With many women waking up to the health issues inherent to synthetic hormone-based contraceptives like the birth control pill, ring, patch, implant etc, more of us are looking for hormone-free alternatives for preventing pregnancy. This is understandable and should, I believe, be a welcomed shift in thinking.
Synthetic hormones cause all kinds of short term and long term side effects. They prevent your body from producing its own natural hormones, suppress ovulation and stop your periods – as a hormone expert and champion of the wisdom of women’s bodies, I know this to be real problem. Many of the women who work with me here at FLO Living are dealing with the fallout from using hormonal contraceptives for years on end.
However, we still need effective contraception and one of the hormone-free options available is the hormone-free copper IUD.
In this post I want to look at the pros and cons of the hormone-free, copper IUD and support you in making the decision to switch from hormonal contraceptives to an option that allows your body to make its own hormones and experience its own cycles.
There are hormone-based IUDs available, and their effectiveness is no different to that of the one hormone-free kind. If you want an IUD, it’s better to avoid the synthetic hormones – especially as synthetic progestin (which is not the same as the progesterone your own body produces) can cause as many side effects as the pill. A recent study revealed that the hormonal IUD actually holds a higher risk of depression than the pill.
The benefits of the copper IUD
- It’s over 99% effective for preventing pregnancy.
- It lasts 12 years, so if you’re done have kids or don’t want kids you can have effective contraception for over a decade.
- No synthetic hormones.
- It doesn’t suppress ovulation and you experience real periods.
- It is compatible with cycle awareness and the Cycle Synced FLO Living lifestyle – you can track your hormonal phases and monitor your period.
- You can truly address, treat, and resolve period and cycle problems with diet and lifestyle changes.
The drawbacks of the copper IUD
- It is not side effect free – side effects including heavier periods, cramping, pain during insertion, discomfort during sex, spotting between periods, ectopic pregnancy, possible migration or expulsion of the IUD, perforation of the uterus, pelvic inflammatory disease, infection, scar tissue buildup complicating later conception.
- It does not prevent STDs or STIs – you would need condoms for this.
- It’s possible that the copper IUD, like the birth control pill and other hormone-based contraceptives, can cause zinc deficiency by off-balancing copper and zinc levels in your body. If you choose the copper IUD, I recommend supplementing with zinc and eating zinc-rich foods. Zinc deficiency can be a source of acne, low sex drive and poor immunity. You’ll know if you have zinc deficiency – frequent colds and coughs are a common symptom.
- For those that have pre-existing health issues like Wilson’s Disease, which prevents proper copper metabolism, the copper IUD would not be a good option. You could develop copper toxicity.
If you’ve looked over this list and decided, for you, that the drawbacks of the copper IUD outweigh its benefits, you do have other hormone-free options.
I personally use a combination of the fertility awareness method and condoms. I track my fertility signs to pinpoint when I am in my fertile window and use condoms to avoid pregnancy. I’m a huge fan of condoms for many reasons – including the ways in which they protect your fertility. These days there are so many great, chemical-free, sustainable, body-friendly brands too.
If you’ve decided to ditch the synthetic hormones, congratulations! You’ve taken an important step towards vital hormonal health and living in your FLO. Let me know in the comments how you feel about the copper IUD – your experiences, the good and the bad.
Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!
to your FLO,
Alisa
Good things come in threes:
I want to hear from you!
First, have you recently come off the pill?
Second, have you tried to heal your hormonal health issues like PMS or PCOS with the pill?
Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social 😉
Is Your Period Healthy?
How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign – your period.
The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future.
I have had five children and am finished having kids. I am 41. I am considering having an ablasion and am wondering if you can provide any guidance on that. Thank you!
Thanks for the arricle. I am in search of an alternative contraceptive. Please could you give me the name /website where I can find the condoms you mentioned…
Hi Karee,
Try the L Condom!
Alisa
Hi Alisa,
Thank you for this post, I am glad to have your opinion on that subject! I have been off the pill for 4 years now and I would never go back to it! I much prefer tracking my real cycle. But, even though I follow the FLO protocol and track my ovulation, I was still always a little nervous to get accidentally pregnant since my boyfriend and I are not fans of condom. I got a copper IUD 2 months ago and have been supplementing with zinc. I believe the FLO protocol really helps to diminish the side effects; the only one I truly experience is heavier period, which is quite annoying… I said to myself that I would keep the IUD for 6 months to let my body get accustomed to it, and then decide if I want to keep it or have it remove to go back to lighter period.
