Comprehensive medication guide to Paragard including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 for most ACA-compliant insurance plans under the contraceptive mandate preventive care benefit (device J-code J7300 + insertion CPT 58300); some grandfathered or short-term plans may charge a copay of $10–$30 or require deductible payment.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$1,167–$1,342 retail for the Paragard device alone; total out-of-pocket including insertion can range $500–$1,800. No generic is available and no manufacturer coupon card exists — but most insured patients pay $0 under ACA preventive care.
Medfinder Findability Score
72/100
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Paragard (intrauterine copper contraceptive, T 380A) is a T-shaped medical device inserted into the uterus by a healthcare provider to prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. Manufactured by CooperSurgical, Inc., Paragard has been FDA-approved since 1984 and commercially available since 1988, making it one of the most well-established contraceptives in the United States.
Unlike every other IUD available in the U.S. — Mirena, Liletta, Kyleena, and Skyla — Paragard contains absolutely no hormones. It works purely through the contraceptive properties of copper, making it the top choice for people who want highly effective, long-acting, reversible contraception without synthetic hormones.
Paragard is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. It contains 313.4 milligrams of copper wire wound around a white plastic frame measuring 32mm wide and 36mm tall. A monofilament thread attached at the base allows patients and providers to confirm the device remains in place and facilitates removal.
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Paragard prevents pregnancy through two complementary mechanisms, both entirely hormone-free. First, the device continuously releases trace copper ions (Cu²⁺) into the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes. Copper is highly toxic to sperm — it disrupts sperm motility (the ability to swim), prevents capacitation (the final maturation step needed to fertilize an egg), and causes oxidative DNA damage in sperm cells. This creates a consistently sperm-hostile environment throughout the upper reproductive tract.
Second, the physical presence of the device triggers a sterile (infection-free) inflammatory response in the endometrium. The body's immune system recognizes the foreign object and recruits white blood cells, prostaglandins, and enzymes to the uterine cavity — further destroying sperm and creating an environment hostile to fertilization. Importantly, Paragard does not suppress ovulation; your natural menstrual cycle continues normally.
These mechanisms also make Paragard the most effective form of emergency contraception available when inserted within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex — with a failure rate of less than 0.1%. The device works immediately upon insertion with no waiting period required.
313.4 mg copper — Intrauterine device (IUD)
Single T-shaped device inserted by healthcare provider; one device for up to 10 years
Paragard is not currently on the FDA Drug Shortage Database as of 2026 — CooperSurgical continues to manufacture and distribute it nationally. However, finding Paragard can feel surprisingly difficult because it is a medical device stocked by individual clinics and providers, not a prescription drug available at retail pharmacies. Each OB-GYN practice, reproductive health clinic, or community health center maintains its own inventory independently, with no central database tracking availability.
Local availability can vary significantly — urban areas with multiple reproductive health providers tend to have better access, while rural and suburban patients may face longer waits. Growing demand for hormone-free contraception, occasional distributor delays, and some provider hesitancy related to ongoing litigation can all impact how quickly you can get an appointment.
To find Paragard in stock near you without hours of calling around, use medfinder — medfinder calls nearby pharmacies and providers on your behalf and texts you the results.
Paragard is a prescription medical device, but it is not a controlled substance — no DEA registration or special prescribing authority is required beyond a standard medical license. Any licensed clinician trained in IUD insertion can prescribe and insert Paragard.
OB-GYNs (obstetrician-gynecologists) — most common inserters
Family medicine physicians
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) trained in gynecological procedures
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs)
Planned Parenthood providers and Title X clinic staff
Telehealth providers can conduct consultations and issue prescriptions for Paragard, but the device must be physically inserted by a trained provider during an in-person clinical visit — the insertion procedure cannot be performed remotely. Some telehealth services coordinate directly with in-person partner clinics to schedule insertion after a virtual consultation.
No. Paragard is not a controlled substance and is not listed on any DEA schedule. It is a prescription medical device, meaning it requires a prescription and clinical insertion by a trained healthcare provider, but it has no abuse potential, no controlled substance restrictions on prescribing, and no limits on the number of refills or replacement devices.
Because Paragard is not a controlled substance, it can be prescribed by a wide range of healthcare providers including OB-GYNs, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse-midwives — no special DEA registration or prescribing authority beyond a standard medical license is required.
Heavier or longer menstrual periods (most common, especially in first 3–6 months)
Cramping and pelvic pain during and after insertion
Spotting between periods
Lower back pain
Anemia (from heavy menstrual bleeding)
Uterine perforation (< 1 in 1,000): device penetrates uterine wall, may require surgery; risk higher while breastfeeding
Expulsion: device falls out, usually in first few months; higher risk in nulliparous patients
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): small infection risk, especially in first 20 days after insertion
Ectopic pregnancy: if pregnancy occurs with IUD in place, higher likelihood of being ectopic — medical emergency
Group A streptococcal sepsis: rare but life-threatening infection within days of insertion
Device fragmentation during removal: plastic arms may break, requiring surgical retrieval (subject of ongoing MDL litigation)
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Miudella
New copper IUD approved February 2025; smaller insertion device, less copper, fewer heavy-bleeding side effects; currently approved for 3 years with 8-year data pending
Mirena
Hormonal IUD (levonorgestrel 20 mcg/day); lasts 8 years; may reduce or eliminate periods; widely stocked
Liletta
Hormonal IUD identical to Mirena in size and dose; lasts 8 years; often lowest cost at health centers and Title X clinics
Kyleena
Hormonal IUD with lower hormone dose (9 mcg/day levonorgestrel); lasts 5 years; same size as Skyla
Skyla
Smallest hormonal IUD; 6 mcg/day levonorgestrel; lasts 3 years; designed for nulliparous patients
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NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
minorCommonly used to manage cramping and heavy bleeding with Paragard. Theoretical concern about reducing inflammatory component of mechanism, but no clinically significant reduction in efficacy established in practice.
Anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban)
moderateMay amplify Paragard-related heavy menstrual bleeding, increasing risk of significant blood loss and anemia. Monitor hemoglobin levels with concurrent use.
Corticosteroids / immunosuppressants
minorSystemic immunosuppression may modestly reduce the inflammatory component of Paragard's mechanism and increase IUD-related infection risk in severely immunocompromised patients.
High-frequency RF medical equipment (diathermy)
majorHigh-frequency radiofrequency equipment can heat the copper components of Paragard, potentially causing tissue injury. Avoid diathermy procedures in patients with Paragard in place.
Copper chelating agents (penicillamine, trientine)
moderateTheoretically relevant only in Wilson's disease context (which is a contraindication to Paragard). Concurrent use would be clinically contraindicated.
Paragard has been trusted by millions of people for over 35 years as the definitive hormone-free long-acting contraceptive. Its over 99% effectiveness, 10-year duration, immediate reversibility, and lack of systemic hormones make it uniquely valuable for people who want to avoid hormonal contraception without sacrificing efficacy. It's the only option that also doubles as the most effective form of emergency contraception available.
The primary challenges with Paragard in 2026 are practical: it requires an in-person clinical insertion, stock varies by clinic, and navigating insurance billing can be confusing. Most insured patients ultimately pay $0 under ACA preventive care, and the CooperSurgical Patient Assistance Program helps uninsured patients who qualify.
If finding Paragard is the obstacle, medfinder can help. Simply enter Paragard and your location — medfinder calls nearby pharmacies and clinics to check who has it in stock and can fill your prescription. Results are texted directly to you, saving the time and frustration of calling around yourself.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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