What you can expect

During the procedure

Your health care provider will insert a speculum into your vagina and clean your vagina and cervix with an antiseptic solution. A special instrument might be used to gently align your cervical canal and uterine cavity. Next, your health care provider will fold down ParaGard's horizontal arms and place the device inside an applicator tube.

The tube is inserted into your cervical canal and ParaGard is carefully placed in your uterus. When the applicator tube is removed, ParaGard will remain in place. Your health care provider will trim ParaGard's strings so that they don't protrude too far into the vagina and may record the length of the strings.

During ParaGard insertion, you may experience dizziness, fainting, nausea, low blood pressure or a slower than normal heart rate. Your health care provider will likely suggest that you stay lying down for a few minutes to allow these side effects to pass. Rarely, it's possible for the IUD to perforate the uterine wall or cervix. If this complication occurs, your health care provider will discuss the appropriate management.

After the procedure

About a month after ParaGard is inserted, your health care provider may re-examine you to make sure the device hasn't moved and to check for signs and symptoms of infection.

While you're using ParaGard, contact your health care provider immediately if you have:

• Signs or symptoms of pregnancy
• Unusually heavy vaginal bleeding
• Foul vaginal discharge
• Worsening pelvic pain
• Severe abdominal pain or tenderness
• Unexplained fever
• Possible exposure to an STI

It's also important to contact your health care provider immediately if you think your ParaGard is no longer in place. Call your doctor if:

• You have breakthrough bleeding or bleeding after sex
• Sex is painful for you or your partner
• The strings are missing or suddenly seem longer
• You feel part of the device at your cervix or in your vagina

Your health care provider will check the location of ParaGard and remove it if necessary.

Removal

ParaGard is usually removed in a health care provider's office. Your provider will likely use forceps to grasp the device's strings and gently pull. The device's arms will fold upward as it's withdrawn from the uterus.

Light bleeding and cramping are common during removal. Rarely, removal can be more complicated.