Can a loop fall off on its own?

Like any other day, you are busy with your household work or NY other work and suddenly realize a hefty little thing is coming out from your vagina on its own. You will feel very uneasy and afraid but you won’t have any pain stomachache or heavy bleeding. You did not do anything. You were just walking, doing your stuff, happy and busy. And suddenly, out of nowhere, you just feel something is coming out. You may be scared and confused. You wait till it comes out fully and you feel relaxed and then check your pants. You will be surprised to see a long string-like structure with a plastic head along with some blood cloth in your underwear. This is a loop or a copper-T wire used to prevent pregnancy. It is an Intrauterine device and is a type of contraceptive method. In this article, I will tell u all about IUDs, their function, and how to react if it falls or moves away from the vagina or its original position. I will also share my personal experience of my loop falling out on its own. If you want to know more about contraceptive devices and birth control methods, please read this article. Birth Control Methods.

What is a Loop or a Copper wire?

Also known as intrauterine devices, these are very effective in preventing pregnancies. There are 90 percent chance of not getting pregnant if you have an IUD inserted in your vagina by your doctor or by a professional nurse. There are 3 types of IUDs with almost the same shape, function, and size. They have plastic frames in the shape of T or curves and they open up once they get inside your vagina. They also have two strings attached at the bottom of the plastic frame for the doctors to remove it easily and for you to check monthly if it is in its correct place if it’s coming down or if it has moved away from its original position. They prevent the sperm from fusing with the egg and fertilizing it by releasing some hormones inside your vagina that kill the sperms that enter the vagina. So the egg that is released from the ovaries normally doesn’t get fertilized and you get your periods monthly without any problem.

Advantages of IUDs:-

• It is long-lasting and very low in cost.
• Once inserted you can keep it for 3 to 10 years.
• You can remove it anytime you want.
• You don’t have to worry about using condoms or taking birth control pills daily or monthly.
• You can have sex without any pain, discomfort, or fear of getting pregnant.
• They are 90 percent effective in preventing pregnancy than any other contraceptive methods.
• You won’t feel anything like there is an IUD inserted and you can be relaxed and do all your work without hesitating.

Disadvantages Of IUDs:-

• It may trigger your menstrual cycles. You may have heavy bleeding and cramps during periods.
• There is a small chance of getting pregnant if the IUD moves from its original position.
• There is a chance of getting an infection inside your vagina if the IUD is not placed correctly or if it has moved from its position in the vagina.
• High-risk pregnancy or complications in pregnancy if the pregnancy occurs with an IUD placed in the vagina.
• Ectopic pregnancy or abortion if you conceive with the IUD still in place.
• It can be a bit painful when your doctor inserts or removes it from your vagina.
• Changes in your menstrual cycle. Your periods might become irregular.
• A feeling of uneasiness, uncomfortable, or irritation in your vagina.

Why will an IUD Fall off?

• If you are obese or overweight.
• If you have very heavy menstrual bleeding.
• If your IUD is placed right after vaginal delivery or c-section.
• If you have inserted an IUD at a young age or under 20.
• If you have more c-sections or children.
• If you are breastfeeding.
• If the IUD doesn’t fit properly in your uterus.

Treatment after an IUD falls off:-

• If your IUD falls off on its own without any pain, then there is no need for any treatment.
• It’s always a better idea to get an abdomen and an internal scan done after your IUD falls off.
• Your doctor will tell you to do an abdomen scan test to see if the loop has come out completely. Sometimes, even after the loop falls off, a small part of the loop may still be inside your vagina and if that part is still inside, it may get infected.

My story:-

After my first pregnancy, I didn’t plan to go for a loop as a contraceptive method. We opted for condoms, as they are safe, readily available, and don’t cause any uneasiness. But still, they are not always protective. Sometimes, they may even tear off during intercourse and some are already damaged in the packet. So there are chances of the sperm getting inside the vagina. At that time, we take emergency contraceptive pills to prevent pregnancy. And some condom brands can cause some infection in the vagina due to the delicate skin. I suffered a lot due to urinary tract infections for months. They come every month and go away when I take treatment tablets for my infection. I used to get abdominal pain, irritation in my vagina, and the urge to urinate very often along with white cloudy discharge. This all stopped automatically when I stopped using condoms and we started to plan our pregnancy after 3 years of my first delivery.

Thatswhy during our second pregnancy, we planned to go for a loop. My doctor also suggested me to opt for a 5-year loop as we didn’t want to plan another pregnancy before 5 years of our second baby. However, I was not so positive about this loop as I have heard many women complaining that after inserting the loop, they faced many health problems. However, my doctor suggested that a loop is the only accurate and efficient way of preventing pregnancy. Since it causes a little pain in the vagina while inserting, my doctor inserted it during my c-section delivery. So that I don’t feel the pain.

After my discharge from the hospital, I felt some uneasiness in my vagina. I felt like something was there and it was very uncomfortable. When I told my gynecologist about it, she told me not to worry and that I would feel uncomfortable only sometimes and not all the time. After a few days, I felt normal again like there is nothing like a loop inside my vagina. It took me one month to feel normal again. I didn’t have any pain in my abdomen, my periods were regular, and I almost forgot that I had a loop inside. After 8 months of my delivery, a shocking incident happened to me.

Just like every month, I got my period a little earlier than the previous date. And every time, I bleed heavily for the first 2 days. This month too I bled heavily on the first day. On the second day, at night around 9 pm, I started feeling something in my vagina that was slowly coming out. At first, I thought it would be the blood cloth that we women most often get in period. But I never felt this way before. So as soon as it came out, I checked my pad instantly. I was shocked to see a T-shaped loop with blood and blood clots. I was frightened for a second because I thought this was not at all normal and maybe some part of the loop was still inside and it would get infected. I called my doctor, but she didn’t pick up. So I sent her a message and a photo of that loop that came out. I called my mom to find out if something like this ever happened to her or any of the family members. But nothing like this ever happened to anyone I know. I wanted to go to the doctor but since it was late at night, the gynecologist that I know will not be available at that time.

Thankfully my gynecologist replied after 2 hours. She said she was sick and would not be available for the next 5 days. She told me to do an abdomen scan and send her the reports. The next day, in the evening we went to another gynecologist. She also told me to do an abdomen scan, blood test, thyroid test, and an internal scan to see if the loop has come out fully or if some part is still left behind. All my reports were normal. But I had light signs of PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian disease). Since it was very mild, my doctor did not give me any tablets. She also asked me if I wanted another loop. But after this incident, I was totally afraid of loops and copper T-wires. So we used other contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy.