Copper coil (IUD) vs Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)

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Copper coil (IUD)

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Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)

Add your Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) review

Overview

Rated 3.5

598 reviews

5 - 10 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 4.4

7 reviews

Permanent

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Permanent

Effect on fertility

Copper coil (IUD) ingredients

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

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) ingredients

Plastic or titanium clamps or silicone ring may be used to block the fallopian tubes.

What Lowdown reviewers say

54% no impact on mood

69% heavier periods

63% no impact

75% no impact

75% no impact on skin

Cycle return

44% in 1 month

57% no impact on mood

57% no change

43% no impact

71% no impact

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

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

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

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Add your Copper coil (IUD) review

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Add your Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Copper coil (IUD) reviews

598 reviews

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Copper coil (IUD)  

The IUD fitting itself was less bad than I expected, uncomfortable and a bit painful but not worse than period cramps. However, about half an hour or so after, I got quite intense cramping pain and almost fainted from it on the way home. The post-insertion pain settled after a few days. With the IUD, my periods were quite a bit heavier than before but this improved a bit after 6 months or so. With the IUD, I also got spotting between periods for a few days each month (possibly related to ovulation). Also, since having the IUD fitted, I started getting recurring sharp stabbing pain, always in the same spot on the right side (roughly where my right ovaries are). This pain was worst during my period, sometimes making me feel close to passing out even though I was taking the maximum daily dose of ibuprofen (I later switched to mefenamic acid but that was not much better), and it was much worse than any period cramps I had ever had and felt more like someone is stabbing me than like a cramp. I also had this same right-sided stabbing pain randomly throughout my cycle. Moreover, I also started getting cramping pain during exercise (running) after I got the IUD. The right sided stabbing pain and the cramps during exercise maybe improved slightly over time, but were still bothering me quite a lot after 9 months of having the IUD. I had several checks done to make sure the IUD was still in the right place and to exclude any underlying disease that could be causing the pain, but nothing abnormal was found that would cause pain like this. The doctor said that they could not exclude that the pain might be from a hormonal condition (like endometriosis) that was masked by the hormonal contraception (progesterone only pill) that I was on before I got the IUD. In the end, I decided to have the IUD removed to see if that would get rid of the pain, both because I felt that the pain was not something I was happy to tolerate indefinitely, and because I thought it would be important to know if I have something like endometriosis and this is what is causing the pain, because in that case I would have considered going back on hormonal contraception to slow it's progression (I wasn't happy with the side effects I got from two different combined pills and three different progesterone only pills, which is why I switched to the copper IUD, so I didn't want to switch back to hormonal contraception unless absolutely necessary). After I had the IUD removed, the right sided stabbing pain immediately went away completely, but I got the cramping pain during running once since - it hasn't been long since I had the IUD removed so I am hoping that this will eventually disappear too.

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Copper coil (IUD)  

The copper IUD was great, I had it fitted and then didn't have to worry about contraception. However, the initial insertion was painful and it did make my periods more heavy and painful. I had the coil replaced after 5 years but this coil came out on its own. I do use a menstrual cup and the coil came out in the cup, so this could have been down to user error on my part.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Jul 25

Copper coil (IUD)  

the inserction was painful and invasive, it had me feeling faint that day but come sugary drink helped. i enjoyed my time with it, but my period was much heavier and it led me to iron deficiency. i decided to take it out recently as i wanted to know how it was without anything and i was concered as to whether it was a healthy option for my uterus. when i got it removed i did feel a very positive feeling from not having it, but that could be that it was a concern on my mind for a while. but now im reconsidering having it inserted again since having no birth contol isnt a great option and i think i prefer iron deficiency than hormonal mood swings with a hormonal option.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Copper coil (IUD)  

The IUD fitting itself was less bad than I expected, uncomfortable and a bit painful but not worse than period cramps. However, about half an hour or so after, I got quite intense cramping pain and almost fainted from it on the way home. The post-insertion pain settled after a few days. With the IUD, my periods were quite a bit heavier than before but this improved a bit after 6 months or so. With the IUD, I also got spotting between periods for a few days each month (possibly related to ovulation). Also, since having the IUD fitted, I started getting recurring sharp stabbing pain, always in the same spot on the right side (roughly where my right ovaries are). This pain was worst during my period, sometimes making me feel close to passing out even though I was taking the maximum daily dose of ibuprofen (I later switched to mefenamic acid but that was not much better), and it was much worse than any period cramps I had ever had and felt more like someone is stabbing me than like a cramp. I also had this same right-sided stabbing pain randomly throughout my cycle. Moreover, I also started getting cramping pain during exercise (running) after I got the IUD. The right sided stabbing pain and the cramps during exercise maybe improved slightly over time, but were still bothering me quite a lot after 9 months of having the IUD. I had several checks done to make sure the IUD was still in the right place and to exclude any underlying disease that could be causing the pain, but nothing abnormal was found that would cause pain like this. The doctor said that they could not exclude that the pain might be from a hormonal condition (like endometriosis) that was masked by the hormonal contraception (progesterone only pill) that I was on before I got the IUD. In the end, I decided to have the IUD removed to see if that would get rid of the pain, both because I felt that the pain was not something I was happy to tolerate indefinitely, and because I thought it would be important to know if I have something like endometriosis and this is what is causing the pain, because in that case I would have considered going back on hormonal contraception to slow it's progression (I wasn't happy with the side effects I got from two different combined pills and three different progesterone only pills, which is why I switched to the copper IUD, so I didn't want to switch back to hormonal contraception unless absolutely necessary). After I had the IUD removed, the right sided stabbing pain immediately went away completely, but I got the cramping pain during running once since - it hasn't been long since I had the IUD removed so I am hoping that this will eventually disappear too.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Copper coil (IUD)  

