Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Check the threads yourself
• Method 2 of 2: Have your Mirena checked by a doctor
• Warnings

Mirena is an FDA-approved brand of IUDs. It is a long-term form of contraception that is effective for up to five years if properly cared for. After your doctor has placed the Mirena IUD in your uterus, you will need to check every so often that it is still in the correct place. You can do this by feeling for the threads attached to the IUD. These threads will extend from your cervix to the vagina. If you suspect that your Mirena is no longer in the right place, see your doctor so they can check it.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Check the threads yourself

1. Check your Mirena threads once a month. By regularly checking your wires you can be sure that the Mirena is still in the right place. Most health care professionals recommend checking the threads once a month, in between periods. Some health care professionals recommend checking the threads every three days for the first three months after IUD insertion. This is the period in which the Mirena most often slips out.
2. Wash your hands before checking the threads. Wash your hands with warm water and soap and clean them thoroughly. Then dry your hands on a clean towel.
3. Squat or sit down. Squatting or sitting will make it easier for you to reach your cervix. Choose a position that is comfortable for you.
4. Insert a finger into your vagina until you feel the cervix. Use your middle or index finger. Your cervix should feel firm and slightly rubbery, like the tip of your nose.
   • If you have trouble getting your finger into your vagina, try rubbing it with water-based lubricant first.
   • Cutting or filing your nails before you start can help prevent opening or irritation of your vagina or cervix.
5. Try to find the threads. Once you locate the cervix, try to find the threads of the IUD. The threads should be sticking out of your cervix, usually around 1 1/2 inches. Do not pull on the threads! If you notice any of the following signs that the Mirena is no longer in the correct location, please contact your doctor.
   • The threads are much longer or shorter than you expected.
   • You can't find the threads at all.
   • You can feel the plastic end of the Mirena IUD.

Method 2 of 2: Have your Mirena checked by a doctor

1. Go to your doctor for a check-up. Your doctor will probably schedule a check-up about a month after the Mirena is placed. He will examine you to make sure the Mirena is still in the right place and is not causing any problems. At this appointment, ask any questions you have about the Mirena and how to check the wires.
2. If you suspect that your Mirena is no longer in the right place, see the doctor for a check-up. Even if you can feel the threads, there may be signs that the Mirena is no longer properly in your womb. Features to watch out for are:
   • Pain during sex, for you or for your partner.
   • A sudden change in the length of the threads, or the feeling of a hard end of the Mirena protruding from the vagina.
   • A sudden change in your menstrual cycle.
3. Call your doctor right away if you have severe symptoms. Sometimes it happens that the Mirena does not work properly or causes serious problems. Seek medical help right away if you experience any of the following:
   • Heavy vaginal bleeding outside of your period, or unusually heavy bleeding during your period.
   • Foul-smelling vaginal discharge or vaginal sores.
   • Severe headache.
   • Fever for no apparent reason (not from a cold or flu)
   • Abdominal or pain during sex.
   • Yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice).
   • Symptoms of pregnancy.
   • Exposure to a sexually transmitted disease.

Warnings

• Never try to remove your Mirena yourself. The Mirena IUD should always be removed by a doctor.
• Contact your doctor if finding your threads is difficult or if you can feel the IUD itself. In the meantime, don't use a hormonal form of birth control, such as condoms.