Dear doctor;

I am planning to have my IUD removed next month. I have now had it for one year and seven months. My partner and I are going to try for our second child. I have read that having the coil can reduce fertility. How true is this and do you think that I will have a problem conceiving?

Marion, 28.

Dear Marion,

IUD (intrauterine device) is safe and does not affect fertility in any way. Once removed, one can conceive. The basis for the fear that fertility may be affected is that in case it causes infection, fallopian tubes may get blocked, causing sterility.

But infection is very rare documented in one out of 100 cases. If one develops pelvic infection after insertion of an IUD, there would be pain in lower abdomen and or abnormal foul smelling vaginal discharge.

Untreated pelvic infection can lead to sterility. But if no feature of pelvic infection exists, a woman can conceive after removal of intrauterine device.