There are many methods of contraception that women can use, The IUD is one of the basic and important methods of contraception so that it is implanted inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are different types, including the copper IUD, so what is the copper IUD? What are its benefits and risks? Details are in the following:
What is the copper IUD?
The copper IUD is a piece of copper that is placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy by preventing sperm from reaching the egg.
The copper IUD is placed in the uterus and lasts for 12 years. It is used by all women regardless of whether they have children or not, except for some medical conditions.
Copper IUD benefits
The copper IUD is one of the most effective forms of birth control with a one-year failure rate of about 0.7%, in addition to other benefits, including:1. It does not prevent ovulation, and this advantage is the biggest compared to hormonal methods, as the importance of ovulation is to maintain the balance of the hormones progesterone and estrogen in the body.
2. It continues to be used for 12 consecutive years without any complications.
3. It is one of the least expensive contraceptives.
4. Pregnancy occurs immediately after removal and does not affect fertility.
5. It is safe to use during breastfeeding.
Who should not use the copper IUD?
Many women resort to using the copper IUD because of its great effectiveness in preventing pregnancy and for a long time, but there are some cases that they should not use, including:1. Having STIs, such as chlamydia.
2. pregnant women.
3. Women with cancer of the uterus or cervix.
4. Having a pelvic infection after childbirth, or that the woman has miscarried during the past three months.
5. Women who have had breast cancer.
6. Women who are allergic to copper.
What are the side effects of using the copper IUD?
- frequent bleeding.
- Stronger menstruation, which can lead to anemia.
- cramps.
- vaginitis.
- vaginal discharge.
What are the Complications of a Copper IUD?
There are some health Complications with the copper IUD, including:
- The copper IUD slips or moves out of place, increasing the chance of fertilization.
- Disturbances in the period, such as: menstruation becoming heavier and lasting longer, and the pain and contractions during the period may be more powerful.
- Infections and scars inside the uterus may cause infertility in the future if left untreated.
How to install the Copper IUD?
The installation of the Copper IUD takes only a few minutes, and does not require anesthesia, and the installation steps are as follows:
- The woman lies down on the vaginal examination chair, which is the same as the birthing chair.
- Examination of the vagina and the size of the uterus by the doctor, by opening the vagina with an instrument and revealing what it contains.
- Inserting the IUD into the uterus easily and fixing its position in the uterus, and this insertion is done after making sure that the uterus is free of any infections.