How To Have PIV Or Toy In V Sex With An IUD Inserted - Healthline

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Sexual Health

What to Expect from Penetrative Vaginal Sex When You Have an IUD

Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M.D. — Written by Simone Marie on June 8, 2021

When you can do it
Pain or discomfort
If you have a partner
Rough or deep sex
Sex toys
Post-sex bleeding
Signs to watch for
Takeaway

image of a torn pink condom wrapper on a pink bedsheet — Joanna Nixon/Stocksy United

IUDs are wonderful contraceptives. They’re more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, you don’t have to remember to take anything (like you do with a pill), and they work for years on end.

In other words: They can take some of your worries away about having an unplanned pregnancy — which can make penis-in-vagina sex more fun. They also won’t decrease your libido. Just remember, IUDs don’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If you’re new to IUDs, you probably have some questions about how they might impact sex — especially penetrative vaginal sex. No worries. We’ve got you covered with everything you’ve ever wanted to know.

You can have solo or partnered sex as soon as you want

For real. Once a qualified healthcare professional inserts the IUD, you can engage in sexual activity as soon as you want — unless you had it inserted within 48 hours of giving birth. Before you jump in, though, there are two things you should know.

First, you might have some spotting and cramping for a bit after the IUD is inserted. So, you might not feel up to sex right away. It’s probably a good idea to set expectations with your partner(s).

Second, you might not be protected against pregnancy right away, so you might want to use an alternative form of contraception for a bit — though how long will depend on what kind of IUD you had inserted.

ParaGard (the copper IUD) begins preventing pregnancy immediately. But hormonal IUDs are only effective right away if they were inserted within the first 7 days of your period. Otherwise, you’ll need to use an alternative form of contraceptive for a full 7 days.

It shouldn’t cause any pain or discomfort

You might feel some cramping and back pain for a few hours or days after the initial insertion. But that pain should go away relatively quickly.

After that, you shouldn’t feel your IUD at all. Not during your day-to-day or during any kind of sexual activity. And it definitely shouldn’t cause you any discomfort — no matter what kind of sexual activity you engage in.

If you have a partner, they probably won’t feel it either

The IUD is inserted into your uterus, not your vagina, so your partner won’t feel the device itself because your cervix blocks access to it.

Your IUD does have strings that hang down through your cervix into your vaginal canal. These can be felt when you— or a sexual partner — insert fingers into your vagina, but they shouldn’t be bothersome.

If your partner has a penis, it’s rare for them to feel the strings during vaginal sex. The healthcare professional who inserts your IUD will likely trim the strings to a less bothersome length during your appointment, and the mucus in your cervix will make them difficult to notice during intercourse.

That said, sometimes “the string can be felt by a penis if it’s a bit too long,” says Kimberly Langdon, MD, an OB-GYN based in Ohio. “If this is a persistent problem, then the string can be cut shorter.”

Just talk to your doctor or other healthcare professional at your next appointment, and they’ll adjust the length.

Rough or deep penetrative sex shouldn’t dislodge it

Remember, your IUD is in your uterus, not your vaginal canal, so even if you have rough or deep penetrative sex, your IUD should stay put in your uterus.

It is possible for an IUD to be expelled from your uterus, but penetrative sex isn’t what causes the expulsion.

Even with fingers, it’s actually pretty hard to pull an IUD out of place because the strings are slippery from your vaginal secretions. OB-GYNs don’t use their fingers to remove your IUD for this reason, opting instead for a specialized tool.

If your IUD is expelled, it’s more likely to come out during your period or a bowel movement. It’s more likely if you have heavy periods or severe cramps. Most expulsions happen within a few months of being inserted.

Your sex toy won’t dislodge it either

Just like a penis, most sex toys won’t latch onto slippery, thin strings.

The only exception, according to Langdon, would be if your sex toy has a hook-type end. Then it could theoretically pull your IUD out by the strings.

However, most toys don’t have this type of tip, and if they do, says Langdon, “they aren’t safe anyhow.” Hook-tipped sex toys could injure you.

If you bleed afterward, it likely isn’t cause for concern

It’s possible to experience irregular bleeding or spotting in the first 3 to 6 months after an IUD is placed, but this eventually stops.

This bleeding may occur after sexual activity, but it’s more likely to be a result of the IUD’s side effects than penetrative vaginal sex.

Still, if you experience bleeding frequently after sexual activity — especially if your IUD wasn’t recently inserted —give your local clinic a call. It’s possible that something else is causing your bleeding and treatment may be necessary.

Common causes of bleeding after sexual activity include:

inadequate lubrication
injury or tears in the vagina
sexually transmitted infection
pelvic inflammatory disease
cervical or endometrial polyps
cervical disease
vaginal atrophy

A healthcare professional can perform a physical check, make sure your IUD is still in place, and make sure you don’t have an underlying condition in need of treatment.

There are a few symptoms to watch for

If you experience persistent or severe pain during sexual activity, reach out to a healthcare professional right away. You should also give them a call if you experience any foul discharge or develop a fever or chills.

Pregnancy is rare if you have an IUD inserted, but not impossible. If you suspect you might be pregnant, take a pregnancy test and contact the healthcare professional who inserted your IUD immediately if the test comes back positive.

Having the IUD in as the pregnancy develops can cause severe complications including infection, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy, so talk with a doctor or other healthcare professional about removal, regardless of whether you plan to terminate the pregnancy.

The bottom line

Your IUD shouldn’t get in the way of your sex life: You shouldn’t be able to feel it, sex toys shouldn’t dislodge it, and it shouldn’t be bothersome to your partner(s). If anything, having an IUD should make partner sex more fun and ease some of your concerns about unwanted pregnancy.

Simone M. Scully is a writer who loves writing about all things health and science. Find Simone on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Boozalis A, et al. (2017). Sexual desire and hormonal contraception.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4764410/
Can a guy feel an IUD during sex? Can you get an IUD without parent permission? (2021).https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/ask-experts/can-a-guy-feel-an-iud-during-sex-can-you-get-an-iud-without-parent-permission
Langdon K. (2021). Personal interview.
Nelson AL, et al. (2016). New developments in intrauterine device use: Focus on the US. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683151/
Myths and facts about... the intra-uterine device (IUD). (2019).https://www.ippf.org/blogs/myths-and-facts-about-intra-uterine-devices
Tarney CM, et al. (2014). Postcoital bleeding: A review on etiology, diagnosis, and management https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4086375/
What's an IUD insertion like? (n.d.). https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud/whats-an-iud-insertion-like
Will my partner feel my IUD during sex? (2020).https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/will-my-partner-feel-my-iud-during-sex

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Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M.D. — Written by Simone Marie on June 8, 2021

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