Home▸Contraceptive Method Selection▸Hormonal vs Copper IUD Mechanism Comparator

💊 Hormonal vs Copper IUD Mechanism Comparator

An interactive comparison of the mechanisms of action between hormonal IUDs (e.g., Mirena, levonorgestrel) and copper IUDs, highlighting their local effects on the endometrium and cervical mucus as opposed to spermicidal action of copper.

Contraceptive Method Selection2DModerate60 FPS

Choosing Between Hormonal and Copper IUDs

Two IUD families act through very different local mechanisms.

~8 yr: Hormonal lifespan (placeholder figure)
~10 yr: Copper lifespan (placeholder figure)
<1%: Failure rate (placeholder figure)
Local: Mechanism type (not systemic)

Two distinct contraceptive strategies

Placeholder: hormonal and copper IUDs work by different local pathways.

Levonorgestrel Diffusion from the Hormonal IUD

The vertical stem releases a steady low dose of levonorgestrel.

~20 µg: Daily release (placeholder figure)
Stem reservoir: Release site (placeholder)
Very low: Systemic level (placeholder)
Hours: Onset (placeholder)

Local hormone diffusion

Placeholder: LNG diffuses locally from the polymer reservoir into the uterine cavity.

Placeholder: local dosing minimizes systemic hormonal exposure.

Cervical Mucus Thickening Under Progestin

Thickened mucus forms a physical barrier to sperm.

↑ High: Mucus viscosity (placeholder figure)
Blocked: Sperm penetration (placeholder figure)
Continuous: Timeframe (placeholder)
Full: Reversibility (placeholder)

Mucus as a physical barrier

Placeholder: progestin-thickened mucus impedes sperm ascent into the uterus.

Copper Ion Spermicidal Environment

Released copper ions impair sperm viability and function.

Continuous: Cu²⁺ release (placeholder figure)
↓ Severe: Sperm motility (placeholder figure)
Local: Inflammatory response (placeholder)
Immediate: Onset (placeholder)

Copper cytotoxicity to sperm

Placeholder: copper ions create a hostile, spermicidal intrauterine environment.

Placeholder: copper acts as a direct chemical toxin, not a hormone.

Comparing Endometrial Effects

Hormonal thins the lining; copper triggers local inflammation.

Thin/atrophic: Hormonal endometrium (placeholder figure)
Inflamed: Copper endometrium (placeholder figure)
↓ Reduced: Bleeding (hormonal) (placeholder figure)
↑ Increased: Bleeding (copper) (placeholder figure)

Divergent endometrial outcomes

Placeholder: the two IUD types produce opposite endometrial and bleeding patterns.

⚙ Under the hood

CanvasBiomedicine

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install