Objective: to assess the complications, acceptability and causes of discontinuation of women who inserted copper intrauterine devices at a usual risk maternity for one year. Methods: a longitudinal-prospective study, lasting 12 months. Eighty-three women who received the device by a doctor or nurse in a maternity hospital between September and October 2017 participated. Data were collected at one, six and 12 months after insertion and underwent descriptive analysis. Results: most were inserted by nurses and 71 continued with the device. Women chose IUD use because there is no risk of forgetfulness, it is non-hormonal and effective. The 12 who discontinued use reported dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, irregular bleeding, fall out, and endometrium perforation. Conclusion: the method was continued by most of participants and the complications found are common to the literature. There is a need to expand nursing training to increase the offer to the population.