The strings on an IUD are very long when it is removed from the package. After insertion of the IUD, a health care provider typically trims the strings so that they're about 3-4 cm long measuring from the opening of the cervix.
An IUD can be left in for years without causing problems. A hormonal IUD will lose effectiveness, though.
If the IUD was in the cervix, it couldn't work properly. If you're pregnant, the IUD must be removed, regardless of whether you want to continue the pregnancy. Then you can choose to continue or terminate the pregnancy. If you choose to terminate, you can have another IUD inserted after the abortion.
If you leave the copper IUD in too long, there are no potential health problems. If you leave a hormonal IUD like Mirena in too long, you may not be protected against pregnancy, but there are no other risks.
Leaving the copper IUD in longer than you are meant to is not dangerous and will not cause illness.
A woman should keep an IUD in place until she wants to conceive, until the hormonal IUD reaches the end of its useful life, or indefinitely if she is not concerned about the IUD's effectiveness.
Any woman interested in a long-term, reversible, highly effective method of birth control can get an IUD. There are two on the market in the US right now, and they have some differences in mode of action and patient selection criteria. In general, a woman who is a good candidate for an IUD has no allergies to the components of the IUD, and has a uterus long enough to accommodate the device.
An IUD doesn't affect how long semen (or sperm) stays in the uterus. The copper IUD interferes with sperm mobility, lowering the odds of pregnancy. The progesterone IUD thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for the sperm to meet the egg.
Typically it takes about 10-20 minutes to insert an IUD. Most of that time is involved in setting up for the procedure.
If you leave the copper IUD in too long, there are no potential health problems. If you leave a hormonal IUD like Mirena in too long, you may not be protected against pregnancy, but there are no other risks.
A Multiload IUD is a copper IUD.
If you leave the copper IUD in too long, there are no potential health problems. If you leave a hormonal IUD like Mirena in too long, you may not be protected against pregnancy, but there are no other risks.