Thank again for your input, it is much appreciated!
Did you ever get lighter periods?
Do you have a chemical free condom brand that you recommend? Which chemicals am I looking to avoid when choosing condoms? And personal lube?
The L Condom!! And for personal lube, try Aloe Cadabra!
Alisa
I just had one inserted 3 weeks ago (after lots of research and doing the flo protocol for approx a year). A lot of the symptoms are supposed to last only for the first 3 months, according to the nurse practitioner who did the insertion. I’ve had some spotting and a cramp every other day so far. Pretty standard. Will continue to monitor and post on the online community! Thanks for discussing this non-hormonal option!
Hi, I’m interested in the copper IUD. How has it been for you since this comment, what’s happened?
Hello, I have also had a copper IUD inserted and I thought maybe I could help if you are still unsure or wanting peoples stories or opinions on it. So I at first really wanted to do it the absolute natural way and do fertility awareness but I got so frustrated that the time when I had the highest sex drive I had to use condoms which I just felt ruined the mood so I decided to do copper IUD. I have a copper IUD called ballerine (IUB) though, its a new ish one that is supposed to be better for crampings and a few other things. It was painful inserting it, it was quite quick though and the cramping was quite bad, the worst of the pain was gone after the firs day for me and then the second day it was more of a light cramping but I could leave the bed.
I defiantly got heavier periods, and for the first cycles it was also longer. Now its heavy maybe 2-3 days and then 2-3 days its normal. And now its not more heavy than I used to have its just more days that it is heavy. I noticed a bit more discharge during my cycle. Also because of bad tampon use, leaving it in for a bit too long and also sitting in wet swimwear and also horrible diet because I have been traveling for a few months I think I have a yeast infection but to my knowledge that could just be me eating horribly and bad tampon practise. But it could also be that Its easier to get an infection. I think i just think I can’t be as lazy when it comes to taking care of myself. I haven’t had more cramps during my period or anything like that. For me having a heavier or longer period is actually worth it if it means more convenience. I found not being able to have sex my entire cycle a bit stressful. Hopes that helps :).
I had the copper IUD for two years and experienced terrible pain the next day after insertion. The pain ceased after a second visit to the doctor to reajust the device. I suddenly found myself with raging pms, period pains and heavy bleeding. I felt incredibly low mood and always on the hedge. I had no libido and intercourse felt painful. I had it removed and found myself with copper toxicity. It took a good 6 months to a year to finally feel like my happy self again.
Yea I had the copper iud for 6 years and developed PMDD, to the point of suicidal ideation for the last three months it was in. I’d love for the post to name some of the mental health conditions associated with copper toxicity.
How did u know u had copper toxicity? Blood test? I’m going through all of this now
Would you consider sharing any recommendations on a condom for skin thats sensitive… I find I react to most of the classic condom brands.
Hi Stephanie,
Try L Condoms, they are free of common chemicals found in condoms!
Alisa
The copper T was awful for me, however I have never carried a pregnancy to term and it was hard to find a doc who would install it for me for that reason. However I really really wanted hormone free, worry free contraception and found a doc who was willing to let me try as it was my choice. I threw up and could hardly walk straight when it was inserted and then continued to severely cramp and bleed nonstop for 3 months straight with no sign of lessening until I finally gave up and had it taken out. The filament never “wrapped around” my cervix so it was unfeelable during sex as promised, it came unwrapped from its coil shape and stabbed my partner, then they trimmed it shorter to supposedly fix the problem and it still continued. Also I’ve heard it can act like a “wick” pulling bacteria up into the uterus which can cause infection, toxic shock etc. I became pale as a ghost and covered in bruises from constant bleeding. I gave it a long go but it was very apparent from the moment of insertion that it was not for me. Glad I tried it but it definitely was NOT for me. For women who have had a child, it may be, but it definitely was not for me.
