When most people think of birth control, the first contraceptive method that comes to mind is the birth control pill. Certainly, the pill revolutionized reproductive health (and women’s health, too) when it received FDA approval back in 1960. But today, there are lots of other contraceptive options, too, including some even more effective and more convenient than oral contraceptives.
DeShawn Taylor, MD, MSc, FACOG, and the team at Desert Star Institute for Family Planning understand the importance of selecting a contraceptive that works with a woman’s lifestyle and personal preferences. In this post, Dr. Taylor offers a brief overview of copper and hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) to help you decide if one of these options is a good choice for you.
IUDs are small, T-shaped devices that work by inhibiting fertilization. The device is inserted into your uterus via your cervix. A long “tail” hangs down into your vaginal canal, making it easy to ensure the device is in place before sex.
Inserting an IUD is performed right in our office and takes just a few minutes. Your visit begins in a similar way as a pelvic exam: You’ll lie back on the exam table with your feet in the supports while Dr. Taylor inserts a speculum into your vagina. She gently widens your vaginal canal, then inserts the IUD device using a special instrument.
You might feel a little camping during placement, but it’s typically mild, and it goes away soon afterward. Once the IUD is in place, you won’t be able to feel it, and neither will your partner — yet it keeps on working to prevent pregnancy without any intervention on your part. The device remains effective for years, and when it “expires,” it can be removed and replaced with a new IUD during a simple office visit.
Although IUDs look similar, they can be divided into two basic types: hormonal and copper. Both prevent pregnancy, but they do it in different ways.
Hormonal IUDs release a hormone called progestin slowly over time. Progestin works in a few important ways: first, by thickening the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for sperm to enter your uterus, and second, by thinning your uterine lining so an egg can be implanted. Progestin also inhibits ovulation, preventing an egg from leaving your ovary so it can’t be fertilized by a sperm cell.
Hormonal IUDs last 3-8 years, depending on your chosen brand. If you decide to get pregnant within that time, you can have the IUD removed whenever you like.
If you have very heavy periods or very painful period cramps, hormonal IUDs help relieve these symptoms, as well. And, of course, they’re very effective in preventing pregnancy — more than 99% effective.
Copper IUDs are also more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but instead of using hormones, they use copper.
As it turns out, sperm cells do not like copper. Copper affects how sperm move, making it almost impossible for sperm cells to reach an egg. Copper also acts like a spermicide, making the uterus an inhospitable environment for sperm cells.
Only one brand of copper IUD is available in the US, and it lasts 12 years. Like a hormonal IUD, you can have your copper IUD removed before that time if you decide to become pregnant or if you want to use a different type of contraception.
One interesting note: Copper IUDs can also be used as an emergency form of “morning-after” birth control when inserted within five days of unprotected sex. Planned Parenthood lists them as the most effective form of emergency contraception when implanted within those five days.
Both hormonal and copper IUDs are more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, and both use a “set-it-and-forget-it” approach for maximum convenience. The primary differences are the length of time they remain effective and how they work: For women who want to avoid hormones, the copper IUD is the obvious better choice. On the other hand, women with heavy or painful periods may prefer hormonal IUDs.
IUDs are an extremely convenient type of birth control, but they’re not the only option to help prevent pregnancy. To learn about our options, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Taylor and the team at Desert Star Family Planning in Phoenix, Arizona, today.
