Contraception Reviews

Cap or diaphragm vs Copper IUD

Cap or diaphragm

Want to switch birth control?

Copper IUD

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.0

2 reviews

Before sex

Frequency

71% - 94%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.8

16 reviews

5 - 10 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Cap or diaphragm ingredients

A birth control diaphragm or cap is a reusable barrier method of birth control that is inserted into the vagina before sex. It is covered in spermicide (a gel that kills sperm) and prevents pregnancy by covering the cervix so sperm can’t get into the womb. There are a few things that can make the diaphragm or cap less effective. These include if it doesn't fit properly
you remove it too early
it is damaged
you forget to use spermicide
or it is used with other oil-based products. If these things happen you may need to use emergency birth control.

Copper IUD ingredients

Copper coils are made of a T-shaped frame of polyethylene (plastic) and barium sulphate. Copper wire is wound around the vertical arm.

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

50% no impact on mood

Bleeds

100% no change

Sex drive

50% no impact

Weight

100% no impact

Skin

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Mood

38% no impact on mood

Bleeds

69% heavier periods

Sex drive

56% no impact

Weight

75% no impact

Skin

75% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this birth control

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this birth control

Try it now

Want to switch birth control?

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Want to switch birth control?

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Cap or diaphragm reviews

2 reviews

Cap or diaphragm  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

FemCap  

I had to come off hormonal contraception due to health reasons so needed a barrier method. It was quite awkward to insert and always had to keep checking it in case it dislodged itself, was sometimes painful or uncomfortable, my partner could feel it. I was also using an approved spermicide with it but still became pregnant within a month of use.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Cap or diaphragm  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Sep 23

Caya  

My very favorite thing about the Caya is that there really are no side effects. I am not putting anything into my body that is changing the way my body functions- I put it in, leave it in a while, and then I remove it. No hormones, nothing! I’ve been advised that while the Caya can be 80+% effective when used correctly, it’s best to use it with spermicide and condoms. It is tricky to insert the first few times but super easy to remove and I quickly got the hang of a quick and easy insertion! I did find it really difficult to find a pharmacy that sold the Caya (I guess they aren’t as popular now)- but all in all, it’s been fantastic so far! I love that my body gets to function as it normally would but that the Caya helps prevent pregnancy


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Cap or diaphragm  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

FemCap  

I had to come off hormonal contraception due to health reasons so needed a barrier method. It was quite awkward to insert and always had to keep checking it in case it dislodged itself, was sometimes painful or uncomfortable, my partner could feel it. I was also using an approved spermicide with it but still became pregnant within a month of use.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Cap or diaphragm  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Sep 23

Caya  

My very favorite thing about the Caya is that there really are no side effects. I am not putting anything into my body that is changing the way my body functions- I put it in, leave it in a while, and then I remove it. No hormones, nothing! I’ve been advised that while the Caya can be 80+% effective when used correctly, it’s best to use it with spermicide and condoms. It is tricky to insert the first few times but super easy to remove and I quickly got the hang of a quick and easy insertion! I did find it really difficult to find a pharmacy that sold the Caya (I guess they aren’t as popular now)- but all in all, it’s been fantastic so far! I love that my body gets to function as it normally would but that the Caya helps prevent pregnancy


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Copper IUD reviews

16 reviews

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Paragard IUD  

Good


Worse skin

3 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th Nov 24

Copper IUD  

The insertion was unbelievably painful and I will not be getting it put back in after three months. 2 days in I nearly went back to get it taken out but decided to push through. The pain subsided however I occasionally get the most awful pains randomly which will last 3+ days sporadically with no period to go with it.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Oct 24

Paragard IUD  

I’ve had it for over a year, I’m happy with it since it’s been effective in preventing pregnancy but I’ve all the sudden been getting weird side effects and hormone imbalances and bloating.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Paragard IUD  

Good


Worse skin

3 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th Nov 24

Copper IUD  

The insertion was unbelievably painful and I will not be getting it put back in after three months. 2 days in I nearly went back to get it taken out but decided to push through. The pain subsided however I occasionally get the most awful pains randomly which will last 3+ days sporadically with no period to go with it.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Oct 24

Paragard IUD  

I’ve had it for over a year, I’m happy with it since it’s been effective in preventing pregnancy but I’ve all the sudden been getting weird side effects and hormone imbalances and bloating.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Aug 24

Paragard IUD  

I love the copper IUD as I was looking for a non hormonal way of birth control. Besides the heavy bleeding and intense cramps during my period, it’s great!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Jul 24

Paragard IUD  

I wanted the copper IUD because it was non-hormonal and my DR said the only real side effect was worse periods (which she said would be fine for me because my periods are were not too bad in the first place. Insertion was not as painful as I thought it would be. Periods have become extremely painful and mood has definitely suffered


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Jul 24

Paragard IUD  

This was super painful to implant and more pain each month I used it during my period-longer and heavier as well as cramping and spotting each month at ovulation. Eventually I had the device removed and I started taking a birth control pill to regulate my hormones in hopes of lowering instance of migraines due to hormonal fluctuations. Now on a pill designed to prevent hormonal migraines, I realize that during my IUD years I had much less frequent migraines so perhaps there is no correlation between my migraines and birth control.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th May 24

Paragard IUD  

I had Paraguard for almost 7 years. When it was first inserted (insanely painful) I was told it would last for 12 years, however it fell out recently. Only half fell out, as one arm broke off and I was recommended to have a hysteroscopy under full anesthesia to remove the missing part. Luckily it came out on its own and I didn’t require the operation but it was a terrifying experience. Throughout the past 7 years the only issues I had was very heavy periods and severe cramps (including sharp pain when going to the bathroom). Other than that, it was great for me and nice to have regular periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Mar 24

Paragard IUD  

I've never used any forms of birth control before, so I don't know what to compare it to other than being normal and not on birth control. Insertion was uncomfortable but not very painful, and I had pain in my cervix and spotting for about a week afterward. My body adjusted very quickly and I had normally spaced periods right after. The most noticeable difference is that my period is lighter and longer. My sex drive noticeably decreased, and my emotions are dampened/numbed. I forget that I even have it 99% of the time, as I don't notice it in my daily life. If all you're looking for is plain and simple low-maintenance birth control, this is it.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Dec 23

Paragard IUD  

Cramping is significantly worse than before I had the IUD. Periods have lasted about 3 weeks when they used to only last 5-7 days. After the IUD was inserted, I ended up having 3 UTIs and cervicitis.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Dec 23

Paragard IUD  

I don’t know yet. It’s only been 3 weeks since I got it but I have not stopped bleeding (it started as only spotting and the blood looked brown on my pad and the amount increased to a light period then it went back to spotting.) now after the 2nd week the blood started to look red again and its still only spotting. So now I don’t know is this is my regular period or what! I have iron deficiency anemia, all this bleeding can’t be good. Is this going to be always. I have no cramps which I’m greatful for.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

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