How many strings does mirena have

Shepherd is also seen regularly as an expert on TV and radio. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

An IUD is a T-shaped device that goes into your uterus with strings extending through your cervix into your vagina. Those strings serve a few purposes. You might be wondering, Wait, where else could my IUD go? Good question. Checking your strings is simple: Insert a finger into your vagina and feel up toward your cervix. They will usually feel like thin bits of fishing line.

Issues like expulsion and perforation are most common in the period soon after insertion, which is why I recommend my patients check their strings for a minimum of three months after getting their IUDs.

Shepherd is also seen regularly Read more. If the doctor cannot locate the IUD using these methods, they may use an ultrasound device to search for it. If they cannot find the IUD with an ultrasound, the IUD may have discharged from the vagina without the person noticing. The doctor is likely to order an X-ray to make sure that the IUD did not penetrate the uterus. If the doctor finds the IUD in place, there is nothing else that they will need to do unless the person does not want it there anymore.

If this is the case, the doctor can remove the IUD. If the IUD is out of alignment, the doctor will remove it. Before removal, they will use misoprostol Cytotec to help dilate the cervix. The doctor may also use local numbing agents to help prevent pain in the cervix. Finally, they may provide ibuprofen or another pain reliever to help prevent cramping.

Once the cervix has dilated enough, the doctor is likely to use forceps to extract the IUD. In many cases, the doctor will insert a new IUD shortly after removing the first one. However, this is not common. The general advice is that a person should check their IUD every month to make sure that it has not fallen out fully or partially. To do this, a person should:. If the strings feel like they usually do, no further action is necessary. Anyone who suspects that their IUD has fallen out or become misplaced should use a backup form of birth control until they see their doctor.

A person should be able to feel their IUD strings when they insert their fingers into their vagina. Sometimes, the strings may be difficult to feel because they are too short or have become curled. Occasionally, the IUD may have moved, which may lead to a return of heavier periods. Rarely, the IUD may have punctured the uterus, which can sometimes result in signs of infection, such as fever, chills, and cramping.

In most other cases, the IUD will be slightly out of place, and the doctor will remove and replace it. The best IUD for each person depends on many factors. Intrauterine devices, known as IUDs, are a popular reversible method of contraception. An IUD may fall out or become displaced. There may be signs…. An intrauterine device, or IUD, is a small device that doctors place inside the uterus as a form of birth control. Accessible Beauty Products For All. Getty Images.

Well, kinda. Which might beg the question, Uh, how? But really, why do I have to check my IUD strings? Related Story. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses.

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