Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. 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. If you are in this situation, healthcare providers recommend that you have an ultrasound once a year for the first few years when you are more at risk for expulsion , just to make sure your IUD is still there. There's also the chance that the IUD is still in the correct position, yet for whatever reason, the IUD strings have coiled and bent back into the passageway between your cervix and your uterus known as the endocervical canal.
The strings could have also broken off. It's also possible that the IUD may have rotated either during or after insertion. This turning around could cause the IUD strings to retract up higher in your body.
If this is the case, the good news is that the IUD is still working and is in place; the issue is just with the IUD strings. As long as it is determined that you are not pregnant, healthcare providers have several ways to try to recover your IUD strings.
Healthcare providers use a special brush called a cytobrush that looks like a long mascara brush to try to maneuver out the IUD strings.
Your local medical provider will place the IUD in your uterus. Once your IUD is inserted, you can forget about it until you want to have it removed. Getting an IUD is a quick and easy procedure performed by your local medical provider, often during your period, when the cervix is more open, relaxed, and sitting lower in your body. The process typically lasts five to 15 minutes.
During this time, the healthcare provider will insert a speculum into your vagina as if you were getting a Pap smear to visualize and access the cervix, then carefully insert the IUD through the cervix and into the uterus. At this point, two strings attached to the end of the IUD should be hanging in your vagina, which your medical provider will trim to the appropriate length.
These indicate that the IUD is in the right place. Many women experience mild discomfort and cramping during and after the IUD insertion process. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever before the procedure and asking your provider for a numbing medication can help if you have a low pain tolerance. In rare cases, however, it might move, start to slip out of the uterus, or fall out completely.
This is most common in women who:. Once a month, between periods, follow these steps:. Your healthcare provider can show you how to do this when you have the IUD inserted.
Signs that your IUD has moved, is starting to slip out, or has been expelled include:. Other signs that your IUD has shifted or fallen out include:. Sometimes, however, an IUD can become partially or fully expelled without the woman realizing it. While IUD expulsion is rare, if it does occur, contact your healthcare provider right away. You can discuss with your medical provider whether you should have another IUD inserted or explore other types of birth control, such as:.
While all these types of birth control are effective, remember that only condoms can prevent you from getting sexually transmitted infections STIs. In addition to the slight risk of your IUD falling out, you should understand the other possible side effects associated with this device, including:. Women should weigh the advantages and risks of having an IUD in a discussion with their physician. Before placing your IUD, your provider will confirm that you are not pregnant and that you do not have any medical conditions that make it unsafe for you to use an IUD.
IUD users should also consider that while an IUD will protect them from becoming pregnant when in proper position, it will not prevent a sexually transmitted disease. Some patients who are considering an IUD express concern over complications associated with their use. As with many medical procedures and devices, there can be side effects and complications from IUD use. One side effect of IUD use is the pain or discomfort some women experience during the insertion process.
Women concerned about pain from the insertion should talk to their doctor about including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients experiencing severe pain after IUD insertion should notify their physician. Women may experience other side effects listed below after the IUD is placed.
These side effects typically improve over time, but may last throughout use of the IUD. If the side effects are unacceptable or worsening, the woman should consult her doctor. More serious complications are rare. The chance of these can often be reduced by selecting an experienced physician and understanding the proper use of the IUD. Complications that do occur will vary for individual patients. Pregnancy occurring with an IUD is very rare, but if pregnancy occurs, it is more likely to be an ectopic pregnancy which implants outside of the uterus and can be dangerous.
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