Pregnancy with Mirena IUD: Can I Have a Full-Term Baby?

Question
i am almost 7 weeks pregnant and i have a mirena IUD is it possible for me to carry the baby to fullterm? my first doctors appt. is tomorrow morning but i just cant sleep to worried

Answer
Dear Bambi,

Well I may be answering this after your doctor's appt. I usually answer 6 questions every day at about this time of day, so yours was in today's batch. But I'll give you my thoughts regardless...

From the literature I've seen, it is typically recommended, if a pregnancy occurs while a Mirena is in place, that the Mirena should be removed. If, for whatever reason, the Mirena cannot be removed or a woman chooses not to have it removed, she should be warned that failure to remove Mirena increases the risk of miscarriage, sepsis, premature labor, and premature delivery. She should be followed very closely and advised to report immediately any flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, cramping, pain, bleeding, vaginal discharge, or leakage of fluid.

Now, in my research I've also found that the long-term effects of the release of the hormone levonorgestrel (put out by the Mirena) on development of congenital anomalies is unknown. Since September 1999, there have been 32 live births following exposure to Mirena and all but 2 have been healthy. (Based on 2004 literature)  

I'll be interested to hear what your doctor had to say. My personal exposure to Mirena is very limited, so I have to rely on research. However, I hope I have helped!

Thanks for writing,
Brenda