How to Check Mirena Strings

Checking the Strings Yourself

Check your Mirena strings once a month. Checking your strings regularly can help assure you that the Mirena is still in place. Most healthcare providers recommend checking the strings once a month, between periods. Some may suggest checking as often as every 3 days during the first 3 months after insertion, since this is the period of time when the Mirena is most likely to slip out.

Wash your hands before checking. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water, and rinse thoroughly. Then dry off with a clean towel.

Squat or sit down. Squatting or sitting will make it easier for you to reach your cervix. Get into a position that feels comfortable for you.

Insert 1 finger into your vagina until you feel your cervix. Use your middle or index finger. Your cervix should feel firm and slightly rubbery, like the tip of your nose. If you have a hard time getting your finger into your vagina, try coating it with a bit of water-based personal lubricant first. You may wish to shorten or file your nails first to prevent scratching or irritating your vagina or cervix.

Feel for the strings. Once you have found your cervix, feel around for the IUD strings. The strings should be protruding slightly from your cervix, typically by around 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm). Do not pull on the strings! If you notice any of the following signs that the Mirena has started to move out of place, check with your healthcare provider: The strings feel much longer or shorter than you expect. You cannot feel the strings at all. You can feel the plastic end of the Mirena device.

Getting Your Mirena Checked by a Healthcare Provider

See your healthcare provider for regularly scheduled checkups. Your healthcare provider will probably schedule a checkup about a month after inserting the Mirena. They will examine you to make sure the Mirena is still in place and not causing any problems. At this appointment, ask any questions you might have about the Mirena and how to check the strings.

Get a checkup if you suspect your Mirena is out of place. Even if you can feel the strings, there may be other signs that the Mirena has shifted or is not sitting right in your uterus. Signs to watch out for include: Pain during sex, for you or your partner. A sudden change of length in the strings, or feeling the hard tip of the Mirena protruding into your vagina. A change in your menstrual periods.

Call your healthcare provider immediately for serious symptoms. Occasionally, Mirena may not work properly, or may cause serious complications. Get 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 headaches. A fever with no obvious cause (e.g., not from a cold or the flu). Pain in your abdomen or pain during sex. Yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice). Symptoms of pregnancy. Exposure to a sexually transmitted infection.