Guide

IUD Fell Out or Moved? Here's What to Do

Quick Answer

If your IUD has been expelled or moved out of place and you've had unprotected sex, you need emergency contraception immediately. IUD expulsion removes your pregnancy protection entirely. Take EC and see a healthcare provider to confirm IUD status.

Signs Your IUD May Have Moved

Watch for these signs: - **You can feel the IUD** - Plastic at your cervix or vaginal opening - **Strings feel different** - Longer, shorter, or absent - **During your period** - You found the IUD - **Pain or discomfort** - New cramping or pain during sex - **Changed bleeding patterns** - Unexpected heavy bleeding If you notice any of these, check with a healthcare provider.

What to Do Right Now

If you think your IUD has moved:

Don't try to reinsert it yourself - This can cause injury
Take EC if you've had sex - Protection was compromised
Use backup contraception - Condoms until IUD status is confirmed
Schedule a provider visit - They can check IUD placement
Bring the IUD if you have it - Helpful for your provider to see

Emergency Contraception Options

Both Postinor and Mifestad work well if your IUD has been expelled:

- Choose based on timing since unprotected sex
- If within 24 hours: Either option is highly effective
- If 48-72 hours: Mifestad preferred
- If 72-120 hours: Mifestad is your only pill option

Note: If you had a copper IUD for emergency contraception, a new one can potentially be inserted as EC replacement.

After Taking EC

After addressing the immediate concern:

1. Confirm IUD status - Healthcare provider should check placement or confirm expulsion
2. Discuss replacement - You can get a new IUD inserted
3. Consider alternatives - If this isn't your first expulsion, discuss other methods
4. Pregnancy test - Take one in 3 weeks if your period doesn't come

Reducing Future Expulsion Risk

While expulsion can't always be prevented, you can:

- Check your strings monthly (after each period)
- Know the warning signs
- Attend follow-up appointments
- Report any unusual symptoms promptly

Note: If you've had multiple expulsions, you may want to consider a different contraceptive method.

IUD issues? Get EC delivered fast while you arrange a provider visit.

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What this guide means in practice

Real situations are messier than the textbook examples in medication leaflets. A condom that broke, a missed pill day, a contraceptive injection that was scheduled too late, an IUD that came out — each is a valid reason to consider emergency contraception, and each comes with its own timing pressure and follow-up questions.

These situation guides are designed to start where you are. They acknowledge the specific event that caused you to look up EC in the first place and then walk through what to do next: how to estimate the time since the event, which product is most appropriate for that window, how to source it quickly in Metro Manila or the provinces, and what to track in the days that follow.

The goal is to keep one decision from spiraling into a stack of unfamiliar choices. Once you know which product fits your timing and your location, the rest of the process — ordering, receiving the medication, and confirming with a pregnancy test if needed — becomes much more straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you found the IUD outside your body or can feel the hard plastic (not just strings) at your cervical opening, it has likely been expelled. A healthcare provider can confirm with an exam or ultrasound.

No, never try to reinsert an IUD yourself. This can cause infection or injury. If the IUD has moved, it needs to be properly removed and replaced by a healthcare provider.

Expulsion is more common in the first few months after insertion, during periods, and in people who haven't been pregnant. Sometimes there's no identifiable cause. The expulsion rate is about 2-10%.

Yes, you can try another IUD. However, if you've had multiple expulsions, your provider may suggest a different type of IUD or an alternative contraceptive method.

How Ruth Health supports this decision

Ruth Health was built around the practical realities of emergency contraception in the Philippines. That means treating timing seriously, offering discreet same-day delivery in Metro Manila, and ensuring the right product is dispatched for the patient's situation — including provincial delivery windows where Mifestad's longer effectiveness window matters.

Every order goes through a brief, evidence-based intake. When a clinician should weigh in — for example, when a patient is breastfeeding, on enzyme-inducing medications, or unsure about the time elapsed — that review happens before dispatch. Packaging is unbranded, delivery is tracked, and follow-up support is available through chat for as long as it is helpful.

When the situation has urgent components — severe pain, heavy bleeding, possible sexual assault, or signs of serious health issues — the recommendation is always to seek immediate care at a hospital or clinic, with EC support continuing alongside that care rather than replacing it.

Medical Sources

WHO Emergency Contraception Fact Sheet
FDA labeling for levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate
ACOG guidance on emergency contraception
Peer-reviewed studies where noted in Ruth content

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