( Note: I’ve also had severe cramps at times before and after, incl. ovarian cysts and endometriosis, and tend to have fairly short and severe periods right on time every time, and cannot tolerate any extra estrogen in the hormonal birth controls I have tried, and the women in my family have very rapid and strong labors on both sides, don’t know if that has any relation to how my female system responded to the copper T).
You might want to look into whether you carry the MTHFR gene mutation. I know someone who has all of the symptoms that you describe – endo, can’t carry a baby to term, etc – and she manages everything through diet and extensive research. She is totally plant based (eg dairy is a big no no because of the estrogen) and she avoids certain other [unnatural] food supplements, such as folic acid, (which can’t be metabolised in the diet of people with the MTHFR mutation; therefore, detox pathways become blocked… moreover, unmetabolised folic acid can decrease natural killer cell cytotoxicity and impair the body from responding to arthritis, cancer, and anti-malarial drugs).
I bought a hormonal IUD after my doctor convinced me that this is better than copper. Since months it is laying in its box- I can’t get myself to let the doctor insert it- because of all the side effects. I first thought that the copper IUD would be better but read so many things about the side effects that it also scared me. So I am back where I was- using a combination of cycle awareness and condoms- it seems that I need to live with this. I do not trust it fully, so I am super-careful- which is not always helpful… I guess I am more bothered about it than my husband- he is completely ok with this kind of birth control.
Ya know what concerns me (and I had a copper, non-hormonal IUD in for 7 years) is that no one seems to know how it actually works. This was the case when I had it inserted (which, by the way was something akin to internal disembowlment; to say “mild discomfort”, “cramping” and the like, is a joke. Women, at least those who have not had vaginal childbirth (I hear, in some cases it is different for those who have) should, in my opinion and radically painful–like I nearly threw up–experience should be put out to have it inserted. That would be kind (though we’re not quite there yet with women’s health, are we? Trust me, if men had to have something inserted into their penis, you can bet they’d be put out.) So–when I had it inserted, they distinctly told me that they did not know how it worked (but that it was safe, have been using it in Europe for centuries, etc. etc.) I had it removed because I suspected, though there is no way to know for certain, that it was contributing to health problems (anxiety, debilitating chronic insomnia, among others) that I was having at the time. I began researching and found many similar complaints from other women. Some, however, seemed to not have any problems (at least none they were linking to the IUD.) I’m left wondering how it was effecting my body (just the fact that we do not know this is kind of disturbing.) Was it causing inflammation in my uterus, thus making it inhospitable for a fertilized egg? I’m assuming, as I have not heard otherwise, that this–how this thing works/how it effects the body to actually stop the human body from conceiving–is still a mystery. It would be nice if someone could do some research and figure it out. I do know that the month–literally the cycle after I had it removed (this was 2013)–my period went from being regular, “normal” to extremely light, nearly non-existent, and it has still not come back completely. I don’t understand that either, at all. I’m not against IUD’s. This has just been my experience. Other than what I have said, it was excellent birth control–no hassel, worked, etc. I just would not have one put in unless I knew exactly how it was effecting my body, and could get anesthesia to do it–I will never put myself through that kind of pain again (the cervix is an exit-only muscle, and made that VERY clear! 😉 )
I’ve experienced pain similar to UTIs, as well as cramping and contraction like “squeezes” almost every day for 4 years. Side effects I’ve noticed are mood swings, hot and cold flushes and cold sweats.
I’ve seen doctors and specialists for years who don’t know what it is. Everyone has said it’s almost like I’m going through menopause. I’m 20. I shouldn’t be experiencing menopause. Everyone has just thrown things at me and hoped they helped.
I was on the pill for a while, but felt it didn’t help at all. Went off it, was tested for STIs and had my results come back all negative. I had an operation to look for endometriosis and they found nothing. My surgeon suggested the pill again, and it’s made me sick. I’ve experienced break through bleeding, nausea, vomiting, fatigue. All to a point I stopped taking it due to scares I could even be pregnant.
Now a obgyno has suggested I try the Mirena. I asked for a hormone test and she dismissed it and said, “That’s not your problem.” I don’t know what my problem is, they don’t know what it is, and everyone is now throwing things at me and hoping that will work. I’m at a loss for what to do, and after reading about the side effects, I don’t think it will be worth it. I don’t even believe it will help me.
