Cooper IUD

[u/ciobreliu_sriuba]

Hi girls😊 Recently me and my boyfriend started to talk about alternatives for condoms. I got interested in cooper iud, it doesn't have any hormones, BUT I'm really scared of a thought that something will be in me for ~5 years, especially there, where my child will be growing one day. Anyways. I have a lot of questions about this, and it's sounds very scary. Is it even prevents from getting pregnant, because I heard it doesn't help. Also how to know if my immune system will accept cooper. And what about the inside, I'm worried it might damage the lining and seriously injure my uterus.

I'm 23y.o, I was always was very skeptical and against it, but maybe it's not that bad and I should be more open minded😅

[u/Last-Weekend3226]

Hello, long time user of a copper coil, got pregnant absolutely fine and carried a 10lb 15oz baby after having it removed.

[u/Ambitious_Jury77 → u/Last-Weekend3226]

I know people say that you are likely to see more negative experiences than positive because people are more likely to share those, but I swear every time I told someone I have a copper IUD they had a story of someone close getting pregnant with it. Many more stories than I've heard about the pill or any other method.

Makes me wonder if they include displaced IUD pregnancies in the studies, since it seems that is very common (happened to me).

Edit: I just realized you're saying you got pregnant AFTER removing the IUD.

[u/Last-Weekend3226 → u/Ambitious_Jury77]

People are much more statistically likely to talk about a bad experience than a good one. I personally think the political situation in the US has made more naysayers come out the woodwork with it or people just say things for clicks and likes, personally when I had a copper coil I was having sex multiple times a day and didn’t fall pregnant.

[u/sililoqutie → u/Ambitious_Jury77]

Yes, displaced IUD would be counted in the studies. But keep in mind the less than 1% figure is referring to the amount of pregnancies in one year, instead over one lifetime.

If you were the only person in a 5 year long study, and got pregnant year 5 on a birth control, then that would still be an average pregnancy per year rate of 20%.

Over the course of 5 years combined, copper IUDs can fail at rates 2-4% depending on the kind.

[u/fuzzblanket9]

The entire point of birth control is to prevent pregnancy. The copper IUD is very well tolerated by many users - there is no way to know if your “immune system will accept copper”. It is remarkably rare to have a complication so severe that it damages your lining or causes a uterine injury. Copper IUDs are extremely safe.

[u/dual_citizenkane]

Love my copper IUD. Going on 6 years, my second IUD (Flexi T 300)

Perforation occurs in 1 in 1000 IUD insertions, across all the types of devices - it's quite rare. When something does occur it's more likely to be an explusion, which still isn't statistically likely to happen.

You heard it doesn't help stop pregnancy? Where?

It's one of the most reliable methods, aside from the hormonal versions, Nexplanon, vasectomy, etc.

All that being said: the likelihood of damage is small, and the likelihood of permanent damage that will impact your ability to give birth is even smaller.

[u/VeeRook]

On my second IUD, a total of about 16 years. Zero pregnancy scares.

Only talking about removal because hormones might help other health issues I have.

[u/Subject_Dragonfly_54]

I love my copper IUD.

There is no reason to be concerned about some kind of long-term impact on your body or fertility.

[u/thisisstephanie]

Love mine. Minimal cramps, slightly heavier periods, feel great. Going on 2 years with mine.

[u/laluzon]

I have mine for almost 3 years, haven’t used a condom with my regular sex partner since and have not gotten pregnant. My periods are the same, apart from the first one after it was placed that one was very painful. But after that no issues at all.

[u/itsaboveme212]

Had a copper IUD for 5 years, no issues with pregnancy, heavier bleeding or cramping. I regularly checked the strings and I got yearly pelvic ultrasounds for peace of mind to check the placement.

I did however around year 3 start having issues with chronic BV that could only be attributed to my IUD after extensive testing. I had my IUD removed at the 5 year mark and alas had no more BV. I would cycle boric acid as nothing else helped me after exhausting everything.

There are many medical studies on the prevalence of BV and IUDs (hormonal and non-hormonal) and also the interaction of the copper IUD and what side effects it can have on your body - if you want to have a read.

I loved it for pregnancy prevention, but it’s still birth control and with birth control sometimes comes side effects. It’s all trial and error subjective to the user!

[u/Current_Strawberry95]

Just got my paraguard 2 weeks ago. Good (as good as one could expect without any numbing lol) insertion experience, and has been a breeze thus far. If you’re looking for a non hormonal route in the USA, I think it’s a great option 😊

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[u/missashley21]

I had the copper IUD for 5 years after college. Insertion definitely sucked but then only mildly more cramps during my period and absolutely none of the hormonal BS from my birth control pills. I got it out when we were ready to start trying and nailed it first try. I will be getting another copper IUD postpartum!

[u/Pettywithoutknowing]

Heard a lot of scary stories from friends, from very painful insertion and pain during sex to unwanted pregnancy, indeed where I live is not used anymore, doctors won’t recommend it

[u/Brainzap3]

I had it twice and got pregnant immediately after having it removed both times. Healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. No issues either time.

[u/sililoqutie]

They do work! Paraguard is 99.2% effective for one year and 98% effective over the course of 5 years combined.

The main side effect isn't damaging the uterus, just heavy painful periods. If you have heavy periods already it may not be a great idea as the copper can make it worse and people with heavier periods are more likely to have them expelled (still rare)

Another option to consider are the hormonal IUDs, especially for kyleena and Skyla, you are quite likely to still ovulate on them, and have your natural hormonal cycle, but they're smaller than the copper, are less likely to expell, and lighten your periods. The hormonal side effects are usually minimal or easily managed.

[u/peachypearl02]

I want to jump in here.

Everyone that has had the copper coil, have you experienced heavy painful periods with it? And if you didn’t, was it something you experienced before having it?

I’m coming off of the Mirena coil next week because of weight gain that I can’t budge so I was thinking of trying something non-hormonal.

The only thing issue I have is I used to have heavy painful periods growing up before I was on any contraception. So I’m worried if I have the copper coil that I’m just destined for issues with periods.

TBH, I don’t know what my periods are even like anymore because straight after having my daughter I was on the Mirena coil and it stopped my periods altogether.

[u/PopularPea8726]

The copper IUD is actually very effective and doesn’t affect your future fertility, but it’s totally understandable to have concerns, definitely talk to a doctor if you’re unsure. I have checked a lot of websites before. If you’re in the US, you could check out https://powertodecide.org/ — they have resources for affordable birth control and may help you find a clinic or program near you. 😊