Petition Introduce mandatory two-yearly IUD health checks in Wales
I am starting this petition because I experienced every parent's worst nightmare. After six years with an IUD in place, it embedded in my uterine wall without my knowledge. I became pregnant and later suffered a septic miscarriage at 17 weeks, losing my baby.
I was told to check my strings, but that advice alone was not enough, and would never have been enough for me to prevent what was to come.
Regular reviews by a professional could have helped prevent the loss and trauma that followed.
More details
We call on the Welsh Government to introduce mandatory IUD check-ups every two years throughout the lifespan of the device.
Women are often advised to "check their strings" following IUD insertion, but this alone may not identify complications such as displacement, embedding, migration, or contraceptive failure.
Regular two-yearly reviews would provide opportunities to:
Confirm the IUD remains correctly positioned and functioning as intended;
Identify complications early, before serious consequences;
Reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and pregnancy loss;
Provide ongoing education about warning signs, and symptoms;
Improve patient safety and confidence in long-term contraception.
No woman should have to experience preventable trauma, pregnancy loss, infection, or other serious complications because routine follow-up is not available. Introducing regular IUD reviews would help problems be identified sooner, improving outcomes and strengthening women's healthcare across Wales.
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