How to Get Pregnant After IUD Birth Control

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are T-shaped plastic devices that contain either copper or hormones, and are inserted into the uterus. They are most often used for long term birth control, but are also extremely effective as emergency contraception. IUDs work by releasing hormones or copper ions into your reproductive system to prevent conception, and are recognized as one of the most reliable long term birth control methods. Once you make the decision to start trying to get pregnant, you can ask a doctor for the removal of your IUD. You may have some questions about getting pregnant after IUD removal, so we’re here to help. 

If you want to know how soon can you get pregnant after removing IUD, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn how quickly fertility returns, early pregnancy signs, and what affects your chances of conceiving right away after getting your IUD removed. 

What to Expect After IUD Removal

Removing an IUD is a simple process and there are rarely any complications. You can request your IUD to be removed at any time. The exact process of IUD removal may vary during your office visit but a typical removal follows the steps below.

It’s common to experience light bleeding and cramping both during and right after the removal procedure. Some medical professionals may prescribe taking painkillers before having your IUD taken out to reduce pain and discomfort. 

After IUD removal, pregnancy is possible and you should go back to your normal cycle within a few months. Fertility after IUD removal can look different for everyone, though and it can take time for your hormones to return to “normal.” Since a copper IUD doesn’t use hormones, fertility can return immediately upon removal. For hormonal IUDs, your menstrual cycle may have been affected but it’s still possible to get pregnant in your first cycle after removal. It can be hard to tell where you are in your cycle due to bleeding or cramping in the removal process, so your first period after IUD removal may take time to start.

How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant After IUD Removal?

Your fertility can bounce back to normal right after your IUD removal, so after the procedure, you can start trying to conceive right away. It takes the average couple about 4-6 months to conceive after IUD removal but timelines can vary based on individual circumstances. Research has found that most women become pregnant within the first 12 months, and there is no negative effect on subsequent fertility from using an IUD.

An important indicator that your fertility has returned, especially if you’re looking at getting pregnant after IUD, is ovulation. Whether you are trying to get pregnant or avoid pregnancy, tracking ovulation can be beneficial for family planning and for learning more about your reproductive health. There are free tools available, like the Mira App, or you can use a more accurate system to estimate your fertile window by testing and tracking your reproductive hormones directly. That’s where the Mira Hormone Monitor comes into play. It can track a variety of hormones involved in the menstrual cycle, which can be especially helpful for those with hormonal IUDs to see when ovulation has returned. Together with the Mira Wands that can track estradiol metabolite (E3G), luteinizing hormone (LH), and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) means you can predict your ovulation and fertility window. Using the Mira App to combine all this information will not only help you manage your fertility, but predict when your cycle will be. 

Can You Get Pregnant 1 Week After IUD Removal?

If you are asking “Can you get pregnant 1 week after IUD removal?” you should know that the answer is a resounding yes. That may or may not be what you wanted to hear but it’s important information regardless of your goals. In fact, sperm can survive in your reproductive tract for up to 5 days after intercourse so depending on when you ovulate and when removal happens, you can start having intercourse about 5 days before removal if you’re looking to conceive as soon as possible. 

Hormonal vs. Copper IUD

There are two types of IUDs: copper or hormonal. The copper IUD is a plastic device that has a copper stem and arms. The copper causes the uterus to have an inflammatory reaction, which is harmful to sperm thereby creating a hostile environment in your uterus for the sperm. Whereas, a hormonal IUD is a plastic device able to release the progestin hormone levonorgestrel (LNG). This hormone thickens your cervical mucus, which prevents sperm from reaching the egg to fertilize. The LNG hormone can also thin out the uterine lining and can partially prevent ovulation. 

Copper IUDs (like Paragard) do not affect hormones and your cycle was not affected by it. Ovulation typically resumes immediately with a copper IUD and you can get pregnant immediately upon its removal. 

Hormonal IUDs (like Mirena or Kyleena) affect your hormones and impair the body’s ability to release an egg. Since ovulation was suppressed, it may take time for your fertility to return, but overall research has shown that pregnancy after IUD removal happens for most women within a year. 

This table summarizes the differences between hormonal and copper IUDs:

Early Signs of Pregnancy After IUD Removal

Pregnancy after IUD removal can be hard to detect, especially if you don’t know where you are in your cycle. And those early signs of pregnancy can often be similar to PMS symptoms, making it even harder to know if you are truly pregnant. 

