Meet Miudella: A new kind of hormone-free IUD

There’s a new copper IUD coming soon, and it could be a great option if you’re looking for birth control without hormones. Miudella is the first non-hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) approved in the U.S. in over 40 years! And while it’s not available in clinics and doctor’s offices just yet, it’s exciting to see a new addition coming soon to the birth control lineup.

What is Miudella?

Miudella is a non-hormonal IUD, a small, T-shaped device that’s placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. IUDs are safe, work super well to prevent pregnancy, and don’t require daily attention.

What makes this new IUD different? It’s made from a flexible metal that helps it to adapt to the unique shape of someone’s uterus. It also contains less copper than the currently available copper IUD (Paragard), so it may cause fewer changes to your period.

How does Miudella work?

Miudella works a lot like the other copper IUD: it prevents pregnancy mainly by changing the way sperm moves. If sperm can’t swim well, they can’t reach an egg so fertilization doesn’t happen. No sperm and egg together means no pregnancy. Like other IUDs, Miudella works really well to prevent pregnancy. It’s 99% effective, which means out of 100 people using it over the course of a year, about 1 person might get pregnant.

It’s currently approved for up to three years, but the company that makes it is still studying long-term effectiveness. As they collect more information, Miudella will likely be approved for up to eight years.

How do you use Miudella?

To use Miudella, you’ll need to visit a health care provider who can place it in your uterus during an in-person appointment. Once it’s in place, that’s it. Miudella starts working right away and continues to prevent pregnancy for years without you needing to remember to take or do anything. And just like with other IUDs, Miudella can be removed at any time, for any reason. If you decide to have Miudella removed, it’s possible to get pregnant right away, even the same day it’s taken out. If you don’t want to get pregnant right away, you can always use another birth control method.

What’s it like to use Miudella?

For most people, using Miudella, and other IUDs, is like having a birth control fairy godmother. It’s working all the time to prevent pregnancy and you barely have to think about it. The most common side effects with Miudella are similar to the other copper IUD. Some people may experience heavier bleeding and more cramping during their periods, especially at first. But for many, their periods return to what was normal for them after a few months, or they don’t notice any changes at all. The placement process for Miudella is also similar to other IUDs, so it’s important to talk with your provider about what to expect and how to manage discomfort or pain when you’re having it placed.

Who can use Miudella?

Most people can safely use non-hormonal IUDs like Miudella. But with any medication or device, it’s important to talk to a provider first to make sure it’s a good fit for you. People with a copper or nickel allergy or some other very specific medical conditions shouldn’t use this kind of IUD.
Miudella might be a great choice if you want a private, highly effective, non-hormonal birth control method. There’s no packaging or monthly refills. Your partner might feel the strings in your vagina during sex, but if that happens, there are easy fixes.

Miudella doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so using condoms or medications, like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), are still very important to decrease your risk of getting HIV and other STIs. If you currently have an STI like chlamydia or gonorrhea, you’ll want to get it treated before having Miudella placed.

Can Miudella be used as emergency contraception?

Right now, we don’t know if Miudella can be used as emergency contraception (EC) the way other IUDs can because it hasn’t been studied—yet. Stay tuned for updates as more research becomes available.

When and where can I get Miudella?

Miudella isn’t available in the U.S. quite yet, but it’s expected to be in clinics and doctors’ offices sometime in 2026. We’ll be keeping an eye out and will be sure to share updates as soon as it’s ready for use!