ParaGard and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Cra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 31, 2017

For Birth Control "I have had 2 ParaGard IUDs. Took the 1st one out to get pregnant, got the 2nd after my daughter was born. Both times, I had heavier periods, but it seemed better than hormonal birth control that makes me crazy. After 2 and a half years, I started having strange side effects. Lots of acne, dry skin, swollen lymph node, anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, hopelessness. My doctor said that my swollen lymph node is associated with the liver. My acupuncturist said she thought I had liver congestion. I researched excess copper in the body. ALL. MY. SYMPTOMS. Had it removed within 2 days. Felt immediately better. My acne started healing within a few days. Not feeling depressed anymore. It was great until it wasn't."

• MMa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 25, 2019

For Birth Control "This device did prevent pregnancy for 10 years, but the side effects that accompany it are disastrous. Increased copper in my system caused severe anemia, dizziness, neurological symptoms, skin breakouts, fatigue, anxiety, and more. I would not recommend this for anyone, but it did prevent pregnancy. User beware of total body symptoms that come on after insertion and be prepared for years of detoxing after removal!"

• car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 9, 2018

For Birth Control "If you can put up with cystic acne, headaches, gallbladder failure, abdominal pain, bloating, hair loss, IBS, torn joints (knees), liver pain, food intolerances, severe contraction pains, severe bleeding, and low libido AND INSOMNIA, then ParaGard is for you! These symptoms accumulated over 5 years. You won’t notice right away until you start wondering what is wrong with you. My doctors tell me I am “getting older...” but these symptoms aren’t from old age! Don’t get it! Nightmare!"

• Lis...
• May 27, 2017

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard for one year and one month. The insertion was uncomfortable and painful, which was expected. I bled for the first three months straight. My period lasts 10 days, and I have two weeks in between. I get cramps that feel like contractions that make me almost fall to my knees or faint. I can't use tampons because I bleed too much, and I have to change my overnight pad every hour. I get cramps throughout the month even when I'm not on my period, and sharp shooting pains on my left side when I try to sleep. I have also developed cystic acne, which responds to nothing, hair loss, and mood disorders. I have had it checked by a doctor, and they said I'm fine. I am going to have it removed next week."

• Ale...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 25, 2018

For Birth Control "So I’ve had 2 ParaGuards in my life. The first one made my skin break out like crazy. Took it out and got pregnant. The beginning of my pregnancy, I had severe bleeding for the first 2 months, such that doctors advised me that my baby wouldn’t make it through the pregnancy. Thankfully, my baby did. Fast forward, I got another one inserted. By the 2nd year, I started breaking out like crazy. By the 8th year, I started having severe and long 15 days plus periods. Gained about 50 lbs and can’t seem to lose weight no matter what. Will finally get it removed next week. Never again."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2023

For Birth Control "For two months, everything was great, but around three months, the panic attacks started. I have never in my life been prone to panic attacks, anxiety, or heart palpitations. Since three months in, I have experienced all three. My hair started falling out, my face is covered in acne, and the sharp cramping in my butt is awful. I’ve given it over six months, and I’m still experiencing these things, so I have an appointment for it to be removed ASAP. I had way less side effects on the hormonal birth control pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 5, 2022

For Birth Control "Just wanted to reassure any ladies thinking about this type of contraception. Personally, I’ve tried all different types of hormonal birth control, and all have made me emotional, depressed, and gain weight, plus giving me acne. I was expecting the worst pain ever considering these bad reviews, but I felt nothing, it was over in minutes, and I’ve not even had kids. So they said fitting my coil could be more difficult. I’m so happy that I no longer have to worry about getting pregnant, especially while I’m trying to study at uni! Take these reviews with a pinch of salt, remember different bodies react to things in different ways. I feel like I’ve been saved from a life of side effects being off hormones. I'm forever grateful."

• Lau...
• August 25, 2019

For Birth Control "ParaGard did protect me against pregnancy for the full 2 years I was on it, but at what cost... I didn’t want to have it removed because it’s “non-hormonal” and I can’t take hormonal BC. At first, it was great, I didn’t mind the really long and heavy periods and cramping. I started developing severe PMDD and cystic acne, which I’ve never had before. About 2 weeks of the month, I was an emotional, paranoid, dysfunctional wreck with heart-palpitating anxiety, on the verge of panic attacks constantly. I blamed this on hormonal imbalance from the mini pill. I more recently started to get really bad headaches, nausea, brain fog, and dizziness. I even passed out at work one day, even though I had breakfast. I thought I was becoming anemic, so I had blood work done, but my results were “fine.” I thought people who claimed this IUD gave them copper toxicity were quacks at first, but I truly believe it was ruining my body."

• Jay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 14, 2018

For Birth Control "The first 2 years with ParaGard were good. I did experience insanely heavy periods (bleeding out of a super tampon and pad within 2 hours). I was able to lose weight and loved the idea of non-hormonal birth control. Fast forward to year 2 - 2.5 with the ParaGard and would not wish any of the symptoms I experienced on anyone else. I developed cystic acne (something I never had, even as a teen), which left me still to this day with scarring on my chin. It increased dark hairs and spotting on my chin/lip area. I also will have to blame the IUD on some incontinence issues that were immediately resolved when I had the IUD removed."

• Frf...
• September 26, 2018

For Birth Control "I am 34 years old. I'm actually on my last 6 months of the 10 years you can use it for. I will not recommend this to you if you are not a person that enjoys going to the doctor every 2 months for BV, acne, weight gain, mixed emotions, bad cramps, heavy bleeding, unexpected bleeding. If you are very fertile (go ahead). I am getting it taken out and getting my tubes tied."

