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Last Updated 25th November 2025. Contraceptive coil negligence can occur when an IUD (intrauterine device) or IUS (intrauterine system) is fitted incorrectly, left too long or not properly monitored, causing an avoidable injury, infection, pain or unwanted pregnancy. If a medical professional failed to reach the correct standard of care while fitting, removing or advising you on a contraceptive device, you could be entitled to medical negligence compensation. Your settlement could recover your financial losses as well as compensate you for the physical pain and mental suffering caused by the coil.
Within this guide, we will discuss the duty of care all medical practitioners owe their patients and when you may be eligible to make a claim for medical negligence compensation. Furthermore, we will share examples of the evidence that could be used to help support your claim and how one of the No Win No Fee solicitors on our panel could help you with gathering this.
Continue reading this guide to learn more. Alternatively, you can contact one of our advisors to receive a free evaluation of your potential claim.
Select A Section
- What Could You Claim For Contraceptive Coil Negligence?
- Are You Eligible To Claim For Contraceptive Coil Negligence?
- Examples Of Contraceptive Coil Negligence
- How Do I Claim Against A Medical Professional?
- No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Claims
- Contraceptive Coil Negligence – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Discover Related Medical Negligence Resources
What Could You Claim For Contraceptive Coil Negligence?
If you make a successful medical negligence claim, your compensation settlement will include general damages and also possibly special damages.
General damages compensate you for the harm you have suffered due to medical negligence. When valuing this head of claim, a legal professional, such as a lawyer, may refer to the most recent edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Within this document are guideline compensation brackets for various types of harm. We have listed some of these in the table below.
Please only use this table as a guide, and note that the first figure does not come from the JCG.
| Injury | Notes | Guideline Compensation Brackets |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple injuries with financial impact | Multiple injuries and financial losses, such as the cost of medical treatment, lost earnings and therapy. | Up to £500,000+ |
| Female Reproductive System (a) | An injury or disease that results in infertility with severe depression and sexual dysfunction. | £140,210 to £207,260 |
| Female Reproductive System (b) | Permanent sexual dysfunction in a person with children or who wouldn’t have had any in any event. | £52,490 to £124,620 |
| Female Reproductive System (c) | A young person without children will suffer with infertility but no sexual dysfunction or aggravating features. | £68,440 to £87,070 |
| Female Reproductive System (d) | Infertility with no medical complications or sexual dysfunction where the person already has children. | £21,920 to £44,840 |
| Female Reproductive System (f) | Fertility has not been impacted despite there being a delay in diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy. Extent of suffering, bleeding and pain will affect how much is awarded. | £4,140 to £24,930 |
| Female Reproductive System (e) | Infertility in a person who would not have had children in any event, such as due to their age. | £8,060 to £22,800 |
| Female Reproductive System (g) | An unwanted pregnancy due to failed steralisatiin. However, there is no serious psychological impact. | In the region of £12,450 |
What Are Examples Of Special Damages?
You may also be entitled to claim special damages. This head of claim aims to compensate you for the financial losses you have incurred due to the harm you suffered. Some examples of the losses you may be able to recover under special damages include:
- Medical expenses, such as prescription costs.
- Travel expenses, such as taxis to medical appointments.
- A loss of earnings if you required time off to recover.
You will need to provide evidence of these losses, which is why gathering any relevant receipts, invoices, and payslips may be useful.
To see if you could be eligible to make a claim for contraceptive coil negligence, you can contact our advisors or continue reading for further information.
Are You Eligible To Claim For Contraceptive Coil Negligence?
If you have suffered harm due to contraceptive coil negligence, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim. However, you will need to demonstrate the following:
- A medical professional owed you a duty of care.
- This professional breached their duty of care.
- Due to this, you suffered unnecessary harm. Together, this is known as medical negligence.
All healthcare professionals owe you a duty of care. Per this duty of care, they must ensure you receive the correct standard of care when treating you as their patient. Failure to do so could be seen as a breach of this duty of care.
If you suffered unnecessary harm due to a medical practitioner, such as a doctor, breaching their duty of care, you could be eligible to make a claim for medical negligence compensation.
Can I Claim For Medical Negligence After Three Years?
If you are eligible to make a claim for contraceptive coil negligence, you must ensure that you start proceedings within the correct timeframe. Generally, you will have three years to start a claim from the date you suffered harm or the date you first connected the harm with negligence, otherwise known as the date of knowledge.
In certain circumstances, there are exceptions to this time limit. For example, the time limit is paused for those under the age of 18. The 3-year time limit will start from their 18th birthday. However, a litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf before this date.
To learn more about the other exceptions to this three-year time limit, you can contact our advisors.
Different Types Of Contraceptive Coils
An intrauterine system (IUS) and an intrauterine device (IUD) are two forms of contraception that are considered contraceptive coils.
