Can i take paragard out myself

Follow her on Instagram. We break down your options for birth control and how to get them, plus highlight some of the best free or low-cost providers in all 50 states and…. Many women experience cramping during IUD insertion and for a short time afterward. Here's what to expect from cramping, how to manage it, and more. When it comes to emergency contraception, there can be a lot of confusion.

Natural Cycles and other fertility awareness apps can be an effective way to prevent pregnancy. Our review explains what you need to know. There are alternatives. Thinking about using the birth control ring? Annovera is one of your options — here's how to decide whether it's right for you. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.

If you can, enlist someone you trust. Gather your supplies. Wash your hands thoroughly. For it to get past the cervix, its wings have to collapse in so it goes from looking like a T to looking like an I. We use a clamp, and we pull straight and down," Moritz says. Ross adds that in some cases doctors need to use ultrasound for guidance.

Using your fingers to latch on to the strings—which can curl up around the cervix , making them harder to reach— would be pretty tough. Plus, Moritz says that doctors are often cutting strings a little shorter these days for comfort reasons, which would make an IUD even harder to pull out on your own. Even if you do get ahold of the strings, your efforts could go awry.

In that case, you'd have to go see a doctor anyway. And if you did, you'd likely realize how simple the procedure is when done at the hands of a medical professional. Moritz concurs. Exam gloves can help improve traction on the strings, but are not essential. The patient grasps the IUD strings and pulls firmly towards the opening of the vagina. As the IUD moves out of the uterus, the patient likely will feel cramping.

Once the IUD is removed, it should be checked to ensure that it has no parts missing. Most patients have some spotting and cramping for up to a few days after removal, and they may get pregnant immediately after the IUD is removed if they have unprotected sex.

This will lower the chances of conception during fertile days. Also, if you decide to schedule your IUD removal at any time other than when you are on your period, talk to your healthcare provider about starting a new birth control method seven days before your IUD is removed.

This way, if you switched to a hormonal contraceptive , it will be working by the time your IUD is removed. This can all be done in one office visit as long as there are no complications. Just like during your IUD insertion, if needed, your healthcare provider may begin your IUD removal by determining the position of your uterus.

A speculum may be inserted to separate the walls of the vagina. In general, expect these steps:. Then your IUD removal is over. It really only takes a few minutes, and it is minimally painful. For most women, an IUD removal is usually a routine and uncomplicated procedure. But in some cases, your healthcare provider may not be able to locate your IUD strings. If this happens, it is most likely because your strings have slipped up into the cervical canal, which can occur if they were cut too short either when you had your IUD inserted or if you requested to have them shortened because your partner was able to feel them during sex.

But, even if your IUD strings were originally cut to the recommended length, this may still happen. Your healthcare provider may try to locate the strings by using an ultrasound. If they have slipped up into your cervical canal, your healthcare provider will try to gently pull them out of your cervix with narrow forceps, tweezers, or cotton-tipped swabs. Once the strings have been pulled out and into your vaginal canal, then the IUD removal will continue as mentioned above.

It may also be possible that the strings have gone up into the uterus. If this is the case, your healthcare provider may use a sound a measuring instrument or a sonogram to make sure that the IUD is still in the uterus and did not come out without you realizing it. If your IUD strings cannot be located, but your healthcare provider has confirmed that the IUD is still in place, your IUD can be removed from the uterus with forceps or tweezer-like clamps.

Don't worry, though. Your healthcare provider will be very careful to make sure that your uterus does not get injured during this process. Very rarely, an IUD may have become stuck in the uterine wall and it cannot easily be pulled out. Your healthcare provider can use different techniques, such as ultrasound, hysterography X-rays of the uterus after giving you a contrast medium , or hysteroscopy direct viewing of the uterus with a fiber-optic instrument to determine if this has taken place.

If your IUD is stuck in your uterus, your healthcare provider may have to dilate your cervix and use forceps to remove your IUD. If this happens during your IUD removal, it is very likely that your healthcare provider will give you a local anesthetic to help reduce any pain or discomfort. An IUD is removed during a pelvic exam. Your healthcare provider will use a tool to grasp the strings and gently pull out the IUD.