Z30: Contraceptive management

Z30.1: Insertion of (intrauterine) contraceptive device

The uterus or womb sits in the pelvis and is pear-shaped. The narrower part extends downward into the vagina and is called the cervix. When a woman is pregnant, the child grows in her uterus. A coil is a small device that can be inserted through the cervix into the womb. The purpose of the coil is to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

There are two different types of coils, i.e. copper coils and hormonal coils. What they have in common is that they act directly, inside the womb. Copper coils work by releasing tiny amounts of copper into the womb. Hormonal coils contain a hormone that they gradually release.

The substances from the coil can prevent an unwanted pregnancy in different ways. For instance, they affect the sperm that get into the womb during sex. This makes it more difficult for egg cells to be fertilized. The released substances act on the mucous membrane of the womb. It will then be more difficult for a fertilized egg cell to embed itself in the womb.