Broken IUD: Side Effects and Complications

The intrauterine device (IUD) removal process can take place in a healthcare provider’s office at any time during a woman’s menstrual cycle. Some doctors may suggest that you abstain from sex for seven days before your removal appointment to avoid pregnancy in case you choose not to replace the IUD. 

When removing the IUD, the provider will use a tool called a speculum to hold the vagina open. Using forceps, the provider may gently pull the strings attached to the IUD. The IUD arms should fold up as the provider pulls the device through the cervix opening. Some light bleeding or cramping may occur during or after the procedure. 

IUD removal process complications

If there are no complications, the IUD removal process should only take a few minutes. But sometimes, the device may be unexpectedly difficult for the provider to remove by pulling on the string. If this occurs, the provider may check to see if the IUD is embedded in or has perforated the uterus. This may involve the provider using a CT scan or ultrasonography (transvaginal ultrasound imaging), to check the position of the IUD. 3D imaging can help medical providers locate displaced or broken IUDs if they have punctured nearby organs.

Doctors may also dilate the cervix if the thread cannot be located, providing better access to the uterus. If unsuccessful, the doctor may then use an IUD hook or forceps to feel for the IUD before removing it.

The provider may need to use additional methods to remove the IUD, especially if it has broken. Methods may include a hysteroscopy or a laparoscopy. The method for removing a broken IUD often depends on the device's condition and where the pieces are located. 

• If broken IUD pieces are located inside the uterine cavity or cervical canal, a provider may perform a hysteroscopy. Anesthesia may or may not be used, depending on the severity of the breakage and location of the pieces. This procedure allows a doctor to look inside the uterus for abnormal bleeding. A thin lighted tube is inserted into the vagina to examine the cervix and inside the uterus.
• If broken IUD pieces are embedded, a doctor may use a laparoscopy procedure to remove them. A thin, telescopic rod with a video camera on the end is inserted through a small cut in the skin. The camera projects an image of the pelvis area in real time, allowing surgeons to locate broken pieces. Surgical instruments inserted through additional cuts can be used to remove the pieces.

IUDs are typically removed 3 to 12 years after they are placed, depending on what type of device is used. The Paragard IUD should be removed no later than 10 years after placement.  It’s also important to note that once an IUD is removed, a woman no longer is on birth control until the IUD is replaced or a new birth control method is used.

IUD removal side effects

Even after a successful procedure, patients may still experience IUD removal side effects. Normal symptoms include cramping, minor vaginal bleeding for several hours to several days after removal and a delayed menstrual period for up to three months. 

After an IUD removal, a patient may also experience fainting, bradycardia (a slow heart rate) or seizure. Patients who are predisposed to these conditions are at a higher risk for these complications.

More severe reactions after an IUD removal include severe cramping, heavy bleeding, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, a fever of over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, no periods and pain during intercourse.

If you’re experiencing any of these reactions, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. Ignoring these symptoms may lead to serious complications.

IUDs are not supposed to break during removal. If this happens, the patient may suffer severe injuries that could impact their long-term health and mental wellbeing.

Although IUDs are designed to remain intact during removal, there have been several instances where Paragard IUDs have broken during the process, or during normal use. In many of these cases, the broken pieces have required surgical intervention and have led to significant health complications.

A Paragard IUD has a T-shaped plastic frame with a monofilament polyethylene thread. The thread is tied through the tip, creating two white threads. Providers pull on these threads to remove the device.

The device’s arms are designed to fold upwards during removal. If they do not, one or both arms of the T-shaped device may break. Surgery, including a hysterectomy, may be required to remove the pieces. This can lead to devastating complications that include infertility. 

Broken IUD risks and complications

The dangers of an IUD breaking during removal can pose serious health risks. Some of these broken IUD symptoms include severe complications that require immediate and extensive medical intervention.

Broken IUD risks and complications include:

• Embedded or perforated pieces in the uterus, requiring surgery to remove
• Hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus)
• Infections, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), that can occur from inserting instruments into the uterus
• Infertility from a hysterectomy or uterine damage
• Immediate and ongoing pain
• Migration of pieces to nearby organs, creating complications of their own

Health risks can go beyond physical trauma. They may include mental injuries as well. Disfigurement, embarrassment, a loss of reproductive health and extensive medical expenses can all significantly impact a person’s quality of life.

Women are filing Paragard IUD lawsuits due to the serious problems and injuries that may occur if the IUD breaks during removal. 

More than 2,700 lawsuits are pending in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia against Paragard IUD products. Plaintiffs are filing Paragard IUD lawsuits to seek justice for alleged life-changing bodily and mental injuries they experienced after their IUDs broke during removal. 

The suits allege that despite awareness of the potential health risks, the defendants intentionally withheld important safety information from healthcare providers and the public. They also continued to market their Paragard IUD products without adequate risk information, plaintiffs allege.

Plaintiffs argue more than 2,000 reports of safety issues should have alerted the defendants to Paragard IUD defects that may cause the device to break inside the body. It’s also unclear how many more women experienced breakages since Paragard failed to maintain an adequate reporting system for complaints that is required by law, plaintiffs claim.

Instead, although aware of Paragard’s potential to break during placement or removal, many lawsuits claim the defendants failed to update the Paragard warning label to warn of the IUD’s tendency to break. The FDA permits manufacturers to make immediate changes to a label if new information about a significant health risk is discovered. CooperSurgical Inc, manufacturer of Paragard never took action, plaintiffs argue. 

There is currently multidistrict litigation (MDL) pending in federal courts. An MDL combines multiple civil lawsuits into one federal district court to make the legal process more efficient. Motley Rice is representing several of these plaintiffs in the litigation through member attorney Fidelma Fitzpatrick’s role as co-lead counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee. Additionally, member attorney Kristen Hermiz serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. As of August 1, 2024, there are 2,774 actions pending in the consolidated case.

Litigation is still ongoing, and the first round of cases are set for in 2025.

Who is eligible for a Paragard IUD lawsuit?

If you or a loved one has experienced Paragard IUD complications during or after removal, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Requirements to file a Paragard IUD lawsuit include:

• You had a Paragard device implanted by a licensed healthcare provider.
• You experienced a Paragard device breakage during removal or prior to removal.
• You suffered from a personal injury as a result of the Paragard IUD breakage.

A Paragard IUD lawsuit could help you cover long-term medical expenses while holding pharmaceutical companies responsible for their negligence.

What damages can be sought in a Paragard IUD lawsuit?

In a Paragard IUD lawsuit, damages may help cover:

• Infertility
• Loss of consortium (damage to plaintiff’s relationships due to injuries)
• Lost wages and earning capabilities
• Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
• Past and future medical expenses
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Psychological trauma, including anxiety and depression, if a hysterectomy is required for treatment

Damages may vary based on the details of a case. A lawyer with experience in medical device litigation can assist you in seeking compensation. .

Motley Rice attorneys have extensive legal experience in representing plaintiffs alleging they’ve been harmed by defective medical devices and products. Our litigation experience includes representing women who: 

• Developed ovarian cancer after using talcum powder
• Diagnosed with cancer after using chemical hair relaxers
• Experienced serious health effects after using birth control products
• Faced life-threatening complications because of their breast implants 

Read more on our women’s health litigation experience.