Woman’s IUD Removal Reveals Shocking “Hairball” Growth, Sparks Birth Control awareness
San Diego, CA – A 29-year-old San Diego resident, Abbie Elian, is sharing her harrowing experience after doctors discovered a large, unidentified mass attached to her intrauterine device (IUD) during its removal. Elian’s story, initially shared on TikTok, has quickly gone viral, garnering approximately eight million views and sparking a conversation about potential complications with IUDs and hormonal birth control.
For five months, Elian suffered from recurrent urinary tract infections, fungal infections, severe pelvic cramps, and even kidney stones. Doctors initially referred to the mass found attached to the IUD as a “hairball,” though they suspected it comprised more than just hair.
Elian faced important delays in receiving proper diagnosis and treatment. Despite participating in over 20 online health consultations and being repeatedly prescribed antibiotics, she couldn’t secure an in-person gynecology appointment for four months. When she finally saw a gynecologist,she was initially told her symptoms were unrelated to the IUD.
The pain eventually became unbearable, leading to a hospital visit for kidney stones. Two weeks later, Elian made the decision to have the IUD removed. “I was completely frozen. I was shocked, but on the other hand, this image showed me that I was right in my instincts,” she recounted after seeing the mass removed with the device.
The experience proved deeply traumatic for Elian, impacting her relationships and body image. “I already had insecurity about my body. This event was almost salt in the wound,” she stated,adding that she experienced distance in her sexual life for months. She credits her fiancée with providing crucial support, stating, “He gave me the strength to be with me. I could not go to the appointments alone.”
Following the IUD’s removal, Elian experienced some advancement in her hormone balance and has since refrained from using any birth control for eight months. “I think that hormonal birth control is not suitable for me,” she explained, with her partner’s support. “Now I follow the loop and allow my body to heal.”
Elian emphasizes that her intention in sharing her story is not to discourage anyone from using birth control, but to raise awareness about potential complications and normalize experiences like hers.”My aim is not to discourage anyone from birth control, but to raise awareness.Everyone’s experience may be different,” she said.
