"Lost" IUD....gulp...

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-08-2004
"Lost" IUD....gulp...
4
Fri, 09-17-2004 - 3:19pm
I had an IUD put in last month just after my peroid, as the doctor prescribed, and all went well during the initial visit. I was told to check for the strings in couple weeks and again after my period. I checked two weeks later and couldn't feel anything, but then again, I don't know what I'm looking for either. So my period has come and gone and I still can't find the strings. I went to my doctor and she did a pap and checked for the strings herself. She said they aren't hanging out of my cervix and usually they will hang out after a period so she wants to have an ultra sound done to see if we can "find" my IUD.

I was feeling cramping in my right side not long after the IUD was put in. Then it switched to the left side. I am wondering if any of you have had this happen to you? Has anyone had the IUD perforate thier uterus? Is it painful and would you know if that happened?

I have a couple days yet before my ultra sound so I'm kind of ancious to know what's happening with me! Any insight will be appreciated! thank you:)

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 09-17-2004 - 4:15pm
Hi vicky0830, Welcome!

I have no medical training, but in my opinion even if the u/s shows your IUD is correctly placed it should be removed and another inserted as you need to be able to feel the strings to check that everything is ok. Let us know what happens and how you're doing, ok?

(((Hugs)))

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 09-17-2004 - 8:37pm
You'll know it if you feel it....It's hard to explain-it just feels like "strings"....Usually I can just feel the tip of them....but sometimes (during different times of the month) I can feel more than at other times....
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2004
Sat, 09-18-2004 - 2:00pm
Hi Vicky0830 ;)...

I'm no expert, but from what I know about IUD perforation, like 99% of the time if your IUD perforates the uterus, it happens during the insertion. You would think that if it perforated your uterus, you would be in a lot of pain as it happened.

Your U/S should do the trick though. It will show you exactly where your IUD has gone (my guess is that it is still in the uterus) and then you and your DR can decide from there what you want to do for birth control; if you want to give the IUD another shot... if you want to consider other non-hormonal methods...

Until then, you *are* using some back up B/C right?

Good Luck!

Jenn

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2002
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 1:23am
Hi there,

Try to relax, I had this happen to me once - I went to the gyn about three months after I had my IUD inserted, and he couldn't find the strings. So he did an ultrasound, and sure enough, it was still there. He said that the strings would more than likely come back out with my next period. Sure enough, they did, and there hasn't been any problems locating them since.

Good luck

Janet