I'm seconding that it's really odd for your doctor to just go about inserting one without explaining much and without discussing options. There's a myriad of options out there.

I've had an IUD for nearly four years now (the Paragard). I have also used a Diva Cup for the entire four years, save for one time when I was out and about without it and had to use a tampon. There are a lot of people who do use the two but be careful and check for the strings when your period is over. You can carefully attempt to break the suction before removing the menstrual cup and that will also help to prevent it from being pulled out of place. less

It's really weird that your doc would put an IUD in without going through all this with you. Really weird. I suggest you call him or make an appointment with another Gyno.

1. You're supposed to check it monthly by feeling the tip of your cervix. If you feel hard plastic = bad, if you feel strings or nothing at all = fine.

2. You should have no issues with it coming out of place, just don't yank on the strings.

3. No, you can't use your menstrual cup. You are correct, the suction can pull the IUD out of place.

4. The only issue I ever had with mine was the strings were causing discomfort to my partner. I went back to my doc and she tucked them up into my cervix. Now I don't have to take pills and my period has stopped, it's amazing. less

My husband and I were trying to have kids, but at the moment my doctor feels that it is best I refrain from getting pregnant due to some medications that I am on. My OBGYN decided to implant me with Mirena, and IUD. I'm a little confused because it all happened so fast and I didn't get much advice on how to go about maintaining it and taking care of myself. I have a few questions and would love some advice from anyone who may have or have had one.

1. What are some tips on making sure that the Mirena stays put in my uterus? I have never had kids so I doubt this will be much of a problem but I have heard of a few of my friends having theirs come out of place.

2. Can sex play/masturbation/orga sms cause the Mirena to come out of place? What precautions should I take?

3. Can I still use my menstrual cup with an IUD? I know my OBGYN recommended not using tampons, and I told him it was no problem because I didn't use him. And then I realized, oh shit! I use a cup! The idea in my mind is that cups create a suction, and I'm wondering if that would pull the IUD out of place.

4. Have you ever had any bad issues with IUD's? If so, what? less

my friend got pregnant with the iud in!!Then they told her once they took it out she would probably miscarry...she didnt!Thankfully once the shock set in she was happy about being pregnant but I could see some woman being extrememly upset.Its the whole reason you have it is to not get pregnant! less

I have had my IUD for 4 and 1/2 years now.

You don't have to worry about it falling out, just check every month to make sure you feel the threads.

In terms of the sex/masturbation, no big issues. My guy feels the threads when I am on top and I pivot my hips. It causes his penis to move back and forth inside me, sort of flicking my cervix and the threads irritate him. So I haven't enjoyed this position in a very long time. He has never bled from it or had very horrible pain, just discomfort. He doesn't have any problems with any other positions.

As for the cup I have no idea. I bled for maybe two weeks after I got my IUD and never had a full period since. I wear panty-liners every day just in case I have some blood, but it is usually little drops and it happens maybe every three or four months. So I don't really have any periods; you might not need a cup.

Hope this was helpful less

I love my IUD (I have the Paragard, the copper one). I've had it for three years now, and only the partner I got it with (that is, like the first couple months) said that the string was painful. After the first ... maybe 6 weeks? it softened up, and other partners since then have mentioned that they could tell there was a string in me but that it didn't feel good or bad, just that it is present.

1. Mine has never come out of place, and I don't think I've had to do anything special to keep it in. I check the string every month the last day of my period to make sure everything's still fine, and it always has been.

2. No sex play, masturbation, or orgasm has pushed my IUD anywhere. I have had a lot of sex in three years, and it's all been fast and rough, and my IUD has stayed right where it belongs. I heard one person ask whether fisting could dislodge it, and I've never heard a scientific/medical perspective about that question, nor anecdotal evidence either way. Fisting hasn't come up in my sex life since I've gotten it, though, so I haven't done a lot of research. But, other than a possible question mark over fisting, everything I've done and/or heard of works just fine.

3. I kept using my menstrual cup even after I got my IUD, and still, there have been no problems in the three+ years.

Did you see the IUD before they inserted it in you? I had to ask specifically, but I was really surprised by how tiny it was. Still, your os is even smaller. The reason to do your monthly check just after your period is because your os is more expanded then during other times, but even still it's much smaller than the T-shape. You'd have to pull with persistence to dislodge it.

4. The second week I had mine in, I had really bad stomach cramps. I actually wasted an ER visit (so expensive! ) on it, because I didn't want to risk the chance of being seriously ill. Luckily, it was nothing (I should have just noticed that I had only cramps, and no fever, and skipped the ER visit!), and after that week it cleared up. I haven't had problems since. The Paragard is renowned for making periods more painful, but personally for me after the first two months this wasn't the case. I do have light periods in general, though. Mirena is supposed to lesson period pain, though.

If you've got any more questions, feel free to ask! less

Thanks so much for all the info. Copper sounds like it would have been painful to insert?! I have some really rough sex at times and in my mind I was just picturing my partner's dick knocking that little thing out of place. I saw it before he put it in and I was shocked by how small it is! I think my os wouldn't be big enough for it to get misplaced anyway since I have no kids but I guess you never know. I only have a few friends who have this (and I just now found out) and they all said they got put to sleep for the procedure or given pain killers, and my doctor did it while I was awake! Most painful thing in the world for someone who hasn't had any children...

I'm actually having cramps too and I've been sick to my stomach since I got it put in. My doctor said not to worry and that's normal... it's just so annoying and painful. Thank God for Tums and Darvocet! less

He is very sensitive and they just bugged him. Never made him bleed or anything. They were just a minor irritation. You don't want your doc to cut the strings too short or they will constantly stab him directly in the head of his penis. My doctor managed to knot my strings and tuck them back inside my cervix. No problem. Now it's like the thing isn't even there. less

The doctor can cut them off but that will mean you will have to have a doctor take it out. Keeping the strings allows for much easier removal of the IUD and it can be done in a clinic. I know I suffered tremendously when I got it inserted and I don't want to go through the same pain again until I am going to give birth, so the strings are staying for me.

My threads have softened up and actually curve to the shape of my cervix so they are sort "part of me". less