Copper coil (IUD) vs Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)
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Overview
Rated 3.5
617 reviews
5 - 10 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 4.5
8 reviews
Permanent
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Permanent
Effect on fertility
Copper coil (IUD) ingredients
Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers 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 Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) review
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Copper coil (IUD) reviews
617 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Before having the copper coil, I’d tried all other forms of contraceptives. I got to a point where I felt, even though the copper coil would cause more heavier and painful periods, it was non hormonal so thought it was my old option (hormones really don’t suit me) The insertion was pretty bad I won’t lie but when it’s done it’s done! I never could feel my threads and my periods went from 5 days to 10 days. I went from being someone with light periods to unbelievably heavy; to the point I was wearing period knickers with two overlapped night pads for two of the days. The nurses said after 6 months my body would adjust and the bleeding would settle down. They started me on TXA as my ferretin and iron became low. To cut a long story short the bleeding never settled and I was still having ten day long periods. It was a horrible 12 months as I felt the majority of the time I was on a period and doing daily tasks or working proved very very hard some days. I became anaemic and would spend a lot of money on supplements alongside the prescribed iron. The anaemic led to a lower moon, zero sex drive, ravinous appetite and tiredness. I know they say research shows a small percentage gain weight on it and I was one of them. But they always like to say it’s others things like lifestyle. For me I was certain it was the coil due to the anaemia it causes. I’m 155cm and weigh 8 stone 3. I’ve always been that weight and I go to the gym 3-5 days a week, probably twice a week since the coil. I gained a stone in that year.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Mar 26
Brain fog ,Acne , weight gain , tender and painful breasts all the time as a result , extremely heavy periods, although it's non hormonal doesn't mean no side effects , be careful when considering " non hormonal contraception"
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Mar 26
Very frustrated with the copper coil, if it didn't make my periods so heavy and painful I would continue as there has been no other issues you would likely see in a hormonal contraceptive. If you can manage 2 weeks every month in a lot of pain, then it's worth it for the other two when I'm fine and no mood changes
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Before having the copper coil, I’d tried all other forms of contraceptives. I got to a point where I felt, even though the copper coil would cause more heavier and painful periods, it was non hormonal so thought it was my old option (hormones really don’t suit me) The insertion was pretty bad I won’t lie but when it’s done it’s done! I never could feel my threads and my periods went from 5 days to 10 days. I went from being someone with light periods to unbelievably heavy; to the point I was wearing period knickers with two overlapped night pads for two of the days. The nurses said after 6 months my body would adjust and the bleeding would settle down. They started me on TXA as my ferretin and iron became low. To cut a long story short the bleeding never settled and I was still having ten day long periods. It was a horrible 12 months as I felt the majority of the time I was on a period and doing daily tasks or working proved very very hard some days. I became anaemic and would spend a lot of money on supplements alongside the prescribed iron. The anaemic led to a lower moon, zero sex drive, ravinous appetite and tiredness. I know they say research shows a small percentage gain weight on it and I was one of them. But they always like to say it’s others things like lifestyle. For me I was certain it was the coil due to the anaemia it causes. I’m 155cm and weigh 8 stone 3. I’ve always been that weight and I go to the gym 3-5 days a week, probably twice a week since the coil. I gained a stone in that year.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Mar 26
Brain fog ,Acne , weight gain , tender and painful breasts all the time as a result , extremely heavy periods, although it's non hormonal doesn't mean no side effects , be careful when considering " non hormonal contraception"
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Mar 26
Very frustrated with the copper coil, if it didn't make my periods so heavy and painful I would continue as there has been no other issues you would likely see in a hormonal contraceptive. If you can manage 2 weeks every month in a lot of pain, then it's worth it for the other two when I'm fine and no mood changes
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) reviews
8 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Jan 26
I had a laparoscopic bisalpingectomy. Obviously it is a surgery, which means a few weeks of recovery and scars can take a few months to properly heal and fade, but I am so glad I got it done. It is permanent, so that is something to keep in mind if you are not 100% sure, but very safe and reliable.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th May 24
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Mar 24
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Jan 26
I had a laparoscopic bisalpingectomy. Obviously it is a surgery, which means a few weeks of recovery and scars can take a few months to properly heal and fade, but I am so glad I got it done. It is permanent, so that is something to keep in mind if you are not 100% sure, but very safe and reliable.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th May 24
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Mar 24
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 30th Jul 23
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
1 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Dec 20
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Sep 20
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th Nov 19
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Jun 19
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
Women's health, reviewed.
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