Stuck copper coil / hysteroscopy / pregnancy with coil in situ?

[stargirlinterlude]

Hi guys, just looking for other people’s experiences with the things listed above.
Me and husband have decided to try for baby number 2, went to what should’ve been a routine removal of 10 yr coil at the doctors today…she yanked 4 times to no avail and said it was stuck.
She then looked rather worried after her last attempt and asked me if I felt okay, then said there was a problem. The string had come off when she pulled, coil has slipped down but is still in my uterus and is stuck. She said she is referring me to the gynaecologist for removal where they will have to inject my cervix and then go in with surgical tools for removal…obviously I’m absolutely terrified now. Doctor also mentioned that as the coil has slipped I can now get pregnant, but that she would rather I didn’t. I asked what would happen if I did and she said they won’t remove the coil but that gestational sac would likely sit on top and grow around it, but that it isn’t sharp so there shouldn’t be an issue of a baby being harmed if I were to get pregnant. I’ve since come home and googled (obviously) and seen that it can increase the risk of ectopic or miscarriage. She said a gynae referral will take around 2/3 months 😢
has anyone had a similar experience and how did it go for you? And has anyone also gotten pregnant with the coil and how did that end for you?
TIA

Ask if a general anaesthetic is possible if it’s terrifying you. I am getting one for my coil fitting as I found fitting very distressing last time.

Like your local anesthetic removal, a referral for a coil removal under GA on NHS will take several months, I think I waited about 7 months.

If you have the money, you could go private and have it done sooner.

Use condoms/go on the pill until the coil is removed properly. Getting pregnant and carrying a baby with a coil is possible, but also carries massive risks to both baby and mother.

Haven't been pregnant with a coil, but I was a coil pregnancy baby! I'm early fifties now and don't think there's anything wrong with me from the coil, so it's not all bad, @stargirlinterlude. Good luck

I'm inclined to agree with @simsbustinoutmimi, though, and would say it's not worth the risk.

To be fair I would assume (despite a baby being a blessing!) you didn’t mean to get pregnant with your coil. I can’t imagine anyone who would deliberately take the risk of pregnancy/ trying for a baby with their IUD inside them knowing the risks. You were lucky.

oops, I mean your mum, not you!

Just to add OP, I would advise going to/asking for a different nurse next time.

1. a copper IUD should be easy enough to remove for a trained nurse, and if she failed the first couple of “yanks” she should’ve either got a doctor in, or sent you to a sexual health clinic for removal.

1. A baby is most definitely at risk if you get pregnant while having the coil in. There’s a risk of infection, miscarriage, and placental abruption.

I had something similar recently although not trying for a baby. The nurse couldn't find the strings dir my coil at my smear. So the doctor referred me fir a scan. It wasn't long for the scan and it was seen to be out of place and embedded in the uterus wall. So I then went to see my go and she attempted to remove it using a string retriever device, she couldn't get the strings so I was then referred to a sexual health clinic for them to try that was about a 9 month wait! So I went on the pill. They tried for about 20-30 mins and couldn't get it, they used numbing gel but it didn't really hurt I have a high pain threshold though. They referred me to to gyna to have a heteroscopy they said they could refer to have general anaesthetic or try without. I decided to opt for no GA. That took about another 4 months. They miraculously got it out in seconds! She decided to have a try first with out the heteroscope and it came out straightaway! This didn't hurt at all but there was a lovely nurse there with gas and air should have needed it.

Assuming you will be trying to get pregnant the usual way, won't it be a pokey in the penis?
I would wait for it to be removed.

You absolutely don’t want to actively try for a baby when the coil is in - it is often fine (I know two coil babies!) but it’s not optimal.

if you don’t want to wait 2-3 months I would pay approx £180 (depending where you live obvs, and if you need one or two appts) for a private gynae.

Thanks for replies! It was a GP who attempted removal but I agree after the 2nd failed pull she maybe should’ve gone a different direction

@Bananafofana wow I had no idea private would only cost that much. I was expecting more. I’ll look into that if the wait looks too long. Thank you!

Yeah, I would’ve told her to stop by then and gone somewhere else! Most sexual health clinics allow walk-ins.

it shouldn’t have been a GP who did it, it should’ve been an gynae/sexual health nurse at the surgery. GP doing it seems bizarre.

do you know how sex works? The penis cannot enter the uterus, and the coil is still there albeit lower down.

@simsbustinoutmimi I was so close to asking for her to just give me a minute so I could catch my breath, it was hurting a lot 😣 I’m so mad that I didn’t because maybe the strings wouldn’t have come off if I did. A GP fit my coil for me too, a different one not the same lady 🤔

I’m so sorry. I know how painful a coil fitting is (that’s why I’m getting a general anaesthetic it was that traumatising) but in your shoes I’d honestly be making a complaint.