What is Copper IUD?
A Copper IUD is a T-shaped intrauterine device wrapped with a coil of copper placed in the uterus by a clinician. A healthcare professional must purchase, implant, and remove it. It is the only long-acting and nonhormonal contraceptive currently available. The copper IUD is manufactured by diffenent brands such as ParaGard [1].
What Does The Copper IUD Do?
The copper IUD, which releases copper ions into the womb, makes the environment toxic and inhospitable for sperm. The copper changes the mix of molecules in the uterus lining and the cervix's mucus. The copper also changes the ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ microbiome of the vagina, further decreasing the chances of sperm survival [1]. Sperm that do make it up the vagina into the womb change direction and head away from, rather than toward, the uterus [1].
Oxidation of copper to black copper oxide on the IUD is followed by dissolution by amino acids in the endometrial fluid. Copper release increases exponentially, from 1.6-4.7 mmol/day at first to 0.16-0.63 after 3-5 months [2].
What is Hashimoto's Disease?
Hashimoto’s Disease (also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is an immune system malfunction that causes thyroid inflammation. It is often an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks itself, although autoantibodies or viral infections can sometimes trigger it. The thyroid is a gland in the front of the neck and secretes hormones that regulate many important body functions, such as metabolism, body temperature, and muscle strength. Hashimoto’s disease can damage the thyroid, which can, in turn, affect these functions, causing symptoms such as fatigue and constipation [3, 4].
Causes of Hashimoto's Disease
Hashimoto’s is thought to be a mix of genetic and environmental causes. Twin studies reveal that genetic factors are at play, with a 55 % likelihood of identical twins but just a 3% likelihood of nonidentical twins [3].
In some cases, environmental triggers such as a viral infection or exposure to certain substances can also set off Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in genetically susceptible people [3, 5]. These environmental triggers trigger a damaging immune response against the thyroid gland, eventually leading to inflammation and injury to the thyroid gland over time.
The condition can sometimes be a comorbidity of other autoimmune disorders. Up to one-fifth of patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases are presumed to be associated with organ-specific or systemic autoimmune disorders. It can also impact tissues and organs other than the thyroid [6].
Dietary factors may also influence the pathogenesis and treatment of Hashimoto's Disease: nutritional deficiencies of selenium, potassium, iodine, copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamins A, C, D and B have been found in the blood and urine of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hence, feedback on the nutritional status of the immune system via an anti-inflammatory diet will be beneficial [7, 8].
Can Copper IUD Influence Hashimoto's Disease?
In light of the studies provided, there might not be enough support to accurately answer whether or not a Copper IUD can cause Hashimoto’s Disease. Hashimoto’s Disease is a condition that affects the immune system and attacks the thyroid. None of the studies provided directly studied the relationship between Copper IUDs and Hashimoto’s Disease.
However, other studies indicate that copper IUDs interfere with other biological processes within the body. Copper IUDs have been shown to affect endometrial gene expression (in which all the genes of the endometrium are measured), up-or down-regulated in 49 genes, 42 up- and nine down-regulated [9], which in this case includes genes that are connected to gynaecological disorders in general, but not specifically Hashimoto’s disease [9].
Copper IUDs also alter serum levels of copper and zinc [10] and the production of reactive oxygen species [11]. All these changes could influence many bodily functions and pathologies, but none of the studies above touch upon the effect on Hashimoto’s Disease, let alone Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
In conclusion, the changes in the body that Copper IUDs can provoke reveal little about their role in the development of Hashimoto’s Disease unless future research explores this in greater detail.