Copper topical for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 2)

• Tano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2020

ParaGard (copper) "I just had the paragard inserted a few days ago. I had terrible experiences with hormonal birth control (the pill and implant). The insertion did hurt a lot and I cramped/spotted after. I went home, wrapped myself in a heated blanket, and woke up feeling much better the next day. So far so good, just wanted to share my experience in case anyone was scared of the insertion process."

• Jane...
• September 10, 2020

ParaGard (copper) "I've had ParaGard for 3 years. I love it. Absolutely no changes or side effects. That's why I love it because its non hormonal and doesn't affect you mentally or screw up your bodily functions. It's just copper. Insertion was quick and easy. Only difference is my period comes more often now and is heavier than usual. But I don't mind because it's worth it for having the best hormone free, most effective birth control that lasts for 10 years."

• Cano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2021

ParaGard (copper) "Wow all the reviews here are so weird. I’m a healthy 27 year old who got this IUD a few years back and have had ZERO problems since. My body had to adjust first couple of months but after that it’s smooth sailing. Periods are fairly light after a couple months into it, no cramps or discomfort, nothing. To the people who it didn’t work for, I can only assume they had a terrible doctor insert it in, a faulty IUD, or it just didn't suit you in general. This is literally the best birth control I’ve been on and I don’t plan on ever switching from it."

• Dano
• December 19, 2018

ParaGard (copper) "Had this IUD placed after 4 years of being on using nothing but condoms for contraception. Almost ended up in a mental hospital from copper toxicity. Knew something was very wrong but had no idea why because the side effects where not listed. Dark racing irrational thoughts that scared me, heart palpitations, unreasonable amounts of paranoia, extreme anxiety, severe personality shifts. Have read other stories than mine of women going manic. Finally figured out what was going on. The rep on the phone for Paragard told me “sorry that happened to you but the box says “this is not a complete list of side effects so sorry”. There is no complete list. Know the signs of copper toxicity so you can take it out early if you try this method. It will depend on your adrenal health and biochemical makeup but there is no way to know beforehand. I don’t want to scare anyone but I do want to share. I’m fine 1 year post removal but I lost everything and will never be the same"

• CRH
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2017

ParaGard (copper) "Apparently there is a word limit here so I’ll try to get my point across. This is NON Hormonal, a lot of bad reviews with complaints that a hormonal BC would cause. Paragard doesn’t have hormones and therefore SHOULD NOT cause the affects that some of the other reviewers are complaining about. Also Copper poisoning is not an issue, read the studies done. You have no more copper in your body than what’s already naturally there. So don’t feed into the negative feedback. Do your own research and discuss with YOUR doc the best option for you. I personally LOVE paragard."

• EllaJay
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2015

ParaGard (copper) "After reading some of the scary reviews in this forum I almost talked myself out of getting the ParaGard. I think that people are more likely to post if they've had a bad experience so I wanted to add my own story to the mix. I've had a ParaGard for about a month now, and opted for ParaGard over birth control pills or a hormonal IUD because I liked the idea of a hormone free option. Previously I'd been on birth control pills for several years, and although my experience with the pill was generally positive it took my body awhile to regulate after I discontinued use the first time. After doing some research I decided to have the ParaGard inserted at Planned Parenthood as opposed to my regular OBGYN because the providers there insert dozens of these a day and have more experience with them. I've never had a baby and the insertion was uncomfortable but bearable. It basically felt like a very intense cramp, but was over in a few minutes. I'm sure that it helps to have an experienced provider Following the insertion I felt like I had mild to moderate menstrual cramps, but was able to return to work for the rest of the afternoon with minimal discomfort. In the week following the insertion you will need to wear panty liners because you leak a clearish brownish fluid which feels a bit strange. The feeling freaked me out at first but it went away pretty quickly and stopped altogether within a week. In the weeks that followed I had intermittent menstrual cramps as my body adjusted. My biggest fear was that my cramps during my period would be unbearable (they are usually very bad), but I was happy to find out that they weren't any worse than usual although my period was heavier. If you are looking for a hormone free option I'd recommend ParaGard. The key is just knowing what to expect early on."

