A 28-year-old woman, Milja Maunuvaara, was surprised to discover she was pregnant even though she had a copper coil inserted as a form of contraception. She experienced intense stomach pains, leading to the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Despite having the copper coil for 18 months, she trusted its effectiveness completely.

Initially on contraceptive pills for a decade before switching to the copper coil, Milja expressed her confidence in the device. She found out about her ectopic pregnancy after visiting her GP due to persistent stomach pains. Given three options by doctors to address the ectopic pregnancy – waiting, medication, or surgery – she chose the medication route, which ended the situation swiftly.

Following this experience, Milja decided to use condoms with her partner as she is wary of the chemicals in birth control pills. Emphasizing the importance of taking a pregnancy test if experiencing symptoms or a delayed period, she suggests individuals choose contraception that suits their bodies best.

While the NHS highlights the copper coil’s high efficacy when used correctly, it also provides information on other contraceptive methods. The NHS stresses that condoms are less effective at preventing pregnancy but are crucial for reducing the transmission of STIs. Women can access the copper coil for free at sexual health clinics or certain GP surgeries, where their medical history will be discussed during the initial appointment.