IUDs—both hormonal and copper—can stay in place throughout the egg or embryo freezing process. This is in contrast to other types of birth control, such as the pill, which needs to be paused before you start an egg freezing cycle.
There are multiple studies which show that long-term use of birth control pills have a (reversible) negative effect on AMH levels, a marker of ovarian reserve. AMH is a strong predictor of response to medications for egg and embryo freezing, which is why we like to pause before cycling. There are a few studies suggesting that hormonal IUDs might have a slight effect on AMH, however, many others show no effect at all, and common practice is to leave your IUD in place during the entire egg and embryo freezing.
IUDs work by thickening the cervical mucus, making it harder for the sperm to reach the egg. IUDs also thin the lining making pregnancy unlikely. Unlike the pill, IUDs, don’t prevent ovulation, so they don’t interfere with the stimulation of egg production during an egg or embryo freezing cycle. And the egg retrieval is performed via a needle that goes through the wall of the vagina, so there’s no chance of the IUD getting in the way.
This is good news for a few reasons. Most people considering egg freezing are doing so because they’re not ready for kids right now, and IUDs are a highly effective form of birth control (over 99%). Additionally, the IUD insertion process can be uncomfortable or painful, so many are relieved to learn they don’t need to remove and reinsert their IUDs before egg freezing.
Lia Schiller, MSN, AGNP-BC is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner with a passion for helping others. She received her nursing degree from Hunter College and began her career as a nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she gained valuable experience in patient care. Lia worked on an inpatient unit, mainly caring for women fighting breast and ovarian cancer. Lia then decided to pursue a master's degree in nursing and became a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner.
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