Pregnancy symptoms with IUD (after IUD removal) are the same as typical early pregnancy signs, including:

• frequent urination

• sore/tender breasts

• nausea and vomiting

• cramping and light bleeding

• tiredness or fatigue

• cervical mucus changes

• missed period

You might be tempted to take a pregnancy test as soon as you feel any twinges that could indicate pregnancy, but it’s essential to take a pregnancy test at the right time - too early and it could lead to a false-negative result. Ideally, you should wait until the first day of your next expected period to take a pregnancy test or until 14 days past ovulation (DPO). 

If you aren’t tracking your cycle, there are many benefits to doing so (like knowing when to take a pregnancy test for the most accurate results). Using Mira’s fertility kit can help you know when you ovulate by tracking your precise LH, E3G and PdG levels (estradiol and progesterone metabolite in urine). Combined with AI personalized cycle prediction, it can help you know exactly when to test.

Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant After IUD Removal?

How fast can I get pregnant after IUD removal? If you’re asking this question, it can be frustrating and disheartening when you find yourself not pregnant. Remember though, it can take time for your body to adjust and fertility after IUD removal is not the same for everyone. 

Normal Variations in Post-IUD Fertility

Even though you can conceive within the first few cycles, that’s not the norm and for most people, it takes time for your ovulation to return and regulate. This can be especially true after having a hormonal IUD since it affects ovulation. Getting pregnant after IUD has been well studied and research suggests that for most women it can take 3 months to a year to become pregnant. Of course, pregnancy after IUD removal can be heavily influenced by personal circumstances such as health, age, and other lifestyle factors that can impact your fertility. 

Underlying Health Conditions to Rule Out

If you find you are not getting pregnant after IUD removal and are looking for answers, it might be time to speak to your doctor so you can rule out any underlying health conditions. Certain conditions like PCOS or thyroid disorders can lead to irregular menstrual periods, making it that much harder to plan for a pregnancy. Similarly, conditions like endometriosis can make TTC even more challenging, especially if you are trying to figure out your fertility after IUD removal. And since your fertility declines with age, your chances of conceiving can start to drop the older you get (not to mention changes to your cycle). 

If you are actively trying to conceive, it’s important to track ovulation in order to maximize your chances of getting pregnant. There are a number of methods, from tracking your basal body temperature to checking your cervical mucus, but the best way to predict ovulation is by tracking your hormones directly. The Mira Monitor, together with our wands, allows you to test and track up to four key fertility hormones (LH, E3G, PdG, and FSH). Over time, you’ll be able to see a full picture of your hormone health, including your fertile window and ovulation, regardless of what your cycle is doing!

If you feel like you’re doing everything right but still aren’t conceiving, it may be time to speak with your healthcare provider. The general advice is to talk to your doctor if you have been TTC for at least one year with no luck (if under the age of 35) or at least six months with no luck (if over the age of 35). 

It can be helpful to bring any data you have to your appointment, like key cycle dates, symptoms, and test results. A great tool for staying organized is a fertility tracking app. The Mira App is completely free and allows you to track key fertility data such as your period dates, BBT, cervical mucus characteristics, sex drive, mood, and more. 

You can also arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible by taking a general fertility blood test at home. We offer this type of test at Mira - the Panorama Fertility Lab Test*. It tests for five key fertility hormones that affect ovulation, cycle regularity, and thyroid functioning. You’ll receive results within 5-7 days after submitting, and you can then take these to your doctor’s appointment for further discussion and evaluation. 

*Please note that Mira’s Panorama Fertility Lab Test is not the same as the Mira Monitor. The Panorama Fertility Lab Test is a one-time screening that provides a broad picture of overall reproductive health and ovarian reserve. The Mira Monitor is designed for ongoing use to help monitor hormonal trends related to fertility and ovulation. 

Rare Complications From IUD Use

Serious complications from IUD use are rare, but they do occur. Listed below are some of the main complications that may occur:

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - an infection of the reproductive organs, it can occur when bacteria spread from your vagina to the upper reproductive organs if bacteria are introduced during insertion

• Uterine Perforation - when the IUD pushes into or through the muscle of the uterus. Extremely rare and typically occurs during insertion.

• Infection - Persistent pain, fever, unusual discharge or pain with sex can all point to possible infection. See a doctor and begin treatment as early as possible with antibiotics to prevent complications.

Although not common, rare complications can occur from IUD use. They may or may not affect your ability to conceive, but these complications are uncommon and getting pregnant after IUD is possible for most women. 

Fastest Way to Get Pregnant After IUD Removal

If you want to know how soon can you get pregnant after removing IUD, it’s important to understand the different factors that can enhance your chances of conception. Lifestyle factors you can focus on include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and managing your stress levels.

It can feel like a lot when you’re focusing on getting pregnant after IUD removal. If you’re struggling to put all the pieces together, consider consulting a professional who can help. The Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility can guide you through the various fertility options available and offer a practical, integrative approach to all things fertility. 

