Starting a copper IUD

Copper IUDs are immediately effective regardless of when they are inserted.

They can be used as emergency contraception, provided an existing ongoing pregnancy can be excluded and the IUD is:

• inserted within 5 days (120 hours) of unprotected sexual intercourse, or
• inserted within 5 days after the earliest estimated date of ovulation; see 'How does EC work?' in the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Emergency Contraception guideline for advice on date estimation.

For information about time to effectiveness when switching between contraceptive methods, see printable table.

Clinicians must be trained in competent and safe insertion technique.

Observe the patient in the clinic for at least 15 to 20 minutes after insertion of an IUD in case of a delayed vasovagal reaction. For patient advice after insertion, see here.