• Rachel
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 6, 2014

"If you are like me and DO NOT want to be on any hormonal meds, this is for you! I've never had children and it wasn't that painful getting inserted. It's very quick, comparable to a pap. I was sore internally for maybe a day while my body adjusted. The periods are a different story: My first couple periods were extremely painful and lasted longer than normal. However, they ARE getting less severe every month. I'm going on month 6 and this month was like a normal period again. My advice is to deal with the pain for the first few months because it will level out."

• Arima...
• August 27, 2018

ParaGard (copper) "I had this IUD inserted two and a half years ago. At first I had mild cramping, heavy periods but I got used to that. Constant copious discharge was inconvenient but I wore panty shields every day but after a while just found myself constantly ‘coping’ with the symptoms. I started to gain weight no matter what I did still not suspecting the IUD until I started thinking back to when I began to have unexplained weight gain. I had it removed 5 days ago and I’ve lost 4 lbs no longer feel bloated all over and my blood pressure is now back to normal instead of the unusually high reading on paragard. NEVER AGAIN! For those of you who think we are being mean for posting a negative review, it’s not meant to be harmful but helpful to other people suffering the same way. Everyone is different just sharing my experience so other people are aware as I wasn’t for 2 & 1/2 years"

• Peace...
• November 27, 2019

ParaGard (copper) "Inserted Paragard 1/2006, immediate mental health issues started, felt like a zombi, severe depression, worthless feeling, unmotivated, mean, dark thoughts, gained 30 pounds, thinning hair & loss, back pain, joint/body ached, heavy periods, cranky, low libido. Vaginal odor, bacterial infections despite celibacy , insomnia, brain fog, forgetfulness, unable to lose weight. Removed 11/11. Lighter periods, able to sleep, lose weight, depression lessened, no more vaginal odors or infections."

• HQano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 9, 2020

ParaGard (copper) "I’ve had ParaGuard implanted for a year and a half now. I absolutely love it now but getting through the first 6 months was patchy. I’m glad I stuck with it though because my period is not as irregular. My mind doesn’t feel as cloudy or crowded. The cramps come and go with some period cycles being more painful than others. But overall I’m glad I made this choice"

• Carol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2019

ParaGard (copper) "I've had my ParaGard for about 2 months now. I have had 2 children and my 2nd child was 5 months old when I had it inserted. Insertion was no big deal to me, it was painless and I had no problems. Took about 2 minutes! I do understand that is largely due to the fact that I've given birth twice, and within the last year. I had light spotting for about 3 days which was expected. I had some mild cramping the day after but nothing that bothered me. When my period came it was heavier than normal, which is the only reason I rated ParaGard lower than 10. After the first week I basically forgot I even have it. Its been a blessing for me. Birth control pills and any other form of birth control that uses hormones effects my emotions A LOT as well as some severe and long term spotting. I highly recommend this IUD for anyone who has experienced similar reactions to birth control. (also, take into account that satisfied users are less likely to leave a review than ones that have had a problem!)"

• KRIS
• March 9, 2020

ParaGard (copper) "I have the paraguard for almost 10 years now. It was a while ago right after I had my son...during my six week postnatal check up I believe that it was inserted. I don't remember it hurting at all. The only complaint initially was a heavy period , which sometimes lasted 14 days, long and longer. That eased up about 4 to 5 months in. I haven't had any issues, regular period cramps, but not each month. Strings are there every month, no pain, no infections, no weight gain (aside from what laziness produced) nothing serious at all. My son is 10 next month so it works."

• Marig...
• September 15, 2019

ParaGard (copper) "I had my Paragard placed 8 weeks ago. Prior to insertion, I took 800mg Advil and it did nothing. I swore like a sailor and fought hard not to throw myself off the exam bed! But once placed, I felt okay for about a month. I came here looking for similar experiences once I started having really depressing dark thoughts. I have no history of mental illness but have been battling hopelessness, self-hatred, outbursts of screaming anger, overwhelming sadness with inconsolable crying, and irrational irritability. I’m not myself. Additionally, I have increased heart palpitations, periods of breathlessness, overall dryness, scratchy throat/raspy voice, yeast infection, abdominal pressure and bloat, lower back pain, nausea, loss of appetite, feeling light-headed, shakes, night sweats, fatigue, headaches, brain fog, tingling around lips, dull pains when sitting down fast or twisting/reaching, and who knows what else anymore! I plan to call Monday for an appointment to pull this $1100 disaster out of me!"

