I've had a mirena IUD since July of 2013 and have always been able to easily find the strings until today. I usually check them once a month or so and today is the first time I haven't been able to feel them and I'm kind of freaking out! I called my OB and the nurse I spoke to said the strings probably softened, making them difficult to feel. I think it's strange they would all of a sudden soften after having it for over a year, so i went ahead and made an appointment to see my OB next week to get checked out. Until then, does anyone have any experience with this? Everything I've googled sounds pretty scary and I'm trying not to freak out.
-
I've had Mirena since March 2013 and have never been able to feel the strings. I had my annual in March 2014 and my gyno confirmed it's still there. I just don't think about it. Not sure if thats actually helpful ...
-
Thanks...I'm just concerned because I've always been able to feel them and now suddenly I can't. So weird.
-
It can't go far
don't stress too much!
-
@babycanuck: define "far"? lol
@jodyblair: can you have an X-ray done to confirm it's where it should be?
I'm the one who had one end up in the fat of my abdominal wall and didn't follow my gut when I should have that something was wrong. Minority and the extreme, but definitely get it checked!
-
The strings can curl around your cervix. Mine have with both Mirenas I've had; and I've never been able to feel strings. Maybe that happened? My OB said it's common.
-
When I went back after a year to have my yearly checkup, my doctor (just a family doctor, not an OB) at first couldn't find either of the strings, and then eventually was just barely able to see one of them. She sent me for an ultrasound which confirmed that the mirena is still in place. I'm rather worried though b/c I don't know what this means for getting it removed. I'm worried I'm going to need to get it surgically removed.
-
A friend of mine couldn't find hers, she went to the go who couldn't find them either, got sent to hospital for a scan and they found it fine, strings were just a little short.
Bless her, the gp checked her last week and couldn't see them again, so away back up to hospital she goes! -
I always instruct my patients to call if they can't find the strings for two days in a row if they always could previously. That first day, once you start worrying that you can't find them...the harder you look the less they cooperate.
Even when the strings are truly gone, usually the IUD is still in place, the strings have just twisted up such that they're in the uterus too. More rarely, the IUD expelled without you noticing, or has started to embed/migrate such that the strings don't reach anymore. Unlikely, but eeek scenarios. Glad you're going to get checked out.
If Mirena is your sole form of contraception, you may want to consider acting on the presumption that it was expelled -- condoms or abstinence until confirming it is where it should be, and emergency contraception if you were sexually active within the last 5 days.
-
Thanks for all the info!
@lilyofthewest: If the IUD is still in place but the strings aren't there, how do they remove it?
-
I have an iud and I've never gone searching for the strings. My doctor said it wasn't necessary for me to check.
-
@jodyblair: The care provider inserts a tool through the opening of the cervix to reach into the uterus and grab it -- usually under ultrasound guidance. Removal with no strings definitely takes longer and can be more uncomfortable, but is still very doable in an outpatient setting.
-
@lilyofthewest: Thank you! That makes me feel so much better
don't stress too much!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
12 comments