Women post TikTok videos of them removing their IUDs

There’s a new TikTok trend that doesn’t involve milk crates or dancing. Some women remove their IUD and share videos on TikTok and YouTube. The idea of ​​grabbing the IUD strings and pulling the medical device through the cervix may make one cringe, but some wonder if this is a safe option to pursue.

The answer?

Not really.

“It’s probably safer than not sure,” said Dr Gloria Bachmann, obstetrician-gynecologist and director of the Women’s Health Institute at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “It is better to do it in a controlled environment… When we take it out to the office, everything is visualized as we do it more or less blindly (at home).

And doctors are better equipped to handle any type of bleeding or complications that might arise when it is removed.

“If it’s embedded in the muscle layer of the uterus, which can happen, it can cause a lot more bleeding, a lot more pain and it can actually pull the uterus out, which is not something. as one would like, “Bachmann mentioned.

Dr Anar Yukhayev has said that removing your own IUD is dangerous. He urges people to have an IUD removed by a healthcare professional, a procedure that normally takes less than 10 minutes in an office.

“When (a doctor) grabs the string and you use forceps most of the time, the IUD comes out right away. Sometimes you have to use a little force. The point is, you need to know exactly how much force to use, ”said OB-GYN from Long Island Jewish Medical Center TODAY. “If you use too much force, it could mean that something is wrong, like the IUD could be stuck. “

Pulling on a stuck IUD could cause bleeding and damage and cause an “emerging problem”.

“When you pull it out, you can actually lodge it in another part of the uterus and make the coating of the IUD worse,” Yukhayev said. “This is one of the issues I can think of as to why it’s not a good idea, or it’s risky, actually dangerous.”

In the videos, women sometimes say that they want to remove their IUD because they are bleeding and cramping, which Yukhayev says means their IUD is already in the wrong position.

“When a woman has these symptoms with an IUD in place, it may be because the IUD is already in the wrong position. So if it’s badly positioned, which can cause cramping, it can be painful, sometimes the bleeding is a bit shifted, ”he explained. “If you already start in a place where it’s not positioned (correctly) by trying to remove it yourself… you can make a bad deal worse.”

And sometimes people have uteri that tilt forward or backward, which can make removing an IUD even more difficult.

Some say they had no choice but to remove their own IUD because their doctor refused to do so without them choosing another method of contraception or they could not afford the removal costs. Regarding cost, Yukhayev urges patients to discuss sliding scale payments with their doctor’s office based on a person’s ability to pay. Experts, however, feel confused by the doctors who refuse the withdrawal.

“Why did the supplier say they wouldn’t remove it, I’m not sure. Unless a chain cannot be found or the provider has not performed this procedure or there were concerns, there could be excessive bleeding, ”Bachmann said. “It may not be done on the same day sometimes. But it will be done. I don’t know why a supplier wouldn’t.

Yukhayev said ideally patients should be involved in shared decision making with their doctor where the doctor listens to their patients’ concerns and finds a solution that works for the patient.

“I see my job as a doctor to tell the patient what I think is going on, what the risks and benefits are, what the options are, and for us to make a decision together that we are both at home with. ‘easy. Now, I can never imagine myself being in a position where a patient really wants to remove their IUD and I’m like, ‘No,’ ”he said. “If you come across an OB-GYN who’s going against what you want, it’s probably time to find you another doctor.”

IUDs remain a safe, long-term contraceptive option for many. A progesterone IUD prevents pregnancy between five and seven years, while a copper, non-hormonal, or copper IUD provides protection for 12 years. But just because they’re popular doesn’t mean they are suitable for everyone, and if women have any issues, they should speak to their doctor about removing them. Yet many have an IUD and don’t even remember having it, which makes it a great option for them.

“Not only is it a good birth control method, but for many women who have heavy periods, it is actually used to decrease the amount of bleeding. So you don’t become iron deficient, ”Bachmann said. “It’s a very safe method.

Related: