NHS migrated IUD experiences

[Katiestrophic]

I’m curious about any experiences of those who have had an IUD perforate the uterus - specifically the wait time to get it removed via laparoscopy.

— Frustrated info dump below, mostly just because I need to type it all out —

I had my copper coil put in late June (2025), it was extremely painful and I almost passed out after the procedure, despite having had two kids so was told it wasn’t really going to hurt. My uterus sounded 10cm, so I was sent for an ultrasound to determine if it was placed correctly. The day before ultrasound I had another intense pain, but I figured I’d wait to see what the ultrasound said as it was booked for the next day.

The coil is between my right ovary and uterus, completely perforated. The gynae sent me to A&E to get it removed and I was put on the emergency surgery list. I ended up being in hospital for two days waiting for this surgery, being told to fast then not to fast over and over and being told I was top of the list and being prepped to go in, then like an hour later being told there’s no space on the list any more for me. I was then told because I wasn’t in pain at that moment, I was going to be having the surgery outpatient, turns out on the lowest priority despite being told it was going to be fast tracked for me.

It was so frustrating being told this needs to be out ASAP and put on the emergency surgery list, only for the next doctor on shift to say that this is basically a nonissue and we can just leave it where it is. I also had my 5 month old in the hospital with me as he was exclusively breastfeeding, and they massively guilted me for having my baby with me but that’s a separate thing.

A couple of weeks ago I got another bout of pain that made me feel light headed, this time coupled with some right side sciatica. I went back to my GP the next day and they tried to contact the gynae team at the hospital but they pretty much said that unless I have an infection they do not care as I’m on the wait list for surgery. The nurse I saw said that both her and the person she was on the phone with were surprised I haven’t been given a surgery date yet, but that they again didn’t seem to care. My obs were fine so I was sent on my way.

I went back this week again for yet more pain that’s been going on since that last appointment - sciatica that would get unbearable every time I moved, and a permanent pain where the sciatic nerve would be in my right buttock. Now I get that there isn’t much of a link between sciatic pain and a perforated IUD but it can potentially cause it through inflammation, adhesions etc and I haven’t done anything to trigger any back/sciatic pain, the IUD is the only thing I can think of that’s caused it. The pain is mostly better now (but still there), but I’m worried it’s going to keep coming back. She contacted the gynae team and they said they will review my case but doubt anything will come from it. I’ve said that I’m available for any cancellations.

Has anyone got any tips to try and speed up getting this thing out?? Aside from contracting an infection lol. It’s been 3 months since finding out it’s migrated, looking at the waitlist for gynae procedures at my hospital it’s 25 weeks, which puts me to January. It’s just so frustrating having to wait that long when all I see online is people who’ve had theirs out within like a week or two and seeing everywhere that it should be treated as an emergency due to the potential complications.

Thank you if you read all that haha

No suggestions but I'm so sorry that sounds hideous. Xxxx

Complain/escalate to pals under the hospital. (Patient advice liaison service)
Private hospitals like Ramsey Health now take out coils/iud’s.(did not know this at the time of my experience)

It feels I had to go on a removal tour of my county and it took 4 months but after crying on the doorstep of a sexual health clinic who couldn’t take it out as the latest attempt with pals on the line they were the most responsive then.

I had the coil put in under a general for treatment of a fibroid, not found under the same hysteroscopy, went on to got a pelvic infection/inflammation within a month, the emergency duty gynaecologist later couldn’t locate strings, even further caused the need for a colonoscopy, the coil definitely wasn’t removed after a week and I had to bear it 4 months later with it coming out not exactly under the same method it went in. (Though I was glad to avoid another operation in truth)

Never, never, never regretted removal (you get to the point you wonder if you are right pushing the removal even BUT you absolutely are) over a year on the fibroid symptoms went (I think my original problem was always the lymphatic system it later turns out) my periods turn up more regular in my mid 40’s then early 40’s. I couldn’t make it up.

Hang on in there. Make this PALs problem.

Thank you, sounds like your experience was miserable! I’m glad you managed to get it out in the end but the goose chase is awful, we shouldn’t have to do this! Were your symptoms of inflammation similar to infection?

