gotten KU right away, and knowing when to expect my period based on O during that second cycle eliminated a lot of stress.

There are anecdotes everywhere on the Internet for good and bad stories of TTC immediately post-IUD, nor are any of us doctors. I think there is a wide range of recommendations on this doctor-to-doctor. Mine said go ahead and try right away. Honestly I would still ask your doctor for theirs, and ask why. They are smart, and I'm sure you could word it in a way that they would understand your specific question or rephrase if they aren't answering the actual question you'd like answered. Good luck!

eta missed words

tripledaggerWed95976 · June 2016

*****MC mentioned*****
i was told I could start right away. I got pregnant 2 months later, The pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage but I don't think one had to do with the other
eta: I had the mierena IUD

sevenn · June 2016

@slavenski - I had a Mirena in for over 2 years, and I didn't ever have periods on it. I was on OCPs before that (x 12 years) so I had no clue what my body was going to do. I got my Mirena out (easy peasy for me), had a withdrawal bleed about 3 days later which I counted as CD 1, and then went on to ovulate CD 15 and have a period CD 27. So pretty perfect cycle right off the bat even in the setting of me being someone who didn't have periods on Mirena. My gyne told us to start trying right away, which we did. I'm on my third cycle now so no BFP yet, but my body got itself squared away right away- I imagine yours will too!

TheJerilu · June 2016

This is from the Mirena (hormonal IUD) perspective. If you've got a copper IUD, I dunno.

Previously, doctors used to recommend waiting at least 1 cycle before trying, but now they say you can safely (try to) get pregnant as soon as it's removed. Studies have shown that, with successful conception/implantation, rates of miscarriage/ectopic/etc are the same as other pregnancies.

You're cycle will probably be wonky for a few months just because of the change in hormones, as previously stated by other posters.

From my experience: I had a Mirena for 4 years and didn't have periods beyond maaaaybe some spotting for a day. When I got it removed, my stateside gyno was basically like, "OK hump away and good luck". As a note on how it affected my cycle, I had it removed on the last day of my period, was fine for a half a week, and then started another cycle. Since then my cycles have all been average length (~28 - 34 days). Some people take longer to regulate, some just have some spotting, whatever, bodies are weird.

Also you will always hear the worst cases on the internet so don't scare yourself.

slaven · June 2016

virginiaham said:
Hopefully this is the case, but don't be surprised if the change in hormones (if you have the Mirena IUD, bc it is a hormonal IUD) throws that all off for a cycle or two. My only advice is to consider starting temping and charting during that first cycle after removal so you can know when/if you've ovulated. That was my biggest regret post-IUD. I also thought I would've gotten KU right away, and knowing when to expect my period based on O during that second cycle eliminated a lot of stress.

I actually have already ordered a BBT, the Taking Charge of Your Fertility book, and some prenatals since I don't take a multivitamin.

slaven · June 2016

@TheJerilu, The first time I asked about IUD removal in a FB group I'm part of a woman that I don't know sent me a very detailed story of an ectopic pregnancy after her IUD removal. I think that being the first thing I heard on the topic shaped my mind about it. Of course I know there are risks, which is why I'm researching it, but I'm also trying to find positive stories as well. This waiting period until TTC is like sitting on pins and needles. Hopefully IUD will be out in August

catem07 · June 2016

slavenski said:

virginiaham said:
My only advice is to consider starting temping and charting during that first cycle after removal so you can know when/if you've ovulated.

Mirena actually doesn't prevent ovulation (which I found out a few weeks before I got mine removed), so you can start temping now. Of course, your cycle might change post-hormone removal, but if you want to get started charting you can, @slavenski

PennStateCait · June 2016

Seconding what @yaeger07 said! I started temping the day I got my Mirena removed. Temps were wacky but it was comforting to see them even out over time after that first cycle.

slaven · June 2016

@yaeger07 @PennStateCait That's good to hear. I figured since I get AF regularly that I must be ovulating (getting rid of egg and such, why would you get AF on the reg if you didn't AF?)

I also found out it can be removed when you're not on AF. I didn't have AF when it was inserted (coming off depo) and putting it in was uncomfortable but I hear taking it out is no worse, if not better. We're reevaluating our start date. I have a physical July 13th right after AF, and will try to get my IUD out before the next AF. That way, I'll have an AF after it's removed and start TTC without waiting forever.

eryncameron · June 2016

I had the Paraguard IUD in for about 4 years. Non hormonal, so I still got my period. I had my IUD removed the end of April, a week after my period stopped. No one told me about waiting a cycle or two before trying to start conceiving.
I got a positive pregnancy test 3 weeks later, and had a MC a week and a half after that.
Whether it was just bad luck, or because my lining was too thin to support a successful pregnancy, I don't know. I do know I am going to wait a cycle or two before I start trying to get pregnant again, so I can try to avoid a MC due to that.

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