“How Using a Menstrual Cup with an IUD Led to Severe Pain and Complications: A Personal Story”

“Eight years ago I had an IUD fitted. I didn’t feel anything from the insertion itself, but when I wanted to use a menstrual cup five years later, it hurt so much that I didn’t leave it in for more than an hour. I didn’t understand it: I had read everywhere that a cup should not cause any complaints or pain, and if I used a tampon I had no problems. I put it away and had almost forgotten about the incident when, three weeks later, I suddenly started experiencing intense abdominal pain and bleeding.

That lasted for three weeks and eventually I felt so bad and dizzy that I went to the doctor. She wanted to prescribe me the pill to stop the bleeding but I thought that was strange. Why would I go on hormones because I was bleeding? And I certainly didn’t need the pill for contraception, after all, I had my coil for that. I thought it was a strange way to handle my complaint. Symptom control, while I wanted to find out what the cause was.

I said I wanted to have my IUD removed, that seemed the most obvious cause. If that didn’t work, I’d look further. I made an appointment to have the IUD removed. The GP could do that herself, she said. She tried with a pair of pliers, but it didn’t work. “I think it’s a bit stuck,” she said. She pulled again, I almost passed out from the pain.

It literally felt like she was pulling my uterus out. She finally managed to get the coil out, but she pulled a whole piece of my endometrium with it at the same time. That was because the spiral had grown in, according to her. The pain was excruciating, but I was actually too overwhelmed to say anything. I left and once outside had to sit on a park bench for at least half an hour before I was able to walk home.

Later, when I had recovered a bit, I did start the conversation. When I said that the menstrual cup had hurt, I only heard that if you have an IUD it is better not to use a menstrual cup, because the cup can suck a vacuum so that the IUD can move and grow in, which happened to me. You can even completely lose an IUD with a menstrual cup.

My doctor thought it very plausible that my spiral had moved and grown in due to the use of the cup. I never took another coil after that. After removing it, my stomach pain and bleeding stopped almost immediately, but I don’t dare to use a cup anymore, although I still think it’s a fantastic, durable product.

What surprised me the most is how laconic my doctor handled it. In any case, it is important that female health care and taking pain complaints seriously receive more attention. Women are still not routinely anesthetized when they are in pain, especially when it comes to pain and discomfort related to the uterus.

And it was completely new to me that you are not allowed to use a menstrual cup in combination with an IUD. So I think better information is essential.”

This Real Life is in Flair 17-2023. You can read more such stories in Flair every week.