after 4 months i no longer had a period. my side effects came on slowly over the next two years. i feel better when i go to the gym and drink lots of water. i have many symptoms now. i am miserable. i went to get mine removed and it is missing. i dont know if it got expelled. it is lost. i cannot afford to get an xray to find it. my body feels like i still have it. i definitely suggest for women to check their strings every month. i did not and have not gotten pregnant, so it worked for me that way. good luck and i hope it continues to work for you.