What Causes Vaginal Discharge After Placing A Copper Coil?

Posted on Wed, 25 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 Answered on

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi - I had a copper coil put in about 2 years ago - I have been having a discharge since having it inserted - I went to the dr after 3 months and they said it should settle down - but it has worsened. The discharge varies throughout the month and is sometimes yellow/green and foul smelling and sometimes more normal. My periods are now particularly smelly when they didn't used to be. Should I be concerned?

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
More likely to be pre-exisitng infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for posting your query.

Pelvic inflammation can happen as a consequence of the insertion of the IUD, but, more often, it is a pre-existing infection that is detected.

In the current scenario, since you have a discharge that is suggestive of an infection, I would suggest a pap smear, cervix and vaginal swabs for culture tests and urinalysis.

If you can feel the threads and do not have any pain, the device is likely to be in position. You can get this confirmed through a sonogram.

If no infection is detected, it is likely that the discharge is physiological. Make sure you did not forget any tampon inside. Please take adequate liquids since dehydration can often lead to smelly discharges.

Hope your query has been clarified. Please feel free to contact for further information. I will be happy to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar