If they have difficulty finding it with this method, they may magnify the area and get a closer look. If they are unable to locate the strings using this process, they will often order an ultrasound to verify the placement of the IUD. If the IUD cannot be located, it is likely it has expelled.
They may follow up with an X-ray to ensure that there was no perforation. If the IUD is not in the correct position, your healthcare provider will remove it. In most cases, you will be able to have it reinserted immediately if you choose to. While there are multiple brands of IUDs available in the United States, there are two primary types; hormonal and copper. Copper IUDs contain no hormones but are devices wrapped in a small amount of copper and block sperm from reaching and fertilizing an egg.
In addition to blocking the pathway of the sperm, sperm does not like copper and will naturally avoid it, providing a secondary form of protection.
This type of IUD can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years. Copper IUDs can also be used as emergency contraception as long as it is placed within five days after intercourse. Very rarely does the IUD make its way out of the uterus on its own. This phenomenon, known as expulsion, is estimated to happen in 2 to 10 percent of all people with IUDs. But sometimes the device does not fully expel, so you may feel the strings lower than expected and a hard portion of the device protruding from your cervix.
In the again, rare case of expulsion, you would possibly also experience bleeding and cramping. Once you do brush up against your strings, you might be shocked by how close to your vaginal entrance they seem.
The truth is that your cervix can move lower and higher depending on your menstrual cycle and the amount of blood flowing to your uterus. This does not change the effectiveness of the IUD and will not increase the risk of it falling out or perforating your uterus. On the other hand, you might not feel the strings at all when you try to check them.
Definitely not something to freak out about! 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. And if you want help learning to find the strings, ask your doctor.
He or she can give you a tutorial during an exam or just after the IUD insertion. Not being able to feel strings might not be an issue, Dweck said. Some women just have trouble feeling them, and sometimes the strings are so short that they're difficult to discern. But missing strings could indicate that your IUD has moved out of place. Simple as that. Have more questions about IUDs?
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