The copper IUD was great, I had it fitted and then didn't have to worry about contraception. However, the initial insertion was painful and it did make my periods more heavy and painful. I had the coil replaced after 5 years but this coil came out on its own. I do use a menstrual cup and the coil came out in the cup, so this could have been down to user error on my part.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Jul 25

Copper coil (IUD)  

the inserction was painful and invasive, it had me feeling faint that day but come sugary drink helped. i enjoyed my time with it, but my period was much heavier and it led me to iron deficiency. i decided to take it out recently as i wanted to know how it was without anything and i was concered as to whether it was a healthy option for my uterus. when i got it removed i did feel a very positive feeling from not having it, but that could be that it was a concern on my mind for a while. but now im reconsidering having it inserted again since having no birth contol isnt a great option and i think i prefer iron deficiency than hormonal mood swings with a hormonal option.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) reviews

7 reviews

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

Feel much better not having extra hormones circulating through my body and not worrying about contraception.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Mar 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

eryew4yhwesgs


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

1 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jul 23

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

This procedure saved my life! I was sterilised earlier this year aged 36, I suffer from Tokophobia (fear of pregnancy) and don’t want children so this surgery was the perfect solution. I opted to have both tubes removed completely to reduce any risk of recanalisation in the future. I feel so much happier in myself and no longer experience panic attacks related to sex/pregnancy scares so I’m actually able to relax and enjoy myself 😅 I had to go private because of my age and where I live but it was definitely worth the money. There is a Childfree friendly doctors list on Reddit, I found the link on a Childfree Facebook group. Definitely recommend sterilisation!


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

Feel much better not having extra hormones circulating through my body and not worrying about contraception.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Mar 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

eryew4yhwesgs


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

1 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jul 23

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

This procedure saved my life! I was sterilised earlier this year aged 36, I suffer from Tokophobia (fear of pregnancy) and don’t want children so this surgery was the perfect solution. I opted to have both tubes removed completely to reduce any risk of recanalisation in the future. I feel so much happier in myself and no longer experience panic attacks related to sex/pregnancy scares so I’m actually able to relax and enjoy myself 😅 I had to go private because of my age and where I live but it was definitely worth the money. There is a Childfree friendly doctors list on Reddit, I found the link on a Childfree Facebook group. Definitely recommend sterilisation!


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Dec 20

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

It maybe ok for some people and for some, like the other women here it may even be good, but for myself and a lot of other women this was and still is the worst thing that could have happened to me. My life has been irrevocably damaged by this procedure and is still being damaged. The complex migraines I have suffered since having the procedure caused me to have a stroke 3 days after my 39th birthday, I have never smoked, eat healthy, organic food and don’t abuse my body. Before this procedure I was extremely fit, quick minded, outgoing and energetic. It might not harm everyone but if you are one of the growing number of women that have been affected you will regret it for the rest of your life. Even a reversal may not completely fix things (as I found) depending on how badly the tubes have been damaged. Really do your research, join support groups for ptls and ask the women who are all suffering the same symptoms, as many questions as you can.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

1 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Sep 20

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

I chose sterilization several years ago to prevent pregnancy. It was the right decision for me and I have had no long-lasting effects.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Nov 19

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

Best decision ever. I never have to worry about a pregnancy scare. Note: only do this if you are sure you never want to become pregnant naturally.


Increased sex drive

1 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jun 19

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

I decided to get sterilised at age 25 after awful side effects from hormonal contraceptives (which doctors brushed off as nothing) including weight gain, depression, mood swings and complete loss of libido. I didn't want kids so I went to Marie Stopes and had my tubes tied privately (think it cost about £1000). Doctors on the NHS had more or less told me I was supposed to have kids and they only sterilised women who are older or who have already had kids...women's healthcare is shockingly bad. Anyway, other than temporary pain and discomfort after the surgery, which gradually tapered off after 2 weeks (I was in bad period-level pain immediately after, but by the next day I was just uncomfortable and this got better day by day), I feel completely myself and have done ever since...zero side effects! P.s. don't trust NHS doctors when it comes to women's health - they lie.


Top side effects not reported

7 helpful

0 comments

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