The short answer: Yes. Every IUD and birth control implant sold in the U.S. can go in an MRI scanner. Paragard, Miudella, Kyleena, and Skyla are labeled MR Conditional, so the scanner must meet set limits. Per their current FDA labels, Liletta is MR Safe and Nexplanon is MR safe. Tell the MRI team which device you have.
Birth control devices are small, and most are plastic. The question is what metal, if any, each one contains. The FDA label for each device answers that, so this guide goes device by device. Our MRI safety guide covers other implants and objects.
Is a copper IUD like Paragard safe in an MRI?
Yes, under set conditions. Paragard is a plastic T with copper wire wrapped around it. The Paragard FDA label lists about 176 mg of copper wire on the stem, plus a copper collar on each arm. Copper is not magnetic, but the label still sets scan limits.
The label says non-clinical testing showed Paragard is MR Conditional. A patient can be scanned safely when the scanner meets these conditions:
- A static magnetic field of 1.5 T or 3.0 T.
- A maximum spatial field gradient of 4,000 gauss/cm (40 T/m).
- A whole body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2 W/kg, in Normal Operating Mode.
Under those conditions, the label expects a temperature rise of less than 0.5 degrees C after 15 minutes of continuous scanning. Standard hospital scanners run at 1.5 T or 3 T, so these limits fit routine scans. The MRI technologist checks the settings, not you. See our guide to 1.5T vs 3T MRI for what field strength means.
The Paragard label also covers diathermy, a heat therapy that uses radio waves. It tells patients to mention Paragard before any such treatment.
Miudella is a newer copper IUD with copper sleeves on a nickel-titanium (nitinol) frame. The Miudella FDA label also calls it MR Conditional. Its limits match Paragard: 1.5 T or 3.0 T, a 40 T/m (4,000 gauss/cm) gradient, and 2 W/kg SAR in Normal Operating Mode.
What do the labels say about hormonal IUDs?
The four hormonal IUDs release levonorgestrel from a plastic frame. Their labels differ more than most people expect.
- Kyleena and Skyla: Both have a small silver ring that helps clinicians see them on ultrasound. The Kyleena label and the Skyla label call them MR Conditional. The limits are 3.0 T or less, a spatial gradient of 36,000 gauss/cm (360 T/m), and a SAR of 4 W/kg (First Level Controlled Operating Mode). Each label expects a rise of less than 2 degrees C after 15 minutes of scanning.
- Liletta: The Liletta label says it is MR-Safe. It adds that Liletta is compatible with MRI and should not interfere with imaging.
- Mirena: The current Mirena label has no MRI section. Its listed materials are polyethylene, silicone, silica, barium sulfate, and an iron oxide colorant in the thread. None of these is a metal part like copper wire or a silver ring. Tell the MRI team you have Mirena so they can follow their own policy.
The barium sulfate in these devices makes them show up on X-ray. It does not react to a magnet.
Is the Nexplanon arm implant safe in an MRI?
Yes. The Nexplanon FDA label states plainly that Nexplanon is MR safe. The rod is 4 cm long and 2 mm wide. It is made of a soft plastic called ethylene vinyl acetate, with etonogestrel and barium sulfate inside. It has no metal.
The label also tells users to tell all their healthcare professionals that the implant is in the arm. That still applies before an MRI, even though no limits apply.
Does the patch or the ring need to come off?
For the two U.S. birth control patches, the labels list no metal. The Xulane label describes a polyethylene and polyester backing, an adhesive layer with the hormones, and a plastic liner. The Twirla label describes a woven backing and acrylic and polyisobutylene adhesive layers. Neither label has an MRI warning.
Other skin patches are different. The Transderm Scop motion sickness patch label says it has an aluminized membrane. It reports skin burns at the patch site during MRI scans and says to remove it first. So many MRI centers ask you to remove every patch before the scan. If they ask you to remove your birth control patch, bring a spare to put on afterward. Follow your patch label about missed or late patches.
The NuvaRing label has no MRI section, and the ring is made of plastic.
Can an MRI move or heat an IUD?
The research on copper IUDs is reassuring. Three studies stand out:
- Phantom testing, 2019: A study in European Radiology tested seven copper IUDs at 1.5 T and 3 T in a tissue model. Heating was less than 0.6 K for all of them (0.6 K equals 0.6 degrees C). No IUD moved or twisted.
- Women scanned at 3 T, 2024: A prospective study of 73 women checked each copper IUD by ultrasound before and after a 3 T MRI. Zero of 70 IUDs moved after the scan. Six women reported new or worse pelvic discomfort.
- Women scanned at 3 T, 2013: A Vienna study surveyed 18 women with copper IUDs after 3 T scans. One reported that her IUD moved after the exam. The authors still concluded 3 T MRI is possible and advised a gynecology check afterward.
Image artifact is small. The Paragard label reports artifact extending less than 5 mm from the device. Kyleena and Skyla labels report up to 5 mm. The Vienna study found no IUD artifacts on pelvic images. A pelvic MRI with an IUD in place is still readable.
One older device is an exception. Stainless steel ring IUDs, used widely in China in the 1980s and 1990s, are still considered MR Unsafe. A 2022 case series describes safe 1.5 T brain scans in women with these rings, but each case needs radiology review. If your IUD was placed outside the U.S., say so.
What should you tell the MRI team before the scan?
Use this checklist when you book the scan and again at check-in:
- Name the exact device: Paragard, Miudella, Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, Skyla, Nexplanon, or a patch or ring.
- Give the year it was placed, and the country if it was not the U.S.
- Bring the device card or patient wallet card if you got one. A photo works too.
- If you have no card, ask the clinic that placed it for the brand name.
- Say whether you wear a patch, and bring a spare in case they ask you to remove it.
- Report any pain, bleeding, or change in the IUD threads, before or after the scan.
- Mention any chance of pregnancy. Our guide to MRI while pregnant explains why.
If you feel warmth or pain in the pelvis during the scan, press the call button. After the scan, check your IUD threads as your clinician showed you. Our guide on what to expect at your first MRI covers the rest of the visit. If your scan is a breast MRI, mammogram.md explains how it fits with screening.
The bottom line
You can have an MRI with any IUD or birth control implant sold in the U.S. Paragard, Miudella, Kyleena, and Skyla need a scanner within their labeled limits, which routine 1.5 T and 3 T scans can meet. Liletta and Nexplanon are labeled MR safe. Studies of copper IUDs show minimal heating and little to no movement. Tell the MRI team your exact device, and bring its card.
Last updated: November 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Ask your radiology team and the clinician who placed your device about your specific scan.