Image of Au Naturel by Sarah Lucas

Baby or no baby? WORDS: Aimee McLaren

COPPER

The meaning to life can be said to create the next generation. Yet we could have the chance taken away or given the choice not to reproduce.

C opper is surprisingly used a lot in fertility and birth control. For both its electromagnetic radiation shielding and

its spermicidal properties. But how can copper ensure both? Electromagnetic radiation is everywhere and comes in many forms, such as microwaves, radio waves and x-rays. But could it be damaging men’s sperm? Everyone puts their smartphones in their pockets and laptops on their laps without thinking, but should men be worried and start electromagnetic radiation shielding up? The Times newspaper reported “among the 1,492 samples, exposure to cell-phone EMR lowered sperm motility by 8%, and viability by 9%.” These results could be worrying to men trying to reproduce or have already got fertility problems. The National Health Service publicised that these studies are inconclusive as “sperm in the laboratory are outside the human body and do not have the protection of the tissues and fluids of the testes in which they are stored. Therefore they might be more

vulnerable to damage.” Even though the research is inconclusive products to shield electromagnetic radiation are available. But how do they work? The shield has to be created using conductive or magnetic materials, such as copper. Copper is mostly used for shielding radio frequency as it absorbs radio and magnetic waves. Using conductive materials to block electrostatic waves is known as a Faraday cage. Named after the English scientist Michael Faraday. The thicker the conductive material and the more conductive it is the better the shield it makes. Copper is one of the best materials to use because of its conductive properties and also because it is ductile. Copper being ductile means it can be stretched into a

longer and thinner material. Copper thread is being manufactured and weaved through fabric to make it easily wearable. For example men can now purchase trousers that have copper weaved through the fabric to save their sperm from electromagnetic radiation. If copper can be used to keep men fertile how can it be used as a birth control for women? The intrauterine device is one of the world’s most widely used methods of reversible birth control for women with 160 million users, but it was not always made with copper. The idea of the IUD came from the myth that travellers in the desert would put stones containing metals inside the female camels’ reproductive organs. This would irritate them so they would not

Among the 1,492 samples, exposure to cell-phone EMR lowered sperm motility by 8%, and viability by 9%.

Above Image by Lukiyanova Natalia

reproduce. Dr. Richard Richter created the first official IUD in 1909. The IUD ring was made out of silk suture material. Only 3% of the 1100 women that tested this IUD became pregnant. The IUD idea was ignored until Dr. Ernst Gräfenberg modified Dr. Richter’s ring IUD in the 1920s. He changed it by adding silver coiled metal that contained 26% copper. Out of the 600 women that tried this IUD 1.6% became pregnant. Even though medical research proves copper changes the nature of the fluids in the womb and fallopian tubes, which makes sperm less likely to survive. Doctors were still inserting IUDs in the 1960s without copper. The Dalkon shield is one example. Dr. Hugh Davis introduced the plastic IUD in 1968. Due to its design it was hard to fit into the woman’s uterus. Many women reported that it caused severe pelvic infections and perforations and as a result of the Dalkon shield six women died in 1974. The Dalkon shield contained no copper and was harmful, but what happens

when an IUD contains too much copper? The copper cross IUD consisted of 100% copper. It was taken off the market in the 1980s due to a number of women becoming allergic to copper. Usually becoming allergic to copper is quite rare, however IUDs can be kept in the womb between three to ten years depending on the type. The more exposed to a substance the more likely the person will become allergic. Allergic reactions can start with a skin rash, but in the worst cases can cause anaphylaxis. The current IUDs use both plastic and copper. This lowers the risks with just plastic or just copper. The plastic and copper IUDs are 99% effective in stopping pregnancy. However the 1% of women that do become pregnant on the birth control has an increased possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. This is only if the IUD is not removed as soon as the woman finds out that she is pregnant. An ectopic pregnancy is when the foetus develops outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tubes. This happens because the IUD takes up too much space in the womb for the foetus to grow and gets stuck

in the fallopian tubes. Other complications with the current IUDs are rare. The IUD damages less than a thousand women’s wombs when the IUD perforates the womb’s lining. Another risk of the IUD is a pelvic infection but this can only occur in the first twenty days after the IUD is fitted. Less than one in a hundred women catch a pelvic infection and usually these women are at low risk of sexually transmitted infections at the time. The IUD does not stop the risk of catching any STIs. There is also a possibility of the womb rejecting the IUD or the displacement of the IUD. If this happens the IUD has to be removed. Most likely these complications are just after it had been fitted. The current IUD is nicknamed the copper T due to its

