Lost coil? Find it, fast.
Can't feel your coil threads, or worried it's moved? A quick pelvic ultrasound confirms exactly where your coil is — with the answer explained on the day, a written report, and removal or replacement arranged in-house if you need it.
Know where your coil is
It's a common worry — you go to check your coil threads and can't feel them, or they feel different, and you're left wondering whether it's still doing its job. A pelvic ultrasound settles it quickly and clearly.
A consultant sonographer carries out an external and internal scan to confirm your coil is present and correctly positioned, and to rule out displacement, expulsion or perforation. If anything needs sorting, we can arrange removal or replacement in-house.
Based in Penarth, just outside Cardiff — with same-week appointments and your answer on the day.
A clear answer
A quick, non-invasive pelvic ultrasound that checks your coil and the structures around it.
Coil position
Exactly where your coil is sitting.
Coil presence
Confirms the coil is still in place.
Displacement
Whether it has moved out of position.
Expulsion
Whether it has partly or fully come out.
Perforation
The rare case where it has passed through the wall.
Uterus & lining
A look at the womb and endometrium.
Ovaries
Checked at the same time for reassurance.
Written report
Findings on the day, with images to keep.
Reasons to book this scan
How to prepare
- For the external scan, drink 1.5 pints of water in the hour before your appointment and do not empty your bladder.
- For the internal scan, empty your bladder just beforehand — this gives the clearest view of your coil.
- Eat normally. No fasting or special preparation is needed.
- No cycle timing required. Book whenever suits you — a coil check can be done at any point in your cycle.
A female chaperone is always present for transvaginal scans. If you'd rather have the external scan only, choose that option when you book.
Your appointment, step by step
Book online
Self-refer online or by phone — no GP referral needed. Most women are seen the same week.
Meet your sonographer
A quick chat about your coil and what's worrying you, then the scan is planned.
The scan
A short external and internal ultrasound to locate your coil, with a chaperone present throughout.
Answer & next steps
You'll know on the day. If removal or replacement is needed, we can arrange it in-house.
Your scan, in expert hands
Your scan is carried out by one of our consultant sonographers, who explains what they find on the day.
Ms Sophie Wong
Ms Tamsin Davies
One simple price
Lost coil location scan
- External + internal pelvic ultrasound
- Confirms your coil's position on the day
- Written report and digital images
- Removal or replacement arranged in-house if needed
Fast, reassuring, close to home
Consultant sonographers
Your scan is performed by a consultant sonographer who explains what they find.
Answer on the day
No anxious wait — you'll know where your coil is before you leave.
In-house removal
If your coil needs removing or replacing, we can arrange it here at Penarth.
HIW regulated
Care held to high clinical standards, with a chaperone always present.
Need it removed or replaced?
If your coil has moved, we can remove or replace it here — and we also fit Mirena, copper coils and the Nexplanon implant.
Lost coil scan questions
What is a lost coil location scan?
It's a pelvic ultrasound that confirms whether your coil (IUD or IUS) is present and correctly positioned in your womb. It's used when you can't feel your threads or think the coil may have moved.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. This is a self-referral scan — you can book directly online or by phone, with no GP letter needed.
How does the scan find the coil?
Ultrasound shows the coil clearly within the womb. An external scan gives an overview and an internal (transvaginal) scan gives the closest, most detailed view of its exact position. Together they confirm whether it's correctly placed, displaced, expelled or, rarely, has perforated the wall.
What happens if my coil has moved or come out?
You'll know on the day. If your coil needs removing or replacing, we can arrange it in-house — see our coil & implant clinic. If a coil has fully come out, you may not be protected, so use additional contraception until you're seen.
Should I use extra contraception in the meantime?
Yes — until the scan confirms your coil is correctly in place, it's sensible to use additional contraception, such as condoms, to be safe.
Is the internal scan painful?
It's mildly uncomfortable rather than painful. The probe is narrow, gently inserted, and used with a sterile cover and lubricant. You can ask us to stop at any point.
Will the clinician be female?
Tell us when you book and we'll do what we can to arrange it. A female chaperone is present for every internal (transvaginal) scan regardless.
How quickly can I be seen, and where?
Most appointments are available within days at our Penarth clinic — 13 Washington Buildings, Stanwell Road, Penarth CF64 2AD, 10 minutes from Cardiff with free street parking.
Our Penarth clinic
Penarth
13 Washington Buildings, Stanwell Road,
Penarth, CF64 2AD
Settle the worry
Self-refer for a coil location scan in Penarth, near Cardiff — consultant sonographer-led, same-week, with your answer explained on the day.