Mirena strings - too short?

[WhereAreWeNow]

Hi
I had a mirena coil fitted about 10 days ago. The initial cramping and bleeding has calmed down and all seems to be well. Except I can't feel the strings!
I tried checking for the first time yesterday and couldn't feel them at all. I tried again today and I think I can just about feel a bit of string but it's very short... Just a tiny bit (a couple of mm) poking out of my cervix. Is that normal? I thought it was meant to be a couple of centimetres. Do I need to go back to the clinic?

Mine are the same.

My GP used to cut mine deliberately short. Why do you need to feel the strings? Genuine query.

I never felt mine despite a few attempts, no issues with it coming out at all!

I have the copper one and I can't feel my strings, had it in 6 days ago

@Unreasonabubble

My GP used to cut mine deliberately short. Why do you need to feel the strings? Genuine query.

I was told you were supposed to check the strings occasionally to check it's still in the right place.

Thanks everyone. That's really reassuring. @Unreasonabubble the nurse told me I should check the strings once a month to make sure they're still there. I've checked online and that seems to be standard advice.

Gosh! Maybe things have changed over time. I had my first Mirena Coil 26 years ago. I never was told to check, all I was told was if my DH felt them to come back.

Are you not booked in for a check? When I had mine I was automatically booked a check a month or so after insertion to double check the position but to answer you question mine are the same. When I went back for said check, they said my strings were short and I would most likely not be able to feel them. I've had it for 4 years now and I've never attempted to check. Fortunately for me, both times I've had it, the Mirena has stopped my periods totally so I would know if had fallen out or became less effective as my periods would likely come back.

When I had my very first Mirena years ago I was never told to check, I didn't even know it was a thing at that point! I had that one at the gp's surgery and second at the sexual health clinic, not sure if that made a difference.

I can't feel the strings of mines either. It's still there 3 years later and I'm not pregnant so guessing it's still in the correct place

Previous coil fitter here. The strings should be left long enough that you can check them monthly. Normally should be left around 1-2cm. She fitter should advise you to check monthly. You would be shocked at the amount of women I used to see what would come in because it was due a change / checked / couldn't feel strings and the coil had come out. Please check monthly.

I have never been able to feel mine - not sure if it’s because of how I am - they sometimes struggle to fit it and to take it out, I think I have a tilted cervix? I have had i think 5 overall. Surely you would know if it had come out? Wouldn’t you see it? !

Im on my 4th and have never felt the strings or checked or been advised to.

@usernamenumber636274 no, there doesn't seem to be an automatic check up. The nurse just said to come back if it came out or if i was in a lot of pain.

@mightbeyesmightbeno so is it OK if it just feels like a couple of millimeters poking out? I was expecting it to be more like a couple of centimetres. Will they still be able to get it out when the time comes if the strings are so short?

@WhereAreWeNow yes as long as you can feel them that's fine. Most people that lose them don't know they have come out as often happens in the bath or when on the loo and they simply disappear without noticing.

Obviously the vast majority of people never have issues with them coming out. I just mean the small amount of people that do.

So as long as you can feel them that's fine. And a few mm will be enough to get it out when the time comes, don't worry.

Thanks @mightbeyesmightbeno that's really reassuring. I've been really worried about it and wondering if I need to go back to the clinic. Other than worrying about the strings, so far the mirena has been great. Much better than I expected.

Not to be indelicate, but I can't find mine unless I'm fully squatting down. They also move around a bit, sometimes on the left and sometimes on the right, so I have to do a bit of a swirl to find them sometimes. It is extremely undignified

@noodlezoodle totally normal for them to move around - sometimes if they are quite long they actually wraparound the cervix.