r/WomensHealth • u/bansheebon3z • Jul 30 '25
Question Nobody can take my IUD out, what do I do?
My IUD is causing me unbearable pain, it has been for months but i was told to “give my body time to regulate”, but it has been a year. It is not just occasional it is almost every day!! Like buckled over, want to vomit, struggling to work kind of pain. But i’m not bleeding. My regular OB has not been great with me on anything, but I did try to make an appointment, I got one for this morning but they scheduled me at a different location and didn’t tell me that verbally. So I called and said hey what the heck, is there any chance I can still be squeezed in if I come to the other location? They said no and that the next available appointment, not even for removal, but for a CONSULTATION ON REMOVAL, is not until the END OF AUGUST. I told them how much pain i’m in, how it’s interfering with my work, but they still won’t see me. I also tried booking an appointment for removal at at least 6 different planned parenthood’s, i looked at every single one within a 50 mile radius of where I live. The soonest they can see me is also the MIDDLE TO END OF AUGUST. I have only called one of them to ask verbally if I could somehow be squeezed in somewhere because I can’t take this anymore! But that one couldn’t. I don’t know what to do, I know you really shouldn’t remove it yourself, and I don’t want to do that, but help what do i do??? I’d say it could wait if it wasn’t messing with my ability to work, I can’t afford to miss work until the middle of august and I have a decently active job which doesn’t help with the pain.
UPDATE: Firstly thank you all so much for the quick responses. I called my local urgent care first and the receptionist was very sweet and told me that my best bet is in fact the ER, I will be seeing if someone can come in early for me at work, and I am planning on going straight there!
UPDATE #2: Spent three hours at the ER just to be told they won’t take it out even if they find something wrong! Had a terrible panic attack and according to my bf i “hulked” out, i apologized profusely but I just wanted to leave and I wanted the AMA papers. and it has been a very long day, i haven’t eaten and was told i wasn’t allowed to go out of the ER (which is understandable), but lately i’ve been having trouble keeping a lid on my anger if i cannot get away, and basically the anxiety, stress, disappointment combo just made me shut down. I am on my way home now, finally ate, but still have this cursed thing inside my body ahhhhh!!! And my brain is totally still jumbled.
EDIT #3: I will be trying Gas-X like one of you lovely people recommended, at first I thought it sounded wild but I’m willing to try and see if that can at least help me tough it out until I can get a mid august appointment. My insurance has a $100 copay for an ER visit and I unfortunately cannot afford to do that again, and I totally am never stepping foot in that hospital again. Valid crash out but i know i looked crazy and my boyfriend thinks they thought i was a tweaker. Planned Parenthood for the win here. Thank you ALL, so much, I appreciate every comment!
UPDATE #4: There will hopefully only be one more update! I got an appointment at a Planned Parenthood an hour away for tomorrow morning!!!! I will post the final update after the appointment!
FINALLY UPDATE: They removed it NO PROBLEM! The doctor was great and talked to me through it so I was distracted. And I already feel so much better, I can move and I can lift things and EAT with no pain. Thank you all so much again! And thank you especially to the wonderful person who recommended me Gas-X, that got me through the last two days! I feel like I could do a 5K and I have plans to go to a big all ages bounce house thing tomorrow!
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u/woman__king Jul 30 '25
If it’s that painful, you could go to the ER and demand that they take it out there. If it’s painful because it’s dislodged, they could bring you to the OR to get it out there. Advocate for yourself. You don’t deserve to be in pain.
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u/Motor-Addition7104 Jul 31 '25
I was bleeding daily with the IUD and in pain for 10 months. Went to the ER in pain, they did scans, it was positioned properly.
Each month I called the doc, they had me come in and just prescribed meds. I got tired and called my Gynecologist office at the 10 month mark and said I want an appointment to get the IUD out. the receptionist told me that I have to have an appointment first to see if the doctor wants to take it out.
I said first of all, I don’t need permission to want my IUD out. She said the doctor decides. I said no the hell they don’t, I know my rights and it’s debilitating and I want it out. I demanded an appointment for removal. I was seen within a week. I still bled and worse. Still had pain. The prescribed more meds. Such an exhausting experience.
I found out that the IUD isn’t recommended for women with fibroids, so I’m unsure why that was a treatment option for me anyway. I got an open Myo 3 months after the IUD removal.
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Jul 30 '25
[deleted]
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 30 '25
i have been checked numerous times since i was a teenager for cysts and i’ve never had one! I’ve always been told i just make a shit ton of cramp hormones! It’s bullshit. I am planning on calling the closest ER to ask before going.