Hi Chloe,
Can you schedule in a free initial consult via phone or consult? I think it could be very helpful for you to speak with one of my counselors about this and do a little digging. You can sign up for a free session here: http://bit.ly/12Xruvm
Hang in there, and reach out!
Alisa
Hi There
My ObGyn did the exact same thing just dismissed it when i asked for a hormone panel test and prescribed evening primrose oil tablets.. i have had the copper IUD for about 3 years and i suffer with severe pain during ovulation and my period. so i got a second opinion and went to a hormone specialist and he did a full hormone test. The IUD was causing severely low iron levels due to so much bleeding as well as he diagnosed me with PCOS. All i can say is don’t give up and if your gut tells you your body isnt okay keep searching for answers.
I was afraid for years to use the copper IUD because I suffered from painful and heavy periods prior to using the implant. But actually I haven’t had heavier periods or more pain, however, you can feel it at times during sex that is definitely a con. And it was very painful inserting despite having painkillers prior to the insertion!
But I think applying the FLO living protocol when I still was on the implant helped me so much in having regular normal periods once I got off it and used the copper IUD.
I understand some experience heavier periods but I just want to say do not be afraid to try the copper IUD for that reason like I was. I feel so much better now when I am off hormones as I have no vaginal dryness and normal sex drive again.
I have the copper IUD for almost a year now. I like that it’s hormone-free and that there’s no ‘maintenance’ (like remembering to take pill/or take out ring).
But-I think it’s making my hair fall out excessively. I’m not taking any zinc supplements currently, and I would like to start one asap! Besides for this, I don’t experience very painful periods, although they do last long…
Hello Alisa,
i do use now the Hormonal device Mirena IUD, and its kind of very comfortable for me, as i am a mother of two kids. I just wanted to ask if u do have advices how to keep your body healthy with the Mirena. Like special diet or extra vitamins or something?
thanks a lot
Hi Odi,
The principles of the protocol remain important for you as well! Keeping blood sugar balanced, supporting adrenals and supporting the liver.
Alisa
Hi! I’m wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to me. I am kind of freaking out and don’t know what to. I had my copper IUD put in after the birth of my 3rd child. At first it wasn’t so bad, except for longer and heavier periods which I was able to deal with. My periods stayed very regular, and I did not miss a period since having it installed. After about a year I noticed that my hair was falling out in huge clumps, so I decided to see an integrative and functional medical doctor to see what was going on. After doing some blood work, there was nothing we could find other than the copper IUD that was making me lose my hair. My iron was also super low due to the long and heavy periods, so I decided to take my IUD out even though I wasn’t ready to start trying for another baby yet. I had started my last period on February 4th, 2017 (it was a very long one). I had my IUD taken out around the time I was ovulating, on February 21st. I had no spotting or bleeding after taking out the IUD. March 4th came and went- no period. I figured it was because February was a short month. Around the 10th I started taking pregnancy tests because I was feeling some symptoms- cramping, lower backache, headaches- but they all came up negative. It’s now March 12th and the tests are still negative but my period is nowhere in sight. I know my hormones were balanced because I had had all of them tested recently, and I know I ovulated on February 23rd, so I’m so confused as to what’s going on. The copper IUD is supposed to be “hormone-free”, so why did removing it mess up my cycle so much?
Hi, I just godt a copper spiral the smallest one there can be there for 5 years because I dont have any children yet. I can strongly recoment it. Its really easy and the only thing that has changed in a more “bade” way is that my period i a little longer than before when is was on the p-pill I was on the p-pill for 9 years, and had really bad PMS mode, but now its much better, and i can fill my body again.
I had the copper IUD for almost 9 years and I’m pretty sure it is the source of some of my adrenal issues. Also, since I got my IUD removed (the copper one), my period and hormones have been all over the place for the last 7 months. It says that it is not supposed to affect your hormones, but I can’t believe that is not the case.
I have been using hormone free contraception for almost 10 years… and I think this is why I feel I have very healthy cycles. That being said, I have only been using condoms with a mix of awareness of my ovulation phase. Your app makes it even easier to make sure I have protected sex during my phase 2! But I have also been thinking on trying the copper IUD or other natural method and I was wondering what are your thoughts on basal body temperature as a contraceptive method? Lately I have seen an app called Natural cycles that monitor your temperature and tells you when you can have sex or not with or without protection. I would imagine we can monitor it ourselves but was wondering if you have ever tried this method?
