Copper or Hormonal? Which IUD is Right for You?

In the United States, nearly two-thirds of women between the ages of 15 and 49 use contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy. While there are many different types of birth control, the intrauterine device (IUD), which is known as a long-acting, reversible contraception (LARC), is one of the most popular. By the numbers, slightly more than 10% of women who use birth control use a LARC.

If you’re contemplating an IUD, there’s one key decision to be made — choosing between a copper IUD and a hormonal one.

To help with your family planning decision-making, we asked the team at Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley, which is under the direction of board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Fernando Otero, to weigh in with some important details.

First up — the copper IUD

There are five brands of IUDs, and only one is a copper version: Paragard®. (Please note that all IUDs are small, t-shaped devices that we insert into your uterus.)

In the case of Paragard, the device is wrapped in copper, which naturally repels sperm. The ions that copper releases interfere with the way sperm move, rendering them unable to reach and fertilize your eggs.

The copper also creates localized inflammation that prevents sperm from passing through, but rest assured that this inflammation isn’t harmful.

Next, hormonal IUDs

Now let’s take a look at hormonal IUDs, which are marketed under the brand names Mirena®, Kyleena®, Liletta®, and Skyla®. As the name suggests, hormonal IUDs release hormones (mainly progestin) that accomplish three important contraceptive duties:

1. They thicken the mucus around your cervix to trap sperm
2. They thin the lining of your uterus
3. They can interfere with ovulation

Between these three mechanisms, it’s nearly impossible for sperm to reach your eggs for fertilization.

Side-by-side comparisons of IUDs

Now let’s get into some side-by-side comparisons of copper and hormonal IUDs, starting with efficacy — both IUDs offer near perfect 99.9% efficacy ratings.

In terms of ease of use, both IUDs offer the same hassle-free experience — once we insert the device, there’s nothing more you need to do.

As for how long these IUDs work, here’s the breakdown:

• Paragard (copper) — up to 12 years
• Mirena (hormonal) — up to 8 years
• Kyleena (hormonal) — up to 5 years
• Liletta (hormonal) — up to 8 years
• Skyla (hormonal) — up to 3 years

So, you certainly have your choice in timelines.

As an added bonus, both types of IUDs can work as emergency contraception for up to 5 days after having unprotected sex.

The real difference comes with whether you respond well to systemic hormone therapy or whether you want to alter your hormone environment. Some women don’t respond well to hormone therapies, which makes the copper IUD a better choice.

The good news is that changing your IUD is incredibly easy, as we can easily remove both versions of IUDs in just minutes in our offices.

Ultimately, the decision is yours, but we’re happy to provide any information you need to make an informed choice that suits your health, goals, and lifestyle.

To learn more or to make an appointment for an IUD, please contact one of our offices in McAllen or Edinburg, Texas, to schedule an appointment