If a person cannot feel their intrauterine device IUD strings, there is usually no need to worry. There are many reasons why this may happen, and it is not often a cause for concern. In this article, we look at some of the common reasons why the IUD strings may appear to be missing and explain when to get help finding them.
When a healthcare professional inserts the IUD, they will typically leave one or two thin strings hanging down from the IUD into the vagina.
In most cases, a person should be able to feel the ends of the IUD strings with the tips of their fingers when they insert them into their vagina. However, this is sometimes not the case. Sometimes, the strings dangling from the IUD can curl up on themselves. They may be resting against the cervix, which could make them difficult or impossible to feel.
A fold of vaginal tissue may also hide the strings. Either way, a curled string can be challenging to reach.
In some cases, a person may be unable to reach the IUD strings. Doctors refer to this as expulsion. If expulsion occurs, the IUD may not fall out entirely, which means that a person would not find it in the toilet or their underwear. Instead, they may feel pain, experience severe cramping, or notice bleeding or discharge. If the IUD falls out, a person should see their doctor, who can put it back in place. The person should not attempt to put it back in themselves.
Rarely, the IUD may puncture the uterus or the cervix. According to the ACOG , this occurs in:. Women who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding have a higher risk of perforation. If the IUD strings are too short or coiled to locate, a person should schedule an appointment with a doctor to double-check the IUD status.
As a precaution, they should use alternative birth control methods until they can confirm that the IUD is in place.
People using a hormonal IUD should start to see their periods getting lighter over time. If their periods start to get heavier again, this could be a sign that the IUD has fallen out or is no longer in place. Therefore, a person should schedule an appointment with their doctor if the flow of their periods returns to its previous level. Until the IUD is back in place, they should use other forms of birth control. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile.
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The "strings" attached to intrauterine devices IUDs like Mirena and ParaGard run down the uterus and out the cervix, finding their final resting place somewhere high up in the vaginal canal. There may be a few reasons why they aren't found, including complete expulsion, uterine changes, and movement of the strings or IUD. Although not common, IUD expulsion when the device becomes dislodged from the uterus is possible and can occur in 3 to 10 percent of patients.
Since many women may show no symptoms of IUD expulsion, it is important that you learn how to check your IUD strings because this may be the only way to tell for sure if your IUD has dislodged or has moved out of place. When you first have your IUD inserted, you should be checking for the strings every few days for the first few weeks, as well as between periods. If you cannot locate your IUD strings, the next step is to call your healthcare provider and have them perform an exam to locate your IUD strings.
In some cases, you may definitively experience your IUD coming out. This will typically happen during the first few months of IUD use. Your IUD is most likely to slip out of place during your period, so check your pads and tampons to confirm that your IUD has not been expelled. Perforation means that the IUD has been pushed through the uterus wall. Generally, this is quickly discovered and can be corrected right away. If either of these situations happens to you, make sure to use a backup method to protect against pregnancy because the IUD will not be of much help.
This may be due to fibroids or pregnancy. If this has occurred, the IUD is still in the uterus, but further investigation would be needed. The good news is if the ultrasound reveals that the IUD is in its proper position within the uterus , you can continue to use it for contraception even though you cannot locate the IUD strings.
Gupta notes, the strings of the IUD are thin and soft enough that they should not be sensed during intercourse. If either partner can feel an IUD during sex, Dr.
Other signs to high-tail it to your doctor and have your IUD checked out include excessive pain and cramping, irregular bleeding, bleeding every time after sex, or excessive vaginal infections, per Dr.
If all birth control methods were cars and the hormonal pill was a standard Honda sedan, the IUD would be a Cadillac.
It's a vehicular analogy many ob-gyns have made themselves. IUDs are considered the " gold standard for modern contraception. An IUD requires essentially zero maintenance and is literally tucked away in the safest of spots — the uterus. By design, it's incredibly non-noticeable. I've had a Paragard IUD for over three years. In my mind, a man's ability to "feel" an IUD has always been placebo effect and nothing more — dicks are sensitive, but the owners of said dicks are much more so.
In those blissful postcoital moments, the last thing I and, I would guess, most women? For reference: I asked one partner to describe what, exactly, he felt, and he described "a tiny piece of metal. Placebo effect.
Still, I'm no doctor. I'm just a proactive woman who had a piece of copper put in her uterus to remain consciously baby-free for 12 years. So maybe — as much as it makes me want to projectile-vomit onto every man who's complained to a woman that he could feel her IUD — it is possible for a dude's dick to feel the device's strings. If you ask guys about the experience, the answers are varied — though most say they can't feel anything at all.
Marshall, 24, has had sex with a few women who have IUDs. He said he thought he felt something once , and went home and Googled something along the lines of "is it possible for man to feel IUD???? Other guys say they've never felt a thing.
Aidan, 26, said his girlfriend had an IUD inserted while they were dating.
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