Aloha,
I am 20 and have greatly benefited from the pros of the copper IUD for almost three years. However I worry about the excruciating pain that occasionally befalls me several times a year when I draw close to my cycle without realizing it and I’m engaged in something very physical activity (e.g., hiking, commercial fishing, dancing hula, husking a coconut). My cycle has returned to its normal length and average benign output of mentruum–which is great! No more excessive blood and cramping from hell to deal with, as in the first year of having the Paraguard.
So what’s my complaint? When my IUD comes to life all of the sudden and I feel an excruciating pain deep in my right butt cheek, as if my sciatic nerve is being pinched or stabbed–in truth I am not totally sure what’s going on…..but what if I am being perforated very slowly and scar tissue is building up that may prevent me from getting pregnant at a later date? That is my worst fear. I’ve talked to semiprofessional gynecologists at the university health center and they tell me it’s what every one experiences after they get the copper IUD–but I don’t think they’re really listening to me so I ask you in hope for some insight: do you think this potential nerve pain is anything to worry about in the long run? Would I know without a shadow of a doubt if I was truly being being perforated by my IUD?
I have considered taking out my IUD more than a dozen times when this unique and horrible pain flairs up…and the yet I keep in because I am not ready for children. And I figure the pains of childbirth have to be worse than this….
Thank you so much for you service to womanity
With love and respect,
Susannah
I had the same problem with Paragard- random terrible stabbing pains, but I felt mine in my uterus and lower back. Plus I had bad cramps and heavy bleeding during my period. I was also super afraid when this happened that my uterus was being perforated, I was experiencing copper toxicity, or I was at least building up scar tissue in my uterus. I had the Paragard for 7 years and just dealt with the pain, but it never stopped. I got it out this last march though and now use the Fertility Awareness Method, plus condoms near my fertile window, and I have NO MORE PAIN AT ALL, even during my period. NONE. I’m also not afraid of getting pregnant because after reading WomanCode and other books about the Fertility Awareness Method, I know how to track my cycle and be totally confident in avoiding unwanted pregnancy. If I wanted to be even more exact, so I wouldn’t have to use condoms as much, I could use some of the many tools out there to track your fertility through Basal Body Temperature tracking. Those tools are usually used to help women get pregnant, but they’re just as effective in telling you when you’re fertile and therefore when to avoid sex or use condoms.
Hope this helps and hope Alisa has something for you too!
Samantha
Hello Alisa,
I just finished reading your book which was recommended by a friend regarding my weird neck spots. I’m amazed of how hormones determine my moods and thinking (house cleaning, being/not being social, energy levels, etc). It now all makes sense and I wanted to very much thank you for it, I feel much more comfortable with myself after reading the book. I am ready to try it starting with tidying up my constipation problems I didn’t even know I had (no no.2 in the mornings + skin problems). I wanted to ask for your advise as I have Mirena for about 2 years now and I rarely have periods. Is there a way to determine which phase of my cycle I’m in? I’ll be grateful for your help. Thank you!
Hi Aga,
So thrilled to hear that you are experiencing such positive results!
It is going to be hard to know where you are with the Mirena, unless you can feel the emotional/physical shifts happening, then use this as your guide. Otherwise, follow the moon cycles.
XO – Alisa
I had the copper IUD for about 7 years. I had it put in right after I turned 21 even though I’ve never had children. I knew I wanted non-hormonal birth control and it was like pulling teeth to even get the Planned Parenthood nurse to tell me about this option. I was excited when I heard about it and didn’t care if I got a heavier flow and figured I could take the pain… and I did. Man did I take the pain. The first two days after insertion I was in terrible terrible pain and for the first few weeks it was hard to work because of all the pain. I stuck it out though. My flow got much heavier than it had ever been and I had terrible cramps on my period and often randomly throughout the month. Each month my cramps got a little less frequent and a little better, but they were still awful and at around 10 months I was ready to look for another option. I was going to go to Canada and get the copper IUD offered there that ties to the top of your uterine lining versus being shaped like a giant T which is supposed to make it mostly pain-free after insertion. I even had an appointment scheduled at a clinic in Vancouver Canada. Then I hit the one year mark and got my period again and while I still had pain and heavier bleeding it was WAY better than it had been. I decided to wait and see and ended up keeping the IUD for about 6 more years and I never got pregnant, but I always had cramps and heavy bleeding. I also sometimes got cramps just because I think my bowels were kind of full. I felt a kind of achey, unhappy sensation in my uterus pretty regularly.
