Lost IUD strings
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| Fri, 04-20-2007 - 8:15am |
Hi! I'm new here, but not to iVillage. I've been on a lot recently, because I recently made the decision to switch the the Mirena IUD after being on the pill for 20 years! Insertion was fine, the first month was fine, but when I went for my 1 month follow up, my doctor could not see or feel the strings! I am scheduled for an ultrasound to make sure the IUD is still there.
I am 99% sure it is still there because I am having enough side effects to know that it wasn't expelled. However, if the IUD has moved up and the strings do not reach out side the cervix anymore - does anyone know what happens? Can it stay there for the 5 years, or do I have to start again? How do they get it out if there are no strings to grab?
I'm a little freaked out, and when I was there and they couldn't find the strings, I was just kind of dazed. I will probably only see the U/S technician today, so I'm not sure if I will get to talk to my doctor about all this. Just looking for anyone who has perhaps experienced this!
Thanks!


I am 36 and scheduled to get mirena 5/10. I have been reading a lot about the strings because dh’s ex wife had the copper iud and he did not like the strings. (Don’t necessarily like knowing this, but it’s a fact that I do know.)
From what I have read, it is possible for them to curl up inside the cervix. If that happens, sometimes they can coax the strings out with a little brush thing (don’t remember terminology exactly, sorry). If it happened to me, I would probably leave them up there as long as the iud was still in the right place. Dh certainly couldn’t feel them like that, and expulsion rates are so low that I am willing to take the chance as long as the dr verified the iud was ok.
They don’t have to remove the iud as long as it is placed correctly. When they take it out, they use some sort of tool that grasps the iud instead of just pulling the strings.
Here is a link. It mentions perforation or pregnancy, but we both know those are EXTREMELY rare. Try not to panic and please post an update. I’ll be thinking of you.
http://www.managingcontraception.com/QA/show_item.php?item=759&type=qna
HTH.
Holly
I'm so glad to hear it. Did they try to get the strings out or are they just leaving them up there? I am hoping that mine hide out.
May I ask how you like the Mirena other than that? How was insertion? Did you take ibuprofen before? Have you had children? I had one baby vaginally. He is a year old now.
I think the alligator forceps sound scarier than they look in pictures:)
Holly
No, they didn't try to get the strings out, but I didn't see my doctor, I only saw the u/s technician. I have to call the doctor Monday to see if they want to see me again. I'm hoping not. I actually don't mind if the strings hide out - I just want to know they can get it out later!
Other than this little scare, so far I've been happy with the Mirena. Insertion was no trouble at all - I didn't have any pain at all during insertion, just some mild cramping - I took 3 Ibuprofen tablets before I went. I've had two kids, so I think that's why it was so easy.
After insertion I spotted for two days and had some cramping. Then nothing for two weeks, then I had a very long, heavy period, followed by several days of spotting. Fortunately though, I have not had the prolonged spotting and bleeding that other people seem to experience with this. I have had lots of cramping though, even when I'm not bleeding, and tender breasts, which is manageable with ibuprofen. My doctor said to give it a good 6 months for the side effects to settle down. So far, I think I can handle it!
The only other thing is that it's been hard for me, mentally, to trust it! I'm so used to taking a pill every day or using a condom or doing something active to prevent conception that just relying on something I don't have to think about makes me nervous! That's what I wanted, because I was sick of taking the pill and remembering to order more, but it hasn't been as easy as I thought to just quit thinking about it.
I understand what you mean about trusting it. I couldn't believe that I didn't have to DO something for it to work. I was super nervous for about the first month. Now though it's so great to not have to worry about anything.
I've only had one child vaginally and I also didn't have anything but cramping when it was inserted.
-Mel
In over 50% of my gyn visits when I had the Mirena IUD, the strings weren't visible. Usually they would be visible after my period, because the blood would draw them down, but of course over time my periods became lighter and lighter, until they were nearly nonexistent.
On the day I wanted my IUD removed, there was no sign of my strings. The nurse tried to draw them down from the cervix, but couldn't find them. So I had to wait another three weeks until I got into my gyn. And she did indeed have to use the forceps to remove it, because, again, the strings weren't visible. They weren't even in the cervix. And she had a heck of a job grabbing the IUD. I just about DID need to have surgery to have it removed.
Turned out that the person that had inserted it 3 1/2 years before had cut the strings too short, and although my Mirena never dislodged or moved in any way, I was never able to find the strings myself (and gave up after a while), I never had any concerns about pregnancy because I knew that it was there. My gyn was never concerned about not being able the strings, and no one else seemed to be either, given I wasn't having any issues (aside from side effects like yeast infections, vaginal dryness and a host of others).
It was just annoying having doctors and nurses not believe me when I said I had an IUD, because they couldn't find the strings.
xplosiv,
I have read your posts on iuds and other birth control before, but I didn't remember you having that problem with removal. Thanks for sharing your story. I think it really stinks that even the non-hormonal problem affected you with all of the hormonal side effects you also had.
Holly