If intrauterine pregnancy occurs with intrauterine copper contraceptive in place and the string is visible, intrauterine copper contraceptive should be removed because of the risk of spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, sepsis, septic shock, and, rarely, death. Removal may be followed by pregnancy loss.

The pregnancy rate in clinical studies has been less than 1 pregnancy per 100 women each year.

The intrauterine copper contraceptive has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. Animal studies have not been conducted. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. The intrauterine copper contraceptive should not be placed when a patient is pregnant or there is a suspicion of pregnancy.

See references