Above Image by Nicola Hamilton

shape. But it was designed with that shape for a reason. The plastic side pieces are flexible to bend them down to easily insert it into the woman’s uterus. Also to easily take the IUD out during pregnancy, replacement or complications. It is also in a T shape so the copper on the side pieces are close to the opening to the fallopian tubes. This is to stop the sperm from getting close to the ovaries. The IUD is also designed with string attached to the bottom so the forceps can effortlessly catch hold of to remove the IUD. Places like America, where they do not have a National Health Service, birth control can cost a lot. On average an intrauterine device costs between $400 and $850 and most health insurance will not cover this expense. The designer Ronen Kadushin wanted to solve this problem by creating the Open Design, the Bearina Intrauterine device. This design suggests the potential of mass-producing 3D printed products inexpensively. On average the 3D piece can be manufactured at just 92 pence per unit. Also the copper used

in this design is from a copper coin like a one-cent coin or a one pence coin. Reusing a coin will lower the expense of buying copper. However the consistency of the copper in a coin depends on the coin. For example before 1992 the one pence coin was 92% copper and now it is only copper plated steel. Each copper coin in the world will need tested to see which has the right amount of copper to be used in this IUD. Also copper coins come in different sizes. For example the two pence coin is bigger than the one pence coin. This means that the 3D printed piece will need to be printed in different sizes for different coins, which might be difficult, as the IUD has to easily fit into the uterus. As the name, Bearina, suggests the main 3D printed piece is shaped like a bear’s head as the coin can easily fit. Kadushin also said “The Bearina … is visually friendly, to appeal, so to speak to younger women.” But will any woman get over the fact that an old coin will be place inside them and the idea of it being unhygienic? Well, we will not find out for a while, as the Bearina IUD is

The Bearina … is visually friendly, to appeal, so to speak to younger women.

Above Image by Ronen Kadushin

not yet a functional IUD. However as it is an Open Design, meaning not patented and is allowed to be copied. It has the potential of the design being developed and improved by another designer. Maybe in the future it will be medically tested and will change the affordability of birth control.

Another birth control that is connected to copper is the combined pill. Like the current IUD, the pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy and does not prevent women catching sexually transmitted infections. The pill contains oestrogen and progestogen, two hormones that changes women’s ovulatory cycle. Oestrogen is related to copper, when one rises in the body the other one does. The pill has been known to cause copper toxicity and excess oestrogen. This can cause migraines, PMS and chronic fatigue. The pill can cause other side effects, such as temporary nausea, headaches, breast tenderness and mood swings. It can also cause breakthrough bleeding and high blood pressure. There is some research about the

link between blood clots, breast cancer and the pill. As the pill has to be taken twenty-one days and left for seven days it is easy for the pill to cause a rise of copper in the body. A rise in copper can destroy vitamin C, zinc, and iron. Also raises vitamin A and B in the body. It is usually easy for doctors to diagnosed high levels of copper as patients usually have copper rings around their iris in their eye. Copper is used in the body to produce ceruloplasmin protein that is involved in iron utilization. People with high levels of ceruloplasmin have been reported to have OCD, Schizophrenia, Wilson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, Lymphoma and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Also the ceruloplasmin protein can cause cataracts, which is cloudiness in the lens of the eye. This causes

visual impairment and can be fixed by surgery. There is another form of the pill. The other pill only contains progestogen and will reduce the problems caused by too much oestrogen and copper. As it only contains one hormone the pill can be taken every day without gaps. This will help women to not forget to take the pill on certain days. However as there are no breaks from the pill there is a risk of irregular bleeds. This pill has also been reported to cause acne, weight gain, stomach upsets, breast tenderness and cysts on the ovaries. Copper is being used in many ways in fertility and hopefully with more medical research it can be used in more ways and more safely. In the future we might be able to buy a copper shield that will protect us from all electromagnetic radiation, or an IUD that does not have any side effects, or a useable, reused copper IUD or even the pill might change into one that does not affect our bodies’ natural copper levels and cause side effects. We will just have to wait and see.

Above Image by Philippe Huguen