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Original poster

Coil not found

36 replies

JKaterine · 26/04/2023 19:07

hi, feeling very anxious ! got the mirena coil after my second child, about 2 years later i went back to the clinic as I could not feel the strings, they done a scan and assured me that although it has moved higher it was fine so carried on, just went to a smear test today and the nurse was quite concerned that nothing is visible and advise me to get a scan done again as it is not normal, she seemed very alarmed by it , mixed messages here by proffesionals, recently my back has started hurting and boobs are painful but no other worrying symptons, feeling very anxious about it all now, will go to the clinic asap but wanted to know has this happened to anyone else ? Sad

OP posts:
iamnottoofatiamjusttooshort · 26/04/2023 19:43

Do a pregnancy test if that's a possibility

Go to your GP and ask for referral for internal USS to locate non visible IUD

Hopefully it's either there with short strings or gone down the toilet - which is more common than you realise

caringcarer · 26/04/2023 20:35

My sister got pregnant on the coil. It came out with the afterbirth. My sister said it was very embarrassing.

bobby81 · 26/04/2023 20:40

Mine moved & was in a position where it wasn't providing effective contraception. I had it removed & didn't have another one because I didn't feel I could trust it.

Original poster
JKaterine · 26/04/2023 20:43

Wow ! I just assumed since the scan was done about 6/7 months ago i assumed it was all fine but todays discussion with the nurse during my smear test really through me on a loop there so really started making me question it and look at my pains recently! I hope this is all in my head !

My GP are a nightmare if I ask for an appoitment I would probably be waiting more than a month for it, will go to a walk in sexual health clinic tomorrow and see what they suggest, Nurse also mentioned that if coil moved they should have really taken it out and offered to replace with a new one for reassurance, it's just made me very anxious.

OP posts:
MotherofPearl · 26/04/2023 20:50

I had a Mirena coil that got 'lost' inside. I had to have a scan too, so that they could find it, and then had it removed in hospital by a specialist. Hmm Never had another one after that.

Hotfootgoose · 26/04/2023 20:51

I’m living proof you can get pregnant when a coil goes awol. I was born next to my coil twin.

dementedpixie · 26/04/2023 20:53

My strings couldn't be seen or felt so I had a scan and xray. It was still in place so it was just left there until it expired. Had to get it removed under general anaesthetic though.

If the strings have gone into the uterus then there won't be anything for the nurse to see.

youhavenoidea123 · 26/04/2023 20:54

Mine got lost, presumed fell out after scans and an X-ray couldn't find it.

roofa · 26/04/2023 20:55

can i ask why you needed GA? My coil strings have gone into my uterus and they’ve confirmed it’s still in place by US but you’ve just made me panic about it’s removal 🙀

dementedpixie · 26/04/2023 20:58

roofa · 26/04/2023 20:55

can i ask why you needed GA? My coil strings have gone into my uterus and they’ve confirmed it’s still in place by US but you’ve just made me panic about it’s removal 🙀

The nurse couldn't get it out and a trip to the gynae department also failed to get it out. They then referred me to get a hysteroscopy under GA and they removed it that way

roofa · 26/04/2023 21:00

Yikes, that sounds terrible. Do you know why they did GA rather than a spinal?

KingsArmy · 26/04/2023 21:06

I also had a GA to retrieve my lost coil. They found it on scan but nowhere to be seen on examination, it had travelled much further up then it was meant to and embedded itself. Not had another one after that.

Original poster
JKaterine · 26/04/2023 21:07

MotherofPearl · 26/04/2023 20:50

I had a Mirena coil that got 'lost' inside. I had to have a scan too, so that they could find it, and then had it removed in hospital by a specialist. Hmm Never had another one after that.

was this painful?

OP posts:
autumnboys · 26/04/2023 21:09

I had a Mirena that went hiding. Nurse couldn’t find it, GP couldn’t find it. Consultant was able to locate and remove after a rummage. Not much fun though.

MotherofPearl · 26/04/2023 21:11

It wasn't painful but it was unpleasant and uncomfortable.

MotherofPearl · 26/04/2023 21:13

I am surprised by how common this is. It feels like this issue should be something women are warned about before getting the coil.

peachespeachespeaches · 26/04/2023 21:22

MotherofPearl · 26/04/2023 21:13

I am surprised by how common this is. It feels like this issue should be something women are warned about before getting the coil.

Why would they? Women don't matter 🤷🏻‍♀️

Dizzywizz · 26/04/2023 21:23

It is something you are told before having it, I have had 3 and was told of the risks each time, and they give you a leaflet / literature as well.

MapofVenice · 26/04/2023 21:24

A woman recently was on the news as she was told her coil had gone missing for decades but had unexplained fertility issues. Eventually in her 40s they found the coil, this was the reason she ‘couldn’t’ have children - she believed all the scans it wasn’t there. Awful.

Mumma · 26/04/2023 21:28

This happened to me. The strings were gone. I had an appointment and they basically said it is there but its moved and it will either stay put or make its way out. I had it removed as the uncertainty wasnt good for me! They used a tool to scoop the strings down

MotherofPearl · 26/04/2023 21:31

Dizzywizz · 26/04/2023 21:23

It is something you are told before having it, I have had 3 and was told of the risks each time, and they give you a leaflet / literature as well.

I had mine fitted in 2012, so I can't remember exactly what my GP said in terms of risks, but she was quite evangelical about the benefits in terms of effective contraception and in some cases, stopping your periods altogether. I am pretty sure she didn't mention the possibility of the coil getting lost inside, and the problems that could cause. But as I say, it was more than 10 years ago now.

ginsparkles · 26/04/2023 22:30

I Also had a mirena that couldn't be located, and once it was it could be removed without a lot of pain. So it was removed under GA by a consultant. That was my last mirena. Not a fan of them!

BettyBoopy · 26/04/2023 22:36

This thread has absolutely put me off getting the coil.

Scutterbug · 26/04/2023 23:58

My sister had one that disappeared. It appeared when she gave birth…

RoxieMariee23 · 20/08/2023 19:45

I’m sorry this seems off topic but I had my merina coil put in three weeks ago and I’ve had crippling migraines and stabbing cramps in my left ovary since. Does this die down because I don’t know if I can stick this out for 6months like some feeds have said. Xx I hope you managed to get some answer! X