Track Ovulation Using Hormone Monitors or Apps

Predicting your fertile window - the window of time you are considered “fertile” in your cycle - is absolutely crucial for getting pregnant. We’ve touched on some of the different ways you can track ovulation - from OPKs to basal body temperature - but the most accurate way is by testing and tracking your reproductive hormones directly. In the past this would have taken many visits to both the lab and the doctor, not to mention the time and expense involved. With an at-home testing solution like Mira, you can measure your exact hormone concentration levels in urine and track them in the Mira App - which then uses AI technology to pinpoint your fertile days based on your unique hormone patterns.

Using ovulation tracking can help you plan for the best time to have sex to maximize your chances of getting pregnant. You are at “peak” fertility on the day of ovulation, so doctors recommend having sex daily around the time that you anticipate ovulation will occur. Knowing when your fertile window is likely to occur, with the help of tracking tools like Mira, is the key to conceiving as efficiently as possible.

For a more detailed breakdown of timing sex with ovulation, see our full article on when and how often you should have sex to get pregnant. 

Optimize Fertile Window With Intercourse Timing

It’s only possible to become pregnant once the egg has been released through ovulation. Since sperm can only live in the body for up to five days and an egg can only live for 24 hours - the fertile window lasts six days (to account for the lifespans of the sperm and the egg). 

If you are trying to conceive, you should try to have sex with your partner either every other day or daily during your fertile window. This will maximize the chance that you will conceive and achieve pregnancy after IUD removal.

Improve Fertility With Lifestyle Changes

If you are TTC, it’s important to make sure that you are making healthy lifestyle choices to support your fertility. Harvard Medical School suggests staying active, managing stress, reducing bad habits like alcohol and smoking, and eating a well-balanced diet.

Fertility and nutrition go hand in hand, as specific nutrients have been shown to improve an individual's ability to get pregnant. Researchers at Harvard have linked folic acid, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids to improved fertility. These nutrients can be incorporated into your diet through foods such as leafy green vegetables, lean meats, fish, dairy products, nuts, and seeds. 

One of the best ways to make sure you’re getting everything you need for pregnancy is by supplementing your diet. You can do this through a prenatal vitamin or something like a fertility tea. The Mira’s Fertility Tea helps promote reproductive wellness, hormone balance, and overall health. With a blend of ingredients designed to support your fertility naturally, this tea also contains high levels of antioxidants, folic acid, and vitamins A & C. For everything else, you can try prenatal vitamins that include essential nutrients required before, during, and after pregnancy. Mira’s own Prenatal Multi-Vitamin is crafted in-house by our fertility experts, third-party tested, and free from most major allergens. 

How to Avoid Pregnancy After IUD Removal

Not everyone is asking “Can you get pregnant 1 week after IUD removal?” for hopeful reasons and you may be asking because you are trying to avoid pregnancy. If you’re wondering how soon can you get pregnant after removing IUD you should know that your fertility can return very quickly - so quickly in fact that it can return immediately after removal. Ovulation may even take place before your first period after IUD removal, so don’t wait to start protection.

If you are trying to avoid pregnancy, you should avoid having sex with your partner during your fertile window. Consider using another method of prevention as there are a number of options to choose from including barrier methods like condoms or diaphragms, hormonal birth control (pills, vaginal rings, injections), or a fertility awareness method for family planning. Remember though that these methods are not always 100% effective at preventing pregnancy and there are options available for temporary and emergency contraception that have no long term effects on your fertility. 

Bottom Line

Intrauterine devices are a trusted and reliable long-term birth control method. Many people worry about their fertility after IUD removal, but as you can see, there really isn’t anything to worry about. Most people see their cycles return to “normal” and getting pregnant after IUD removal is not an issue. Regardless of whether you are looking to achieve pregnancy after IUD removal or not, keeping track of your fertile window is paramount to effective family planning. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there anything your doctor can give you to boost fertility after IUD removal?

There is nothing specific your doctor will give you to boost your fertility after IUD removal, but to enhance your chances of conceiving it’s best to follow a balanced diet, take the recommended supplements for TTC, and track ovulation. 

Is it possible to have a baby before removing an intrauterine device (IUD)?

Although possible, it is extremely rare to get pregnant with an IUD and even more rare to deliver a baby with an IUD since it carries heavy risks and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Most times, the IUD is removed in early pregnancy to reduce the risks involved.

Is it possible to temporarily remove an IUD during pregnancy?

Yes. If you become pregnant with an IUD, the device should be removed by a healthcare professional as soon as possible given the risks. Even if you do not intend to continue the pregnancy, you can temporarily remove an IUD during pregnancy and then revisit the situation.