Then I started a new relationship and my new partner was worried about the stabbing pain and discomfort I was feeling so often that to me now just seemed normal. Together we started researching alternative methods of birth control and this is actually when I went back and read WomanCode. I had bought the audiobook years before, but had never finished it. This time I devoured it though and decided to get the IUD removed and try the Fertility Awareness Method. I got my IUD out this past March and despite the brief pain of removal and mild acheyness for the next few hours I IMMEDIATELY could tell my uterus was so much happier. I felt so much lighter. I already ate pretty healthy and was starting the WomanCode protocol and the first period after I got the IUD removed I was TOTALLY pain free. We used condoms for about the first two months to make sure my period was totally regular, as it always had been. Now we use FAM and condoms around my fertile window. It is almost unbelievable after so many years of awful cramps and pain to feel absolutely no pain during my periods and my bleeding is SO MUCH lighter, not to mention on the IUD I would bleed for 6-7 days, now I only bleed for 3.
Once I made it past the first year of having the IUD which was hell, I was experiencing the kind of pain that most women (that I now know have hormonal issues) complain of on their period so I was alright with the regular pain. I thought it was normal. However, I always gave other women looking at the copper IUD as an option the full painful and bloody picture of what my experience was and knew I would never get it again if I had to go through that first year again.
Now that I know how my menstrual cycle actually works, I will only use condoms and the Fertility Awareness Method from now on.
I became motivated to have a copper IUD inserted when I was introduced to floliving by a friend. I had been on oral contraceptives for about a decade and was ready for a change. I was sick of congesting my body with excess hormones. The insertion was painful but I haven’t had any problems since. My periods are heavier and last a day or two longer but I’m just grateful to be having periods! When I was on the oral contraceptive, my periods eventually stopped. I still have pms and hormonal acne around the time of my period so I’m considering investing in one of Alisa’s programs. However, I’m generally happy with the copper IUD!
I have had a Mirena IUD for almost two years and I haven’t had a period for the past year, I know a lot of women don’t have periods on the Mirena. I’m reading Womancode right now and I was wondering how you cyclesync/follow your phases or use that part of the book/FLO if you don’t have a period because of an IUD? I really want to be able to get rid a lot of hormonal symptoms I have but not quite sure how to adjust for an IUD.
Thanks so much!
Hi Aly,
Follow the moon cycles: new moon is day 1 of period, and full moon is ovulation. Then map it out from there!
Alisa
Hi,
I have the small copper IUD, with effectiveness for 5 years, since two months.
I’m very pleased with it and don’t recognize any of the symptoms listed, except that the first period after placement was a few days longer. Second period was back to normal.
I feel really well and am happy with my choice.
Interesting to read about the potential zinc deficiency though, I will watch for potential symptoms.
Hi there!
I have the copper IUD- have had it for over a year now. The period pain is still fairly rough- sharper than anything I had before having it in, but it’s not so terrible since the painful part doesn’t last that long each month. I’m wondering though about the effects of my iud on my period. I took the what’s your v sign quiz and it says I’m high estrogen- but the color of my period blood and the symptoms I entered are only the current for me now that I have that IUD. beforehand, I had lighter color and symptoms. So is there a way to indicate that influence in the quiz or do the results of the quiz mean anything different if it’s the IUD that’s causing those effects? Or is it still my hormonal levels regardless?
Thank you!
I would love to know this as well! I have been concerned about having low levels of progesterone, as indicated by brown spotting in the beginning and end of my period. This only started when I had my Copper IUD inserted 2 years ago. I am seriously considering removing it now, I don’t think the copper has affected me as much as some other women I have read stories from.. but the more I think about it, the less comfortable I feel about having a foreign object in such a precious place.
How many mg do u recommend taking daily with the copper iud?