BY PRIYANKA KUMAR | DKODING MEDIA
Countless women swear by IUD (Intrauterine device), a popular birth control method. It is a T-shaped piece of plastic or metal that prevents pregnancy either by hormonal shifts or by releasing a small amount of copper which prevents fertilization. IUD’s can be implanted at your doctor’s office with minimal recovery time and they remain effective for years.
Some women have horror stories to tell about IUD problems- their devices moving or shifting. The symptoms of a shifting IUD aren’t always easy to identify. But if you suspect that your IUD is moving, here are a few signs from the experts-
You experience pain during sex
Some people report that sex changes a bit after you get an IUD implanted. With certain sexual positions feeling a bit more uncomfortable and painful.
However, that isn’t cased. If suddenly sex starts hurting, that maybe your body trying to tell you that the IUD has shifted to a location where it isn’t supposed to be like poking out of your cervix.
That maybe your body trying to tell you that the IUD has shifted to a location where it isn’t supposed to be like poking out of your cervix.
Your periods are abnormal
Your periods are most likely to change after you get an IUD placed. If you’ve gotten a Hormonal (plastic) IUD, expect your flow to be lighter. In contrast, if you have the non-hormonal version i.e. the copper IUD, you’ll probably start experiencing heavier flow.
Lots of people even experienced some spotting in the first couple of months after they get it placed. However, if you notice that the bleeding is much heavier than usual or you’re spotting heavier between periods, that might be because your IUD is displaced and you need to go to your doctor.
Your Vaginal discharge is abnormal
Your vagina has the ability to naturally cleanse itself (and self-lubricate too). The vaginal discharge is your body’s natural way of cleansing.
The vaginal discharge is your body’s natural way of cleansing.
However, if you notice an abnormal discharge it could be a sign that your IUD has slipped and is annoying your body. If your discharge is off in color, texture and smells a bit weird, your IUD might be the one to blame.
Don’t be afraid and contact your doctor to see if your IUD is the culprit.
Your partner can feel it
First things first: No pen*s is huge enough to knock your IUD out of place. Unless you’re using a really huge toy or ‘object’ for penetration (that you shouldn’t).
Your partner shouldn’t be feeling your IUD at all (since it’s placed in a way to not be felt by anybody). If your partner notices something hard coming out of your cervix, it means it’s hanging out in the wrong section. Go check it out at a doctor to make sure it hasn’t slipped.
Also: The belief that a pen*s can “knock” your IUD out of place is just A MYTH.
Don’t worry and have all the sex you want without stressing a bit!
The Strings are a different length
When your doctor places your IUD, she cuts loose the strings so you can still remove the device easily when the time comes and to keep a track of the device and make sure that it hasn’t moved or shifted in your body.
If you feel the strings to get suddenly longer, this is a sign that your IUD might have slipped down. If your string gets shorter or just vanishes out of nowhere it could mean your IUD has moved further up into your uterus dragging the strings with it or has just coiled up.
If you notice any kind of peculiar changes in your Va-jay-jay, go visit your gyno so she can check you out.
You have intense Cramps
It is totally normal to experience cramps right after you get your IUD implanted. Obviously, because you got something fixed inside your vagina, the body needs time and space to accept the device.
If you get a hormonal (plastic) IUD placed you can expect your regular period cramps to become much lighter; if you go with a non-hormonal copper IUD, your cramps might become more severe during shark week.
However, if you experience severe cramps than usual or if they seem to be lasting a longer period of time, this could mean that your body is rejecting the IUD and you should show it to your doctor.
You get random infections
Your body tries to communicate with you whenever something weird happens. So, if you notice constant recurring infections in your vagina this is just another strange symptom of a shifting IUD. Call a doctor!
You can feel it too
If your partner can feel it during sex, that’s one thing- but if you feel it too while canoodling with your lady parts, your IUD is not where it is supposed to be. It has moved out of place and you need to see your doctor.
You think you might be pregnant
While IUDs are designed to not get you a baby belly and are 99.99% effective (Way more effective than Dettol). They can also raise the risk of an ectopic pregnancy if indeed you are the unfortunate less-than-0.01% that does get pregnant.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
It’s an extremely dangerous phenomenon where your fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, most likely your fallopian tube or ovaries, which are not an appropriate space for growing a baby, i.e. the baby won’t be able to survive + it might cause trouble to your body.
This clearly means that you need to get medical treatment to get the fertilized egg removed. How do you know if you are pregnant? Lookup for the symptoms- missing periods, tender breast, nausea, and probably a little spotting and pain in your abdomen.
Bottom line
If you get your IUD displaced, don’t worry. Your doctor will help you out, moving your IUD back into its intended place or probably give you a new one if the first one gets rejected by your body. And then you can go back to living your life- however you choose to live it, girl!
REMEMBER: If you feel any of these symptoms, to your doctor immediately to get all the help that you need.
