Ectopic with an IUD at 21
So a year ago I (unknowingly) got pregnant while my marina IUD was perfectly in place. I got the IUD before college and almost immediately stopped getting my period. I naively thought it was a blessing because my cramps were be intense. I had a bf and was under the impression an IUD meant he didn’t have to pull out. The first time I heard of ectopic pregnancy I was in the ER with one.
Flash forward it’s late April and I’m a sophomore in college doing finals. Looking back the first sign was sex became very painful especially after. Then there was a really intense pain right at the center of my bikini line (built up over a week). I was nauseous and throwing up but thought it was a hangover. That last day I could barely sit up comfortably and made an appointment with student health for the next morning.
I woke up at 2am and could barely get down one flight of stairs to the dorm front desk. They took me to the ER and realized pretty quick it was ectopic. I’d broken up with my long term bf (and the sperm provider) two days before so I had no one to call. They told me they had to do emergency surgery right now and remove my left fallopian tube. I just cried. Went under 2 hours after I arrived.
The moral is to trust your gut and take tests with IUDs. I didn’t have money for an ambulance ride and was hesitant to call but it saved my life. If the nurse who gave it to me had told me WHY they recommend to keep testing with IUDs I would’ve. Please let me be a lesson.
It’s been a year and I still feel so upset sometimes. The doctors all told me to keep the IUD but I get panic attacks waiting for my period to come every month even when I’m not active. If there’s any other people in this shit club, please tell me how you mange. I’m terrified to lose the other tube.
Edit: I’m pro birth control and I also want people to know the risks I didn’t know. Also for advice on what to use now.