I did complain to PALS while I was being discharged to outpatient because I was frustrated with being messed around but nothing really came of it. I think I’m going to wait a week or so as I had a note on my NHS app that the letter sent to the gynae team was printed for review/triage a few days ago. If I don’t hear anything after a week then I’m going to complain to PALS again (hopefully I can find my case number). The admin who printed the letter is secretary to the dr who sent me for emergency removal in the first place so I’m really hoping he’ll come through for me, even though I’m not technically under his care.

Ask for a choose & book referral to your nearest private hospital, the NHS pay. I've never waited longer than 4 weeks for an appointment & the same from my consultation to surgery.

Has been done under an urgent referral? The letter your GP sent this week? I'm sorry but there are likely guidelines and they likely have a few more weeks to reply to it. On the NHS app when you click, Upcoming Appointments, and then Referrals or Waiting Lists it may at the bottom say the number of weeks till response.

I would contact the gyne ward first before PALS. As PALS are very clear they cannot move up care etc, it is more about poor instances, but they cannot do anything about actual treatment. See about contacting your consultant's (if you have one), secretary, or the ward manager etc. Send an email, and call if you can in a week or two. It's really hard but theh likely are so busy, that if people with more serious injuries, etc come in they have to take them down first but it sounds like it's quite painful. If you were on a day ward, small children tend to not be allowed as obviously there's risks in hospital and also they can be disruptive on a normal adult ward.

Are you on any pain meds? Or anything else? Have you had any scans other than the inital ultrasound?

Nothing in my referrals, it was just an email sent to the team by the nurse I saw asking them to urgently review my case, so not an official pathway I guess. Is it even likely I will hear back from them if my P status changes (currently P4) or do I have to chase them to find out any info? I know they’re busy, I’m just fed up with being constantly fobbed off. I wasn’t put in an adult day ward with my baby so all good there.

I’ve been prescribed a nerve pain killer but tbh I’ve been hesitant on taking it as it makes you drowsy and groggy and I’m worried I won’t wake up in the night when baby cries. I had another ultrasound last week that shows the coil to be roughly in the same area, but the ultrasound tech recommended an MRI if further imaging is needed.

Have you phoned the consultant's secretary?

When my DM was waiting for surgery I found phoning up the secretary and politely asking when the date was and could it be any earlier, then telling her my mum's tale of woe was surprisingly effective.

Most people in NHS do want to help and making a personal connection rather than just being a number on a list helps.

It will likely he under 1. Upcoming hospital appointments, then go to 1. Hospital category, check 2. The referral category and 3. the waiting list one.

It has to be on an offical pathways that's how the electronic record systems work, you can't do it 'unofficially' and its not in the patients best interest as then its not on the system, you'll wait longer. Also its not possible as it will have to be logged on the hospitals system, where they can reject, triage etc referrals. It sometimes isn't always shown on the patients side but there will be an offical referral letter (sometimes an E-letter) and it will be on a system. As it is sometimes different trusts etc it can often not be on the app. They are working on by 2027 ending to have the same system across the country and accessible to patients which will make this a lot easier.

Ask your GP reception team if you want to see it, or for the forms etc. Otherwise you aren't on the system right and won't be able to access appointments from there, as you won't be a patient on the system.

Is P4 the ranking you have in terms of urgency? It would have to move up and show a substantial change. Do you know the categories like description for each one? Like P4, P2 etc?

If the MRI is to be done, gyne will order it. You can bring up what the ultrasound tech said but it will up to them and if they feel it will delay surgery too much or they don't need it (which they likely don't as experienced surgeons can feel quite well), then they'll likely leave it.

Is there nobody else who can look after your baby? It shouldn't make you that groogy they just have the warning in case. Maybe break the pill in half. As it will help with pain quite a bit normally.

Well apparently all I needed to do was create a mumsnet account and shout into the void a bit, because I got a call today offering me a surgery date for a month’s time! Thank god this is all going to be coming to an end

That's fantastic, hopefully it all goes well and at least it isn't too far away. Then you can be done with all of this.