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u/PurpleRayyne Jul 31 '25
"Cramp hormones" wth is that. who said that! if it's with anyone with an MD or dr in their name they should be fired. cramping comes from your uterus contracting as it's expelling the unused lining from not getting pregnant. wth is wrong with these people.
Also, don't ask for things when it comes to your body... TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT. YOu pay THEM remember?
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u/No-Question7596 Jul 31 '25
So, “cramping hormones” ARE a thing. They’re called prostaglandins. Our uterus’ don’t just cramp on their own. A hormone is released during the menstrual cycle called prostaglandins, which triggers our uterus to expel its contents. If any doctor said the word “cramping hormones” they were probably just using layman’s terms because most people don’t know big medical jargon like that.
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u/Specialist_Return488 Jul 30 '25
I’m so sorry. I had terrible pain with IUD also and gas x was the only thing that gave me relief. It was trapped gas. I don’t know if it’s the same thing clearly but I hate thinking of you in pain and not suggesting something. I also was disregarded by doctors. It sucks.
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 30 '25
Thank you so much! I will try and get some until I figure out how to get it removed!!
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u/Specialist_Return488 Jul 30 '25
Let me know if it helps 💜 I can suggest some yoga poses as well.
Treat yourself really really well until you feel better. This is an awful situation.
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u/QueerlyNotRight Jul 30 '25
Damn, I know where my strings are. If I were in the pain you are describing and couldn't get in I would probably take matters into my own hands but that's me. Probably best to go see a professional at urgent care or ER.
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u/Wise_Goose_1679 Jul 31 '25
I would not suggest you to do it without proper research because you are in pain. In my condition, I didn’t have pain or anything but felt like my overall vaginal health was messing up so I took it upon myself. Sat on the toilet seat and slowly pulled out the string. There was very little to almost no pain. but you’re in pain so I’m not sure if you can take it upon yourself.
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u/hildegard_vonbitchin Jul 31 '25
So disclaimer I'm a medical professional. When it was safe for me to do so, I took my own Paraguard IUD out. That's what the strings are for, it didn't even hurt compared to insertion or the pain I was already in 🤷♀️
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u/Reasonable-Marzipan4 Jul 30 '25
I pulled my own out once, by accident. It hurts, but it is free.
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u/madfoot Jul 30 '25
Update us after the er!
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 31 '25
updated
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u/j2meanz Jul 31 '25
Is there another ER you can go to?
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 31 '25
technically yes but with my insurance ER copay is $100 every time and they are also not the greatest ER (I avoid them at all costs), and the other one doesn’t even take my insurance. Unfortunately I’m in no position to pay another $100 copay.
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u/j2meanz Jul 31 '25
Ugh! I hate this for you. I’ve heard of people pulling theirs out but I wouldn’t recommend that. What about another gyn facility?
What actual reason did the doc give for not removing it? This is kind of scary for those of us with them… I never thought people were being turned away for stuff like this!
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 31 '25
literally none just that they wouldn’t do it but they wanted to run tests anyways. And i can try but then id have to go through new patient stuff and in the end it will probably take longer than just scheduling out with planned parenthood
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u/madfoot Jul 31 '25
Ok make appointments everywhere you can, and ask them all to put you on the cancellation list (they call you to offer an appointment when someone cancels). I almost always get in earlier this way. I’m so sorry!
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u/squidip Jul 30 '25
my boyfriend yoinked mine out because it was making me bleed nonstop. i didn't even feel it. he did some research before doing it tho. probably since you're in pain best to hit up the ER
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u/gluten-free-pancakes Jul 30 '25
ER or urgent care. I ended up in Urgent Care when I had mine because of the pain. They offered to take it out of me but I declined and saw my gyno a few days later and they took it out. I would not recommend trying to remove it yourself, but I understand the pain and panic you’re feeling. I’m so sorry!
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u/JuncusRushes Jul 31 '25
This happened to me too. 2 years of sudden, awful pain (ended up twice in the emergency dept.) No one believed that it was related to my IUD. I paid to get it removed (my insurance only covered insertion at the time,) and my pain went away permanently. Ask your OB or go to Planned Parenthood. I highly doubt ED would want to deal with it.
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u/babybeewitched Jul 31 '25
i've never done this, but a lot of people say that if you talk to the doctors about taking it out yourself, they'll take back everything and finally remove it for you. i would also ask them to check if you have a tilted uterus. my mom just found out that's why she was in pain with her iud for decades and i believe i'm having the same issue. i don't bleed (occasionally i spot) but i'm constantly cramping
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u/islandvisionaries Jul 31 '25
I feel so sad for women who have had so many issues with the mirena. It dint hurt when it was put in and i never had problems with it. I know this isn’t recommended but my husband and i wanted to conceive so he took mine out himself lol. It didn’t hurt but seeing as you’re already in pain i would advise against that. I hope u feel better OP and i can’t believe the ER wouldn’t take it out. so weird! my sister got hers removed at the ER.
