IUD String Check Guide: How to Find Them (And What if You Can’t?)

IUD String Check Guide: How to Find Them (And What if You Can’t?)

Why Should You Check?

Your IUD is held in place by your uterus, but it can shift or slip (expulsion), especially in the first 3 months. Checking your strings once a month (preferably after your period) is the best way to ensure you are still protected against pregnancy.

Step-by-Step: How to Check

Step 1: Prep

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. You don't want to introduce bacteria.

Step 2: Position

Squatting is usually the easiest position, as it shortens the vaginal canal. Standing with one leg up on the toilet seat or bathtub also works well.

Step 3: Insert

Gently insert your index or middle finger into your vagina. Aim toward your lower back.

Step 4: Locate

Reach up until you feel your cervix.

What does a cervix feel like? It feels firm and round, like the tip of your nose.

Step 5: Feel

Feel for the strings coming out of the cervix. They typically feel like light fishing line or thin plastic threads.

• Do: Gently touch them to confirm they are there.
• Don't: Pull on them!

Troubleshooting: "I Can't Feel Them!"

Don't Panic. There are common, harmless reasons for this:

1. They are curled up: Strings often soften and curl around the cervix over time, hiding them from touch.
2. Strings were cut short: Your doctor may have trimmed them very short during insertion.
3. Cervix position: Your cervix moves during your cycle. During ovulation, it moves higher, making strings harder to reach.

When to Call the Doctor

• You feel hard plastic (the bottom of the IUD T-shape) protruding from the cervix. (This means it is expelling).
• The strings feel much longer than usual.
• You suddenly cannot feel them after previously being able to, AND you have had cramping or heavy bleeding.

Action Plan: If you suspect your IUD has moved, use backup contraception (condoms) immediately and book an appointment for an ultrasound check.