Is Your IUD Where Its Supposed to Be?

Okay, so it seems from your questions and emails that lots of you are interested in IUDs. Many you all have shared your IUD stories:

• Why Did You Pick IUD Use?
• What Was Your IUD Insertion or Removal Experience?

This makes me happy that there is so much interest about IUDs - which, by the way, are one of the most effective of all available contraceptives. For those of you who use IUDs, my question to you is... how do you know your IUD is still in place? Like with the pill (for example), if you take your pill around the same time everyday, chances are very high that it will be effective.

However, once you have your Mirena or ParaGard IUD inserted, how can you make sure that it, too, will be effective at preventing pregnancy? The answer rests with the IUD strings. The great news about IUDs is that they are practically maintenance-free, but this doesn't mean you are completely off the hook. You should be checking for your IUD strings because this is one of the ONLY ways that you can determine if your IUD is still there (hasn't fallen out) or whether or not it may have moved out of its proper position.

• I Can't Feel My IUD Strings... Should I Be Worried?

_{Photo Courtesy of T. Fein}