# Lady Dopers: Experience with copper IUDs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748 "2011-02-17T21:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/22 "2011-02-20T18:28:07Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > The copper T is awesome because it is extremely effective, requires no maintenance, and uses no hormones. I’m sure my daughter will be along sooner or later to correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the ‘no maintenance’ thing is a primary reason she chose it. Unlike the pill, you don’t have to remember it, and you don’t have to have it refilled! A couple of years prior to my hysterectomy, I actually looked into getting an IUD. But my OB/GYN said that because of my history of C-sections, I’d be high-risk for uterine rupture, so he wouldn’t give me one. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/23 "2011-02-20T21:11:20Z")
I got a Paragard specifically because it was hormone-free. I just don’t believe in messing with your normal hormone balance. (Just my HO, fine what other women want to do). Just got it out after 10 years and am considering another! ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/24 "2011-02-20T21:31:56Z")
Whoops, wrong thread. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/25 "2011-02-21T04:19:32Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > **Freudian Slit** - even taking the hormones out of the equation, I find the IUD to be preferable. I never have to remember to take a pill, I never have to get a prescription refilled, etc. There’s nothing to worry about! The only thing I miss about the pill is knowing exactly when my period would start. > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > **Freudian Slit** , the answer to your question, at least from my POV, is desperation. The most important function of contraceptives to me is regulating my cycle, which is totally out of whack otherwise. I went through a bunch of different pills before getting desperate enough to risk the IUD. And I _still_ regret it. > > From what I understand it’s much easier for women who have had children. A lot of them get it inserted immediately after the delivery of their kid so it’s like nothing compared to giving birth. That does make sense…I guess I’m just a really scaredy cat about the pain factor. Though I guess if you’ve had kids it’s probably different. I’ve just heard all these horrible descriptions of how bad the pain is and the mere mention of an IUD makes me want to clench my legs together. Are they very reliable once in? I also feel like I hear tons of stories about them failing but again, I know anecdote doesn’t equal data… ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/26 "2011-02-21T10:41:37Z")
> [@Freudian Slit](#): > > the mere mention of an IUD makes me want to clench my legs together. Well, in that case, you don’t _need_ an IUD. You just need to _think_ of one every time you’re tempted to Do the Nasty. There’s yer birth control right there! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/27 "2011-02-21T15:59:34Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Well, in that case, you don’t _need_ an IUD. You just need to _think_ of one every time you’re tempted to Do the Nasty. There’s yer birth control right there! 😛 Good idea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/28 "2011-02-21T16:09:04Z")
Can’t believe I’m responding to this thread but I wanted say that my wife had an IUD for 5 years and never had a period. Now she doesn’t have one and has regular periods. Everyone in this thread is talking aobut their periods though. What do I not understand here? ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/29 "2011-02-21T16:23:11Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Not quite sure if this query is directed at me. . . > If it is, I have no idea why she got the copper IUD as opposed to another type; I do know that IUD’s like Mirena are marketed to women who’ve already given birth, and some doctors won’t put hormone-infused IUD’s in women who have not given birth. Don’t know why. But I do know my daughter’s never been pregnant. Weird. It’s true that the Mirena literature seems pretty targeted to the “already have children” women (IMO, at least), they can and are available to women who haven’t already given birth as well. I should know, I am one. I was \*very \*interested in getting one, but was leery since all the literature I could find was heavy on the “you’ve already had kids” side and I don’t have any. But when I spoke with my doctor, she said that while implantation can be more difficult with women who’ve never given birth, there’s really no reason such a woman can’t get one. (I do seem to recall that the non-hormonal, copper IUDs made many of the same sorts of “already have kids” statements, so I don’t think it’s any different between the two types.) And get one I did. I know you didn’t ask about the Mirena, but I’m on my second (they’re good for 5 years) and I love love love the stupid plastic thing. (Seriously, I’ve posted about it here before.) If your daughter wants to stick with an IUD for birth control, maybe she should talk to her doctor about a Mirena. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/30 "2011-02-21T19:17:26Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Can’t believe I’m responding to this thread but I wanted say that my wife had an IUD for 5 years and never had a period. Now she doesn’t have one and has regular periods. > > Everyone in this thread is talking aobut their periods though. What do I not understand here? For one, every woman is different. For two there are two different kinds of IUD. The Mirena has hormones and can, and often does, lead to cessation of period. The Paraguard is a copper one without hormones. It is widely known to increase blood flow and cramps during menstruation. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/31 "2011-02-21T19:46:19Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > That does make sense…I guess I’m just a really scaredy cat about the pain factor. Though I guess if you’ve had kids it’s probably different. I’ve just heard all these horrible descriptions of how bad the pain is and the mere mention of an IUD makes me want to clench my legs together. > > Are they very reliable once in? I also feel like I hear tons of stories about them failing but again, I know anecdote doesn’t equal data… Getting it in was the easy part. The pain was brief, maybe 5 seconds and totally bearable. It feels almost exactly like a menstrual cramp. Removal was a thousand times easier and totally painless. The problem was, my body couldn’t stand it in there, which led to cramping, abdominal pain, and cervical bleeding. I thought I was just spotting but when I had it removed I learned the truth. I got it removed at a different office than I got it inserted, and it was accompanied by a long, paternalistic lecture about how women who haven’t had children shouldn’t have an IUD. My former doctors had never even mentioned that as a factor to consider. From what I understand, medical opinion is pretty much divided on that subject. From what I understand IUDs are the most reliable birth control method other than actual tubal litigation. Failure is very, very rare - the only problem is that failure is very, very dangerous, often resulting in eptopic pregnancy. I’ve also heard stories of perforation where the IUD passed through the uterus into another part of the body and required surgical removal. Very unlikely risks but definitely worth considering. [QUOTE=norinew] [QUOTE=olivesmarch4th] Women who haven’t had children will probably have more serious issues than women who haven’t. [/QUOTE] I’m sure there’s a typo in here somewhere, but damned if I can parse it as it stands. Olives, would you please extrapolate? [/QUOTE] Whoops. 🙂 That is, women who haven’t had children tend to have more serious issues than women who have. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/32 "2011-02-21T20:25:18Z")
I had one inserted when I was 20-ish and experienced the same symptoms as your daughter during my first period after getting it in. I think I lasted one or two more cycles and then had it removed. My body just was not happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/33 "2011-02-21T20:34:48Z")
The official statistics are that the copper T IUD is 99.2-99.4 percent effective. Second only to sterilization in effectiveness. ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748/34 "2011-02-22T19:55:06Z")
I had one inserted at my 6 week post-partum checkup and now have had it for eight years. My periods were heavier than before and I had a little more cramping than before, but it gradually returned to normal over the next several periods. I’d call the doctor to make sure that the nasty cramping isn’t an indicator that something has gone wrong with the IUD, and if all is well I’d try to keep it in at least another month or two. I love mine. Hormonal birth control lowers my sex drive, so I wanted something that was both non-hormonal and that I didn’t have to worry about/do something with/maintain/keep buying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lady-dopers-experience-with-copper-iuds/571748.md?page=1)