The intrauterine device is inserted in the uterus, often for contraception and to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. And it’s normal to get worried about the first period after coil removal.
So do you have a complaint about missed periods after IUD removal?
After IUD removal, you may miss your periods for some time. It might happen because your body takes some time to get set on a new contraceptive or get back to its mechanism. However, it can also happen because of other reasons.
To know the reasons for the missed period after IUD removal, keep reading the article.
Table of Content
What Is an IUD and How Does It Work?
When you get an IUD, you might think that I have got no period after mirena removal, could i be pregnant? This question is common! But you do not need to worry.
IUD or intrauterine device is a small T-shaped device that your healthcare providers insert into your uterus. It is used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, lower menstrual cramps, pelvic pain, and for contraception.
The intrauterine device works by stopping the fertilization of sperm and egg or by stopping their implantation into the uterus wall. It provides contraception for up to ten years, and you will have to get it removed after ten years and get a new one inserted to get a contraception cover.
Intrauterine devices can be made of copper or may contain hormones such as levonorgestrel. They are available as Paragard, Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla.
You may have a complaint of missed period after copper IUD removal or missed period after paragard IUD removal. In this article we will tell you why can you skip a period after IUD removal?
What to Expect With IUD Removal?
Removal of intrauterine devices is a simple and painless task. Your healthcare providers need to perform this procedure. If you try doing it on your own, you may end up hurting yourself.
You do not need to undergo anesthesia to get the intrauterine device removed. For many IUDs removal, the procedure is the same, and you can get back to your normal activities as soon as it gets removed.
Your menstrual periods may also get back to normal after intrauterine device removal. But sometimes, you may have a complaint of missed periods after IUD removal.
It is better that you take a pain reliever beforehand, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, so no pain occurs after the procedure. The common side effects associated with IUD removal are:
- Pain and cramps– in some patients, pain, and cramps may occur with the removal of intrauterine devices. Usually, it subsides in one to two days. You must take a pain reliever if you have the same complaint.
- Light spotting– some women have a complaint of light spotting after IUD removal. However, it is not something serious. But if it remains for a long time and does not go or you have heavy bleeding, you must consult with a healthcare provider.
- Irregular periods– you may have a complaint of missed periods after IUD removal or irregular periods. However, it may subsidize in some months, and your cycle may get back to normal as it was before.
- With a copper IUD removal, your periods almost get back to normal soon. But with hormonal therapy intrauterine devices, it will take some time.
After How Long Does the IUD Removal Affect the Period?
When you get your IUD removed, you may have a question in your mind that is it normal not to have a period after IUD removal? Or can you get pregnant with no period after iud removal?
There are two types of intrauterine devices: hormonal and non-hormonal. The hormonal device contains a progestin hormone that works by thickening the mucus of the cervix and thinning the endometrium.
A non-hormonal intrauterine device contains copper as an active ingredient and stops the fertilization of egg and sperm and its implantation too in the uterus.
Your periods occur because every month, in your reproductive system, the ovary ovulates, and in the uterus, the endometrium builds up.
The endometrial tissue builds up to protect against shock to the baby if a possible pregnancy occurs. However, when it occurs, the tissue sheds itself and blood flows through the vagina. Therefore, to get periods, the entire process should occur normally.
If endometrium does not build inside the uterus, it can cause loss of periods or missed periods. When you get a hormonal intrauterine device inserted for a long time, it can affect your periods even after IUD removal.
The hormonal intrauterine devices contain a progestin hormone- levonorgestrel, that is released in the uterus directly and thins the endometrial tissue. Therefore, when it gets thin for a long time, it may take some time for the endometrium to build up normally. Sometimes, you may have a complaint of heavy periods after IUD removal, while sometimes they may not come for many months.
Some women may have a first period after IUD removal heavy and then it gets normalised. However some may also complain that the first period after IUD removal is painful. But in some
Many women have complained about missed periods after IUD removal. But it may differ from one person to another and the type of device you have got inserted. It may happen that you get no period 4 months after iud removal.
Your periods may change because of change in ovulation after IUD removal.
The most common concern often females have is about pregnancy after iud removal.
