If,as you claim, have done lots of research on IUDs, and are convinced perforation is an issue, then I must come to the conclusion that you actually haven't done much research at all. As PonyPotato pointed out, the actual risk of perforation is incredibly low (1 in 1000 women). If the clinician has considerable experience sounding the uterus correctly and inserting the IUD, there should not have a problem. Mine walked me through the procedure on a dummy uterus before she did it so that I could see what she was going to do. Certainly, there are a lot of people on the Internet posting horror stories about IUDs--but if you look, there are just as many posting positive stories. Further, millions of women have been using IUDs in Europe for decades now. The Guttmacher Institute has a good paper here:
Popularity Disparity: Attitudes About the IUD in Europe and the United States about the reasons for the popularity of the IUD in Europe.
In terms of cost-effective birth control, it cannot be beat. Thanks to family planning services at my university, I paid $0 for mine--insertion, checkup, and everything--and it will last me 5 years.
Also, in terms of hormonal birth control, has she tried the NuvaRing? It has the lowest dose of hormone on the market right now, and since it's not an oral BCP, it shouldn't make her nauseous.