An IUS is a plastic T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus and releases progestogen to prevent pregnancy. This device can last for around 3 – 5 years.
An IUD is a plastic and copper T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus and releases copper to prevent pregnancy. It lasts for around 5 – 10 years.
To be eligible to make a claim for contraceptive coil negligence, you will need to provide evidence that negligence occurred.
Examples Of Contraceptive Coil Negligence
Examples of contraceptive negligence could be due to incorrect fitting, failure to check for pregnancy or failing to recognise signs of an infection. Below, we explore these and other examples in more depth:
- Incorrect fitting – A less effective coil could lead to an unwanted pregnancy as well as causing discomfort and pain.
- Failure to recognise signs of infection after fitting, such as high fever, lower abdomen pain or abnormal discharge.
- Failure to check the device following fitting, such as for missing threads or ensuring it is in place.
- Leaving it in place for too long or failure to remove one device before inserting another, leading to avoidable pain, complications and long-term fertility problems or sexual dysfunction.
- Perforation of the uterus can occur if the correct procedures for inserting the device are not followed.
- Failure to check for pregnancy prior to fitting the device can lead to miscarriage, pain and suffering.
These are only a few examples of how contraceptive coil negligence could occur. Your experience might be different. Additionally, suffering harm does not always mean that medical negligence occurred, as there could be some circumstances where further injury or illness is completely unavoidable despite the correct standard of care being carried out.
To find out if the incident you suffered could qualify for a medical negligence payout, please speak to one of our advisors.
How Do I Claim Against A Medical Professional?
To claim against a medical professional for contraceptive coil negligence, you must supply evidence. It is necessary to prove the unnecessary harm you have experienced and the negligent medical treatment that caused it. You can do this through various means. These include supplying:
- Copies of your medical information and records
- Any correspondence you have received from the healthcare provider regarding your procedure (sometimes, a hospital will write to confirm that medical negligence occurred)
- A diary of the symptoms you have experienced after treatment
- The contact information of a person who witnessed your procedure (they may later be contacted to provide a witness statement)
Additionally, a Bolam test can be useful as part of a contraceptive coil medical negligence case. This is when a group of medical professionals with relevant training assess a case. They will then offer their opinion as to whether they believe that the treatment did not meet the required standard of care.
If you work with a solicitor from our panel, they will organise a Bolam test if required. Additionally, with your consent, they may seek an independent medical assessment. They have the skills to identify what evidence is appropriate for each individual case.
You can speak with our team of advisors today for further details on the process of contraceptive coil claims. They offer great services through our enquiry line, such as initial consultations and assessments to estimate what your compensation could cover.
No Win No Fee Medical Negligence Claims
One of the solicitors on our panel may be able to help you with your contraceptive coil negligence claim, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. Additionally, they may offer their services under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement.
Under this arrangement, you will not be required to pay the solicitor working on your claim for their services if the claim fails.
In the event that your solicitor is successful with your claim, they will deduct a success fee from your compensation settlement. There is a legal cap on the percentage they can take as this fee.
You can contact our advisors today to see if you could be eligible to work with one of the solicitors on our panel.
How To Get In Touch
For a free evaluation of your contraceptive coil negligence claim and to see if you could be eligible to work with one of the solicitors on our panel, you can contact our advisors. Our friendly team are available 24 hours a day to offer you free advice.
To be connected with an advisor today, you can:
- Call 0333 000 0729
- Use the live chat pop-up.
- Contact us online.
Contraceptive Coil Negligence – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We look at some FAQs related to contraceptive coil negligence in the sections below.
What Is Contraceptive Coil Negligence?
Contraceptive coil negligence is when an IUD or IUS is fitted or removed incorrectly. Pain, infection or unwanted pregnancy can occur as a result.
Can I Claim If My Coil Was Fitted Incorrectly?
Yes, if an incorrectly fitted coil resulted in pain, unwanted pregnancy or other forms of harm, you could be entitled to medical negligence compensation.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Contraceptive Coil Negligence Claim?
In general, you have up to 3 years from the date it was fitted, or the date in which you connected your pain and suffering to substandard treatment, to start a medical negligence claim.
What Compensation Could I Receive?
Your compensation can cover your physical pain, emotional suffering, and any associated out-of-pocket expenses, including private medical treatment and therapy, lost wages and transport costs.
Discover Related Medical Negligence Resources
Further guides by us regarding medical negligence claims:
- How do you make an orthopaedic negligence injury compensation claim?
- Learn about traumatic birth compensation and birth injury claims.
- How to claim for medical negligence causing a misdiagnosed blood clot.
Additional resources and information from external sources:
- General Medical Council (GMC) – Patient guides and materials.
- The Department of Health and Social Care – NHS Constitution for England.
- Royal College of Nursing – Duty of care.
If you have any further questions regarding contraceptive coil negligence claims, do not hesitate to contact our advisors.