• Nukai...
• January 18, 2021

ParaGard (copper) "I personally feel as though there isn’t enough research on the Paragard Copper IUD to make some of the claims that they made when mine was inserted 4 years ago. I believe it wears down in the body and causes a chemical reaction as your blood stream intakes more copper than it is supposed to. A lot of my symptoms lined up perfectly with copper toxicity, and I have been better since removal and treatment. The whole experience was excruciating every month and periods became a 3 week long ordeal (between mental health issues and pain that wouldn’t let up and pain that caused me to feel unable to sit comfortably, due to its’ severity and spotting for a month and skipping my period for months). I felt kind of dumb for having the left the ParaGard in for so long when I found out how many women usually make it at most 1 year with it. No thanks. Just because it was non hormonal doesn’t mean it didn’t keep me feeling completely unbalanced and in complete pain with a lot of mental health issues."

• Jessica
• January 9, 2023

ParaGard (copper) "The copper IUD has caused me horrific side effects, I got copper toxicity. I now experience panic attacks, anxiety, vitamin and mineral issues, floaters in my eyes, emotionally numb, brain fog, and constipation. I also experienced severe hormonal jaw line cystic acne. Thankfully that cleared up after removal. I also had pain during sex and chronic inflammation in my uterus that took a long time to go down after removal. DON'T GET THIS. It can cause a severe hormonal imbalance caused by the copper overload/toxicity."

• ano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2020

ParaGard (copper) "Before I got the copper IUD I came on here and read all the reviews, even the bad ones. I still went along with my insertion and at first it was great. Then after a month I started to bleed with no pain. This continued for the next 4 MONTHS. I went for an ultrasound and the doctors told me it shifted so I would just have to get it replaced. I did exactly that. (how dumb of me). After I got the replacement I bled for another 3 MONTHS, straight, no pain AT ALL. I got it removed in May 2020 and let me tell you, Ive never felt better. Birth control is not for everyone but be careful !!! It’s scary what doctors don’t tell you. If you read these negative reviews it’s for a reason!!! trust yourself!!"

• Crina
• February 4, 2021

ParaGard (copper) "I got pregnant after almost 4 years of use of ParaGard. Waiting to get the results of my ultrasound to see if its a regular pregnancy or an ectopic one. Do your research, the percentage of women getting pregnant while using it correctly is higher than they want you believe it is."

• Nish
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 23, 2022

ParaGard (copper) "I got my coil removed 4 days ago after 4 years. For years I’ve suffered with back ache, headache, foggy head, not enjoying sex (feeling like something was hitting a brick wall inside) bleeding after sex, cramping 3 weeks out of a month and constantly tired. Basically showing every sign of cervical cancer having scan after scan convincing myself this is it something really is wrong. Everything at scans normal. Got the coil out even though the doctor was hesitant and after 3 cancelled appointments by them within an hour my back DID NOT hurt anymore. Day 2 the brain fog wasn’t there when I woke up I woke up with ease didn’t have to force myself headaches gone. Day 3 I began to get my sex drive back and I enjoyed my partner for the first time in ages. Day 4 absolutely no discharge which is something I’d be suffering with on a daily basis for a while. I knew 2 weeks prior to removal that I had copper toxicity. Please please reconsider it it’s ruined the last 4 years for me"

• Peacha
• March 10, 2019

ParaGard (copper) "Let me start by saying I'm 64 and no longer need to use birth control. (lucky me). I do not have experience with ParaGard. I do have experience with the copper T's given to women in the 70's. I loved it for two months, when I was 18, and then the odyssey began. I developed a PID which spread through my fallopian tubes (damaging them severely), blew out into my abdominal cavity causing peritonitis which nearly killed me. I still have occasional pain from it 46 years later, had a lot of trouble conceiving in my 30's. I have adhesions - some attached the tubes to organs, some surrounded my liver and diaphragm. I caution all women about putting copper in your bodies, it's not worth the risk of life-long pain and fertility issues. Spend time looking into the companies who manufacture these products and look at the history of rejection. They love to deny the ill effects until there are enough deaths and lawsuits that inevitably come their way. Please be careful."

