The Copper IUD is a very popular form of birth control. There are various forms of birth control to choose from. Some are hormonal, some are non-hormonal. Often, women will choose the non-hormonal option of the copper IUD, but is it truly non-hormonal?
Today, we will be doing a deep-dive into everything you need to know about the copper IUD. I have several friends who love it, which is amazing! I am so happy they have done the research, weighed the risks and benefits, and made an informed decision.
When researching, I made the informed decision that the Copper IUD was simply not for me. The goal of writing this is that you would be able to make a decision for yourself, wisely rooted in the full picture of the information presented here.
We will go over what the copper IUD is, its pros and cons, and will also be taking a deep dive into how even though it is non-hormonal, it does in fact negatively effect your hormones.
What is the Copper IUD?
The Copper IUD is a T-shaped plastic material, wrapped in copper and inserted into the uterus. The copper creates an inflammatory reaction within the uterus, creating an unstable environment for a fertilized egg to implant in, as well as a toxic environment for sperm to swim through. It is extremely effective in preventing pregnancy (99%) and can last up to 10 years.
How Does the Copper IUD Work?
There are several different ways that the copper IUD works in preventing pregnancy. As stated above, the copper IUD creates an inflammatory response inside of the uterus.This inflammatory response boosts white blood cell production due to the body’s immune response to the inflammation in the uterus. As white blood cells will kill anything that is foreign to the body, they will kill sperm as they enter the uterus. This prevents eggs from being fertilized.
Copper also works to change the consistency of cervical mucus inside the body. As cervical mucus thickens, it prevents sperm motility, preventing sperm from even entering the uterus. Copper also acts like a spermicide, being toxic to sperm.
The copper IUD can also prevent an embryo from implanting in the uterus, due to the toxicity of the environment to both sperm and egg.
It also inhibits zinc production, which is key in aiding the body in progesterone production, which will also mess with the process of fertility.
Pros of the Copper IUD
Long-term Effectiveness
The Copper IUD can be an excellent choice for long-term pregnancy prevention, as it can last up to 10 years. For example, if parents decide they are done having kids, but do not want to do permanent sterilization, a woman can choose to get a copper IUD for her remaining fertile years.
Low-Stress Family Planning
It takes the stress out of contraceptive use, because there are no pills to take, and no condoms to pause and put on. It is inserted inside of a woman’s uterus until she decides to have a doctor remove it. Once removed, a couple can begin trying for pregnancy if they so choose. I personally do not recommend this due to the hormonal imbalances that should be addressed first. Please see below for more information.
It is Extremely Effective
It is so effective, in fact, that less than 1% of women with a Copper IUD will become pregnant each year. It can be the most effective type of birth control that there is.
It Does Not Necessarily Inhibit Ovulation
This is a big one, because ovulation is key for the health of the body. It helps with hormone regulation, as well as iron regulation through regular menstrual periods.
Cons of the Copper IUD
Uncomfortable Insertion
While there are many different experiences, many women speak of how uncomfortable the insertion process is, as well as the bleeding and cramping in days following insertion.
I personally have never had the copper IUD, so I cannot speak to this.
Increased Risk of Infection
Because this is a foreign object inside the vagina that causes inflammation, it can increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis.
Risk of uterine perforation
The risk for this is extremely small. 1 in 1000 women (0.1%) will experience this. Uterine perforation is what the copper IUD breaks the the wall of the uterus.
Heavy, Painful Periods
The copper IUD can create some intense and long-lasting periods. This is due to excesses now built up in the body as well as an inflamed uterus.
It creates Hormonal Imbalances
Yes, you heard me right. Though the copper IUD is non-hormonal, it ACTUALLY DOES CREATE HORMONAL IMBALANCES.
Let’s dive into that
How the Copper IUD Effects Hormones
I am going to break this down as simply as I can. When the copper IUD is inside the uterus, it releases copper ions and causes inflammation, as mentioned above. Minerals work with various other minerals inside of the body, and must be in balance. Unfortunately, the Copper IUD throws certain minerals- such as zinc an iron- out of balance.
For example, remember how I mentioned that the Copper IUD actually messes with zinc production? This in turn messes with progesterone production. Well, this can be an issue because this prevents strong ovulation from taking place. So, even though it does not directly inhibit ovulation, like the pill, it can still cause issues with ovulation, even though it is said to not do so by most doctors.
This means that the Copper IUD will mess with hormones in the body, and can still throw them out of whack even though it is “non-hormonal.”
Copper can also impact oxidative stress in the body, which will also impact hormones. This is because, even though the copper IUD can in fact last for up to 10 years, it will actually begin to corrode after 2 or 3 years. I am going to repeat that: even though the copper IUD can in fact last for up to 10 years, it will actually begin to corrode after 2 or 3 years. This is vital to be aware of because of what comes with this corrosion. This can lead to a plethora of health issues as this unbound copper becomes built up inside the body.
It is important to note that estrogen enjoys binding to copper. So, if there is excess copper inside of the body, this will also lead to estrogen build-up and dominance. This creates a ripple affect of thyroid issues, metabolic disorders, blood sugar disorders, and burn out. In other words, the copper IUD can easily lead to oxidative stress that breaks the body down over time.
Recap
The copper IUD can be an amazing choice for birth control if you want to have full confidence in preventing pregnancy. There are several pros, as well as several cons to getting it. Before making any final decisions, I would recommend checking out my other information on hormonal birth control here, and the fertility awareness method here. There are many different options available, and you get to make a fully informed decision on what is best for your body.
Want to learn more or are there some details I am missing? Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments. Remember, you get to be wisely rooted in your body’s innate intelligence and all of the decisions that you make for it.
