Does the Intrauterine Device (IUD) Interfere with Sperm Migration?
Yes the IUD interferes with sperm migration by creating an inflammatory reaction in the intrauterine cavity that spreads towards the cervix, all of the uterus, and the fallopian tubes. The copper is toxic to the sperm (spermicidal) and the ova (ovaricidal). When the sperm come in contact with the cervix in presence of an IUD, they are exposed to the noxious inflammatory environment and are destroyed almost immediately. Ones that are seen (though the numbers are low) are decapitated and separated from their tails. There is generally no sperm noted in the fallopian tubes where they normally remain mobile and viable for up to 85 hours without the presence of an IUD.
