Your guide to IUDs

Benefits

Up to 99.8% effective

Lasts between 3 and 10 years

Small device inserted into your uterus

Hormonal and non-hormonal options

What is an IUD?

IUD stands for Intrauterine Device. It is a tiny ‘T shaped’ device that is put into your uterus to prevent pregnancy. They are one of the most effective methods of contraception; they are long-acting and reversible.  

There are two types of IUDs; ones with hormones, and ones without.

Hormonal IUDs

Mirena
Jaydess

Learn more

Non-hormonal IUD

Copper IUD

Learn more

How does an IUD work?

Both copper and hormonal IUDs work by making it difficult for the sperm to move and get to the egg. If the sperm can’t reach the egg then you can’t get pregnant.

The copper IUD uses copper to prevent pregnancy. Sperm doesn’t like copper, so the copper IUD makes it almost impossible for sperm to get to the egg.

The hormones in the Mirena and Jaydess IUDs prevent pregnancy in two ways:
1) They thicken the mucus that lives on the cervix, which blocks and traps the sperm, and

2) They sometimes stop eggs from leaving your ovaries (during ovulation), which means there’s no egg for sperm to fertilise. No egg equals no pregnancy.

One of the great things about IUDs is that they last for years but they’re not permanent. If you decide you want to get pregnant or you just don’t want to have your IUD anymore, your nurse or doctor can quickly and easily take it out. You’re also able to get pregnant soon after the IUD is removed.

What’s the difference between copper and hormonal IUDs?

Hormonal IUDs

Lasts up to 5 years

Contains a very small amount of hormones (progestogen)

99.8% effective
2 in 1000 get pregnant

Helps control crampy and heavy periods. Likely to make your period much lighter or stop it altogether.

Copper IUD

Lasts up to 10 years

Doesn’t contain hormones

99.2% effective
8 in 1000 get pregnant

Likely to keep your period the same

Learn more

About Mirena

Learn more

IUDs - Copper

Learn more

Other contraception

Learn more

Interested in using contraception?

Reach out online or call 0800 226 784 to speak to one of our nurses. We value your decision about your health.

Make an appointment
Back to top