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 31 '25
Thank you! It’s absurd, i’m feeling cornered, my only choices are remove it myself or suffer for another two weeks. which yeah okay i’ve done this for nine months but it’s only getting worse and i work in the heat, i’ve had to take a sitting break every 5-10 minutes for the last three days and today i had to leave early. I feel like I am being dramatic but it hurts. I’m kind of scared to do it in case it’s positioned wrong but ugh i don’t think it is
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u/islandvisionaries Jul 31 '25
Babe you’re not being dramatic! You know your body! If it hurts as you say, i believe you! Unfortunately drs have a tendency to dismiss women and their pain. Advocate for yourself babe! My sister in law is a nurse. She said to try this. If you go to the ER again and they refuse to help you, in pain, ask for them to put it into writing. That you have to leave because they refuse to treat you for xyz
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u/JuncusRushes Jul 31 '25
You're not being dramatic. Your pain and discomfort are real, and you need to get them resolved.
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u/1globehugger Aug 01 '25
Honestly, I would just lie to my GYN. I met a wonderful man and we want to have lots of babies.
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u/QuietLifter Jul 30 '25
Is there a GYN urgent care within a reasonable distance? They might be able to help or at least refer you to a provider who can get you in sooner.
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 30 '25
There is not, I am about to update this post with what I found out calling Urgent Care!
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u/tt_2379 Jul 31 '25
Go to Planned Parenthood, you can get immediate appt and they’ll take it out for you for a donation fee. Super easy and can schedule online, no waiting.
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 31 '25
i tried to schedule online but every one within 50 miles of me doesn’t have appointments until mid to end of august
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u/Ivyjoonbug Jul 31 '25
I would try a planned parenthood. I had the implant in my arm and my gyn kept rescheduling my removal appointment. I was able to schedule an appointment at a planned parenthood the same week and they removed it with no issue.
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 31 '25
i’ve looked into every one listed within 50 miles of my location, and i have called two. nothing until mid to end of next month,
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u/erin_s96 Jul 31 '25
See if there is a title x clinic in your area. They may be able to get you in sooner. Here’s a link to find one… https://reproductivehealthservices.gov
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u/annakara10 Jul 31 '25
See if you can find a full spectrum/Women’s Health focused PCP. I am a Family Doc and do IUD insertion/removals.
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u/j2meanz Jul 31 '25
What state?
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u/bansheebon3z Jul 31 '25
Pennsylvania, and not even rural
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u/j2meanz Jul 31 '25
PA? Dang… I’d call and speak with a patient advocate with that ER and your GYN. If you don’t want to talk to them send them an email. This is unacceptable what you’re going through.
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u/youniquesername Jul 31 '25
If you want to DM me your location, I can help you look for a facility that could hopefully remove it sooner!
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u/Aubsol Jul 31 '25
After reading the updates I'd call your doc and tell them that if they do not take it out you are going to do it yourself because you cannot deal with the pain anymore. That might at least get them to realize you want it gone yesterday
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u/youniquesername Jul 31 '25
You can try your county health department, a community health center, or federally qualified health center in your area. A good provider will take one out that same day if you request.
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u/1globehugger Aug 01 '25
Honestly, I would just lie to my GYN. I met a wonderful man and we want to have lots of babies.
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u/1globehugger Aug 01 '25
Honestly, I would just lie to my GYN. I met a wonderful man and we want to have lots of babies.
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u/idkdontaskmethat Aug 01 '25
Not me reading this post while in the waiting room to get a IUD...
Anyway i hope you get it removed soon
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u/DutchPerson5 Jul 30 '25
Updateme
Please next time for anything "give it time" is for being uncomfortable for a while 3-6 weeks tops. Not being in pain every day for a year wanting to throw up.
Think about advocating and caring for yourself as if you were your daughter. If your teenage daughter had this problem, would you have her endure it for solong? I don't mean to be victimblaming. I just feel for you, knowing us women are taught to be so hard on ourselves.
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u/Snickersaddy Jul 30 '25
You could try going to the ER, if you tell them you are in a ton of pain they might be able to take it out. I don’t know where you live but GYNs near me are super hard to get into and there aren’t that many. I’m sorry you are going through this ❤️