Contraceptive
methods
Copper
T IUD
What
is the Copper T IUD?
The
Copper T IUD is one of two types of intrauterine
devices available
in the United
States. The Copper T IUD is a small,
flexible device made of soft plastic and copper. It is easily
and quickly inserted
into the uterus
by a health care provider to prevent pregnancy.
How
effective is the Copper T IUD?
The
Copper T IUD is extremely
effective and can last
up to 12 years. Less
than 1 out of 100 women
who use it will
get pregnant each year. It starts
preventing pregnancy
as soon as it
is
inserted. The Copper T IUD is
as effective as permanent sterilization,
but your ability
to become pregnant
quickly returns
once the IUD is removed.
How
does it work?
The
Copper T IUD prevents pregnancy
by blocking sperm
from reaching
an egg. It also
prevents the embryo
from implanting
into the uterus.
What
are the benefits of using
the Copper T
IUD?
This
is a highly
effective type
of birth control.
The
Copper T IUD does not contain
hormones or interact with
medicines.
You
donÕt have to think
about birth control every
day or every
time you have sex.
If
you decide you want to get
pregnant, you can have the IUD easily
removed at any
time. The IUD is quickly
reversible, which
means that its
effects on your
body go away as soon
as it is removed
and your fertility
returns back to normal.
Because one IUD can
be used for so
long, it is actually one of the least expensive
methods of birth
control.
What
are the downsides of using
the Copper T
IUD?
The
Copper T IUD does not protect
against sexually
transmitted infections (STIs).
You
must visit your
health care provider to have the Copper T
IUD inserted and removed.
Most
women have more bleeding
and
cramping with their periods when
they first get
the Copper T
IUD, but this usually
lessens over time.
It is possible for the IUD to slip out of place, but this is rare. It is more likely to happen in women who have not had a baby.