Does copper coil (IUD) cause pelvic infection?

I used this contraception for 4 years from 2019- 2023. Firstly, it made my periods extremely heavy and painful to the point where i was unable to do usual daily activities . Would also bleed during sex consistently. However, i ignored these side effects because it was doing what it needs to do and preventing pregnancy and i was afraid to use hormonal birth control . When i went to the doctors about bleeding issues they would just tell me its a normal side effect from the copper IUD. However this year i found i was pregnant with the IUD still working not expired and in place so essentially it failed for whatever unknown reason. Now apparently this is very rare to happen, but it happened to me and it has happened to other people. No health care professionals would take the coil out because i was pregnant and as a result of this i ended up miscarrying with the coil still in place, which was very painful and i bled heavily for a month after. It was very difficult to get it taken out, as apparently there was a struggle to find the placement. Eventually it was taken out a month after the miscarriage. Since having it taken out i have been using the combined pill for 3 months which has made my periods less heavy and much less painful. My advice would be to anyone who is afraid of using hormonal contraception like i was to just try it. As it turns out that non hormonal contraception can cause just as many issues if not more issues than hormonal contraception can. However it is important to remember that everyone is different. Ultimately, i would definitely not recommend this contraception especially if you haven’t tried hormonal alternatives.

Getting the coil in was fine, obviously wasn’t the most comfortable thing but my nurse was amazing and I didn’t feel much pain. The next day I had period like cramps then they went away with some ibuprofen. Sex drive was so increased and boobs have grown bigger, only down fall is the periods are quite painful but that was outlined to me in my consultation and it was my choice to receive it. Everything else has been perfect.

At the time of this review I am still under 3 months of use. Right off the bat let me just say I had heavy bleeding and cramps since the day I had it fitted. This was the biggest shock for me as every research I read said I would experience a change to my period, either possibly heavier or lighter and also cramps. What I actually experienced was heavy, continuous non stop bleeding for 5 weeks straight. No off days inbetween. I went back twice to get looked at as I was that concerned. They confirmed on both occasions it was fitted correctly, it hadn't moved, I had no I fection and I wasn't pregnant. They couldn't however explain the heavy bleeding but every thing looked normal even with the 2D scan results. The bleeding was so heavy I stained clothes, furniture, furnishings you name it even while wearing a tampon and sanitary towel at the same time. The blood itself changed look and consistency. It started dark and over time transitioned to a bright fire engine tomato red. The day it stopped I had bled just as heavy as the day 1 bleed it was like a tap being switched off. I also had a change in my vagina smell, for the first time ever i could actually smell myself (but this could have been a result of the constant bleeding- i truly dont know). Now i am no longer bleeding the smell is considerably less. I am hoping to get back to no smell in time. As for the cramps intense, my usual cramps had always been mild. All of this impacted my mood, my mental health and my sex life. Oral sex certainly out and I was always super conscious during sex it went from being unscripted unfettered love making to mindful, cautious strategically planned sex so not cool. 5 weeks of hell to be honest. But now it's stopped and all I have now is mild spotting. I wait to see what this does to my actual period. I have PCOS so might take sometime before I get a true period. This isn't to put anyone off but actually to share a different reality to all the reviews I read before I had this fitted. As the only natural contraceptive available at the time of my fitting this was my only option.