What should mirena threads feel like

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. Topics contraception vaginal health sexual health. Okay, you finally got that intrauterine device IUD you were thinking about, and you managed to survive the whole insertion process. Now, you don't have to think about it until the IUD has to be replaced like three to 12 years from now, depending on the type Yes, IUDs are super low-maintenance and long-lasting that's probably part, if not all of, the reason you got one , but some docs say you should check your IUD strings every once in a while.

You know, to make sure that lil' guy is still hanging around up there. That IUD has little strings that hang down into your vagina—and they're not just there for show. For the record, though, that's not necessarily mandatory, says Jessica Shepherd, M. There's no risk to not checking those strings on the reg.

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. Getting a Mirena IUD can come with side effects like sore breasts and mood changes. But just how common are side effects after insertion and after 3…. There are a few different natural contraceptive methods if you want to avoid hormonal or invasive birth control.

But how you use natural birth control…. Taking Plan B can throw your menstrual cycle out of whack for up to a month. Plan B is not the same as the abortion pill. Let's debunk the myths and break down how both of these pills work. Hormonal birth control can cause anxiety in some people. But other folks find it makes them feel better.

Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M. Share on Pinterest Illustration: Alexis Lira. Did my vagina eat my IUD? Share on Pinterest Infographic: Alexis Lira. Symptoms to look out for. What the doctor will do.