Even though there are plenty of contraceptive methods around these days, it’s hard to tell which one is best for your sexual wellness. Most of us opt for the Pill and/or a condom, but other methods may be better for your family planning needs. One such device is the copper T, which has a failure rate of less than 1%, but still with any new sexual health device, you need to take care of your wellbeing and watch out for certain side effects. Though the adverse outcomes of the copper T tend to fade away with time, you should consult your GP before you have the device inserted. Let’s take a look at the potential side effects of the copper T.
1. Severe bleeding and cramps: Many women who have the copper T inserted complain of bleeding in between periods, as well as severe cramps – but these can be subdued with simple painkillers like ibuprofen. Heaving bleeding during your menstrual cycle and clotting between periods is also a common complaint, and can last for a few months after the device is inserted. These initial pains are often regular and severe, but once these subside you should be experiencing less bleeding and cramping than you had before you began using the copper T. In very rare cases, however, the excess bleeding continues for longer.
2. Allergies: If you’re one of a few, rare cases, insertion of copper T can cause you to experience irritation, itching and rashes in the vaginal area. As you might assume from the name of the device, it is covered with a copper coating which doctors believe is the main cause of allergies in these cases. The best way to stop this from happening is to work out whether or not you’re allergic to copper before you have the device inserted. This is vital, as the infection can spread to your fallopian tubes and cause real damage. If you are allergic, have the copper T removed at once and instead go for a hormonal IUD.
3. Rejection: Again, this is a rare one but some women find that the device is rejected and ejected by the vagina, all by itself. However, if your uterus pushes out the copper T, you’re at a high risk of getting pregnant as it is very difficult to trace or even notice if and when this has occurred. This is why you HAVE to get regular check ups done every year to make sure your copper T is where it needs to be.
4. Cuts in the uterus: The device has been known to cause perforation in the uterus, which means that you need to have the copper T removed immediately. If an emergency removal does not take place, the copper T can automatically move to your other organs, which may mean that you have to have surgery to retrieve it. If, at any stage after getting a copper T fixed inside your uterus, you start to feel any discomfort, you could notify your doctor as soon as possible and go for an internal check up.
5. Increased risk of miscarriage and infertility: If you get pregnant while using copper T, you have a high chance of miscarriage as this means the egg has been fertilised somewhere outside the uterus wall. This causes an array of complications and, ultimately, the loss of the foetus. If you suspect pregnancy, you should get it checked immediately and have the device removed if you are expecting. Also, as copper T works by causing inflammation of the uterine lining, it can contribute to secondary infertility later on as the inflammation can produce scar tissue in your uterus, which can make it hard for a baby to implant successfully.
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