• AllyT...
• July 12, 2014

"Hi All! I wanted to share my positive experience with the copper IUD. I got the Paragard inserted about 2 weeks ago & I LOVE IT. It was my best option since I never did well on the pill. I haven't had kids & the insertion, I'm going to be honest, hurt unlike anything I have ever experienced BUT it only lasts a few min & it is NOTHING you can't handle. I got my period on time. It lasted heavily for 3 days/spotted for 4. I had mild cramping the first week after insertion but now I'm back to myself 100% & feel great (no cramps/spotting). Sex & orgasms are still great. Every woman is different so I hope this helps you make your decision that it can be right for you. I gave it a 9 because time will tell if it is still this great in the future."

• Ganga...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 1, 2021

ParaGard (copper) "I had the Paragard in for 5 years and experienced a severe mental health decline that I couldn't figure out. Recently, my sister sent me a couple of articles that she found regarding women who experienced mental health symptoms similar to mine, but attributed to copper toxicity from their Paragard IUD. With little risk of pregnancy in my life at the moment, I made an immediate decision to have mine removed. I literally had an appointment with a psychiatrist for next month. I was about to begin a journey of medicating myself for my depression, anger and anxiety. I've been without the Paragard for 2 weeks now and I feel like I have a new brain. I feel younger, more energetic, less foggy, and I can't find the anger inside me that used to control me. I feel free and I want to tell everyone! This is just a cautionary tale. Please don't go on psych meds before you examine your birth control. It did however keep me from getting pregnant, so I guess it worked."

• Savy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2014

"Before I got my Paragard put in (two days ago), I was psyching myself out. I had heard that for women like me who have not had kids, having an IUD put in was super painful and awful. Oh please. Ha. If I said it didn't hurt I would be a big fat liar, but it didn't hurt even half as bad as I was expecting. If you are thinking about going with this, just know that all it feels like is a severe period cramp. Don't let that freak you out, it's uncomfortable, and honestly it is painful, but not anything a woman can't handle. That's coming from someone who has a LOW pain tolerance, and is a total wimp. I am on day three of having it in, and I love it. The day it was put in was the worst, cramps are pretty bad, but it gets easier and easier."

• Stevie
• July 7, 2021

ParaGard (copper) "ParaGard was the worst thing I’ve ever done to myself and I deeply regret it every day. Copper toxicity Is real and not talked about by OBs or mentioned in the packaging. I got my IUD at 17 years old and have had it for 2 years. I started having copper toxicity signs like fatigue, IBS, insomnia, depression, severe anxiety, and panic attacks. Doctors just want your money stay away from this if you want to be happy. It creates a hostile environment in your uterus to prevent pregnancy and affects your vaginal micro biome causing me regular yeast infections and BV. It’s been 7 months and I haven’t been able to have pain free sex. Please consider other options, copper isn’t a hormone but it influences your hormones there is no way of preventing pregnancy without hormone manipulation unless you use only condoms. Listen to your bodies! ParaGard ruined my life, and I wish I learned sooner."

• Heath...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 25, 2020

ParaGard (copper) "I love this birth control so much. I've had it almost 11 months now and cant say enough good things about it. No weight gain, regular periods, moods are normal and i feel great and pregnancy free for almost 11 months now!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2017

ParaGard (copper) "This review site is just a bunch of people fear mongering. Saying that you have hormonal side effects after switching from the pill, and blaming it all on the copper IUD, is uninformed. All the horrible reviews almost scared me out of getting the Paragard, but I'm so happy I did it. It did hurt really, really bad going in, but it was so worth it. Every woman is different, and things affect us differently. Try it for yourself, and don't let all the negativity here scare you. You can always have it removed."