How Soon After IUD Removal Can You Get Pregnant?

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular type of birth control that offers convenience for many people. It’s an effective form of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) birth control. This means that you can easily have your IUD removed when you’d like to start trying to conceive. But, for some forms of birth control, it could take a while for you to get pregnant after you stop using it. 

So, you may be wondering if there’s a waiting period before you’re fertile again after having an IUD. Let’s take a closer look at how soon after IUD removal your fertility returns and when you could get pregnant. 

What is an IUD?

An IUD is a type of birth control that’s inserted into the uterus by a healthcare professional during an office visit. IUDs are an effective form of pregnancy prevention that can last for 3 to 10 years, depending on the type of IUD. IUDs have gained popularity and are an attractive option for many women, since an IUD doesn’t require any ongoing action or maintenance after it’s placed.

Types of IUDs

There are two types of IUDs available in the U.S.: nonhormonal and hormonal. 

Nonhormonal IUDs

Nonhormonal IUDs work by creating an environment that doesn’t allow sperm to thrive or a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. These types of IUDs are known as “copper IUDs” because they include a thin layer of copper in the design.

Examples of nonhormonal IUDs include:

• Paragard (lasts for up to 10 years)

• Miudella (lasts for up to 3 years)

This type of IUD doesn’t contain hormones, making it a good choice for people who have a sensitivity or reason to avoid hormonal birth control. Copper IUD side effects tend to be minimal, but they may cause you to have heavier menstrual bleeding.

Hormonal IUDs

Hormonal IUDs deliver a small dose of a progesterone hormone to the uterus daily to help prevent pregnancy. The hormone in these IUDs often makes menstrual bleeding extremely light or it may go away completely after 6 months. Many women choose a hormonal IUD as a treatment for heavy menstrual cycles as well as contraception. 

Examples of hormonal IUDs include:

• Mirena (lasts for up to 8 years)

• Liletta (lasts for up to 8 years)

• Kyleena (lasts for up to 5 years)

• Skyla (lasts for up to 3 years)

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

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• Can you remove an IUD yourself? Maybe, but read about the risks and benefits first. 

• IUD removal is generally quick and easy. Find out what you can expect to happen during and after the procedure.

Kyleena and Skyla have a lower dose of progesterone than other hormonal IUDs. These devices are also smaller in size — making insertion somewhat easier. They’re a good choice for women who haven’t been pregnant before and have a slightly smaller uterus. 

Side effects may occur in the first 3 to 6 months after a hormonal IUD is placed. This is more likely to happen in higher-dose hormonal IUDs. 

Common side effects include: 

• Irregular bleeding

• Breast pain

• Acne

• Weight gain

How long does it take for fertility to resume after IUD removal?

Unlike some forms of hormonal birth control, your fertility resumes immediately after you have an IUD removed. Research shows this is likely true across all IUD types — including hormonal IUDs. So, if you don’t want to get pregnant, it’s best to use a backup form of birth control. 

This doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically get pregnant as soon as you have your IUD removed. But the IUD doesn’t have lasting effects, and your ability to get pregnant will immediately go back to what it would’ve been if you’d never had an IUD in place. 

About 85% of people trying to conceive get pregnant within 12 months of IUD removal. Keep in mind that your fertility decreases with age, though. So, the longer your IUD is in place, the more your fertility has naturally declined.

How soon should you remove an IUD if you’re trying to conceive?

Most experts recommend removing an IUD 3 to 6 months before planning a pregnancy. It’s safe to conceive immediately after the IUD is removed. But waiting 6 months is helpful since the IUD causes changes to the endometrium (lining of the uterus), which may make it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant. These changes typically normalize within 6 months after IUD removal. 

Having a brief waiting period of 3 to 6 months after IUD removal and tracking your ovulation may help make your pregnancy attempts more successful.

What to expect after IUD removal

IUD removal is a quick and painless office procedure, for the most part. You may have some cramping, though. Most healthcare professionals will ask you to take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) a few hours prior to your appointment. You may also have some light spotting after IUD removal, but this resolves on its own. 

What are the risks and complications of IUD removal?

IUD removal is usually a quick and easy procedure with low risk of complications, especially if the IUD strings are visible. But, sometimes, IUD removal can be more challenging if:

• Your IUD migrates out of the uterus to a different location.

• Your IUD shifts and embeds itself deeply in the uterus.

• Your IUD breaks during removal.

In these cases, you may need an ultrasound to locate the IUD or a more invasive process to remove it. Fortunately, complications are rare and happen in less than 2% of IUD removals.

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Written by:

Kimberly Turner, MD

Kimberly Turner, MD, is an OB/GYN physician who has been in clinical practice for over 30 years. She graduated from Duke University medical school and currently practices gynecology in the state of Maryland.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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