Apart from it, various other reasons can lead to missed periods. We can describe them as:
- Stress
- Being obese or underweight
- Thyroid conditions
- PCOs or polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Sudden weight loss
- Pregnancy
Stress
A part of your brain, known as the hypothalamus, plays a role in regulating periods. It sends signals to the master gland, the pituitary gland, which signals the female reproductive system to secrete hormones.
Ovaries, a part of the female reproductive system, secretes hormones known as estrogen and progesterone that regulates the menstrual cycle. But when you are stressed, your hypothalamus does not signal the pituitary gland. Therefore, there is no estrogen and progesterone secretion, which causes missed periods.
When you are stressed, your body produces a stress hormone, known as cortisol, which, when secreted in large amounts, can cause a stop in ovulation.
When there is no ovulation, your body does not prepare itself for a possible pregnancy, hence no endometrium develops.
You may be worried to get first period after coil removal, but do not stress over it.
The bottom line is that you can have a complaint of missed periods after IUD removal because of stress. If this is the case, you must visit a psychologist and get stress-relieving tips.
Being Obese or Underweight
Weight extremes can affect your periods. Your fat cells secrete estrogen- a hormone that regulates periods.
When you are underweight, you do not have enough fat cells, due to which there is low to little estrogen secretion. Therefore, your periods get affected eventually.
In the same way, when you are overweight, you have many fat cells which secrete too much estrogen. A very high level of estrogen also affects your menstrual cycle and causes them to get missed.
You need to have an optimal amount of hormones to get periods and the functioning of the reproductive system. However, the level of hormones keeps varying with the time of the menstrual period.
To get your periods back to normal, you need to shed those extra pounds with these simple tips.
Thyroid Conditions
Your neck contains an endocrine gland- the thyroid gland. This butterfly-shaped organ regulates various processes of your body by secreting hormones.
The thyroid conditions affect various bodily functions, including your periods. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause your periods to get missed. To treat it, your healthcare providers will prescribe you medications that can help treat the condition or sometimes they may remove the gland surgically.
PCOs
PCOs or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition of the female reproductive system in which fluid-filled cysts develop inside the ovaries. It can affect your periods too, along with various other symptoms.
The symptoms of PCOs are:
- Hirsutism- excess body and facial hair
- Acne
- Insulin resistance
- Weight gain
- Difficulty losing weight
- Male pattern baldness
- Oily skin
- Dark or thick skin patches in the underarm, underneath the breasts, and back of the neck
You may have a complaint about the missed period after IUD removal because of PCOs. To treat the condition, your healthcare providers will prescribe you hormonal replacement therapy.
Sudden Weight Loss
Losing too much weight can affect your periods. Likewise, the diseases in which you lose a lot of weight, such as diabetes or kidney disease, can cause your periods to get missed.
If you do not get periods due to weight loss, your healthcare provider will refer you to a dietitian so that you can get a customized diet plan and gain weight healthily.
Pregnancy
A common cause for missing periods after IUD removal is pregnancy. When your contraception cover is not there, and you are sexually active, the rates for getting pregnant are too high. If this is the case, you must take the pregnancy test soon so that you know what is going on inside your body.
If you are switching from IUD to another contraception method, you must consult with your healthcare provider about how to prevent pregnancy. They can guide you and may ask you to abstain from sex.
If you have had unprotected sex and do not plan a child, you can go for emergency contraception- which needs to be taken within some hours of sex.
FAQs
Question: How many types of IUDs are there?
Answer: There are two types of IUDs, hormonal and non-hormonal. The hormonal IUD contains progestin hormone- levonorgestrel and non-hormonal is made up of copper.
Question: What are the different hormonal contraceptives available in the market?
Answer: The different types of hormonal contraceptives available in the market are Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla.
What is an IUD?
IUD or intrauterine device is a small T-shaped device that your healthcare providers insert into your uterus. It is used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding, lower menstrual cramps, pelvic pain, and for contraception.
Conclusion
Missed periods after IUD removal can occur because of various reasons. We have included the common ones. If you have the same problem, you must visit the healthcare provider.
You must not take missed periods lightly as it can be a symptom of some serious underlying health condition and affect fertility.