• TJa...
• February 8, 2018

For Birth Control "Fell pregnant after 6 months of having ParaGard IUD inserted. They told me it probably fell out. After severe pain in my abdominal region, sides, and lower back got progressively worse over the years to the point of being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and after a second pregnancy, pain escalated. After an X-ray, MRI, and CT scan, it was determined the IUD had perforated my bowel, and whilst awaiting surgery, I expelled it. My recovery has been said will take 18 months to 2 years, and I am due to see a specialist for ongoing pain since. It might be great at first (if you don’t fall pregnant), but it’s not a matter of if it will cause problems, it’s a matter of when - mine was realized 11 years later - weight gain, fatigue, acne, abdominal pain, depression... the list goes on."

• Sun...
• March 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I got ParaGard after my third child. The non-hormonal IUD and not taking the pill was a huge plus in my eyes. I immediately felt bladder discomfort, I thought it was just because I had a child. The PERIODS. Don’t get me started on that. Lasting for two weeks. A year into it, I started developing horrible acne. Year 2, it became cystic. I just never felt like me. Always in a fog, horrible periods, my face was awful, severely depressed, having to go to the bathroom ALL the time, and my hair thinned out. I’m Italian, that just doesn’t happen on its own. After 9 years of constantly feeling it, it was time to remove it. I felt euphoric upon removal. I didn’t have to go to the bathroom every hour, and my mood swings stopped. It’s only the beginning, but I can’t wait to get back to normal! Most of these people saying they love it are a couple of months in. You don’t just get over 1,000 women saying the same thing after getting ParaGard. I feel like I have my brain back now."

• Sun...
• March 15, 2018

For Birth Control "I got ParaGard after my third child. The non-hormonal IUD and not taking the pill was a huge plus in my eyes. I immediately felt bladder discomfort, I thought it was just because I had a child. The PERIODS. Don’t get me started on that. Lasting for two weeks. A year into it, I started developing horrible acne. Year 2, it became cystic. I just never felt like me. Always in a fog, horrible periods, my face was awful, severely depressed, having to go to the bathroom ALL the time, and my hair thinned out. I’m Italian, that just doesn’t happen on its own. After 9 years of constantly feeling it, it was time to remove it. I felt euphoric upon removal. I didn’t have to go to the bathroom every hour, and my mood swings stopped. It’s only the beginning, but I can’t wait to get back to normal! Most of these people saying they love it are a couple of months in. You don’t just get over 1,000 women saying the same thing after getting ParaGard. I feel like I have my brain back now."

• Xha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had the copper coil for just over 3 years now and would certainly never recommend it to others! I've experienced persistent: - pelvic pain/cramps even when it's not my time of the month! - really heavy periods/clots! - migraines. - skin breakouts. - hair loss. - depression/anxiety. The list is endless! I finally researched the copper IUD and found thousands of women, if not more, with exactly the same symptoms! I am finally getting mine removed on Wednesday, and I cannot wait!"

• LJO...
• June 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I've had ParaGard for about 3 years now. - Insertion: Easy, quick, uncomfortable. Felt crampy for the next 24 hours. Get a heating pad to help. - Side effects: My acne was unpredictable the first year as my body got accustomed to no hormones (took the pill for 10 years prior). Now my skin is nearly perfect except for hormonal acne around my period. No weight gain. Large improvements in anxiety/mental health compared to the pill. I personally love how I feel without any hormones. Some cramps and spotting during/after sex. My partners have rarely been able to feel the IUD during sex. - Periods are heavy and crampy. They seem to have gotten heavier, longer, and more frequent over the 3 years. I now have a 27-day cycle, a full period for 5-7 days, and spot for a few days before and after. I feel like I am basically on my period all the time now, which is why I am going to look into replacing my ParaGard with another option (perhaps Kyleena)."

• Anonymous
• February 17, 2022

For Birth Control "For a while there, I thought I was losing my mind, and I know for sure it's this IUD. DO NOT BE FOOLED!!! This was the worst IUD insertion and worst IUD experience. I have had the Mirena twice, and I only switched to the ParaGard after 10 years in order to have my period. ParaGard has caused me to have SEVERE anxiety, face acne, heavy cervical mucus, and my BIGGEST PROBLEM, brain fog so severe I can hardly think straight or remember what I ate last night. I've had the ParaGard pumping its toxic copper venom in me for 4 years now, and I'm getting it removed within the next 3 weeks and getting my tubes tied. Please be careful with this IUD because placed in a woman who is already on edge could be detrimental to her life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I got the ParaGard IUD put in about 5 months ago. Insertion was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt and I would like to say I have a high pain tolerance, I was not ready for that. After it was inserted, the next few days I was bedridden from cramps, but eventually, it went away. My periods started coming 2x a month instead of 1x a month, and I think that’s why it gave me such terrible acne. Ever since my first period on the copper IUD, my face completely broke out in hormonal cystic acne. I’ve always had acne, but never this bad. I did bleed A LOT the first few periods, which is uncommon for me. I did become anemic from how much blood I was losing on my periods, and for that reason, I’m getting rid of it. However, the peace of mind I had after intercourse made everything worth it for the time being. Much luck!"

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I have had ParaGard for 2 weeks and I'm getting it removed. I don't like how it makes me feel, always bloated, breaking out like crazy on my face, back, and legs. Now I'm feeling like I can only eat, migraine headaches, always feeling that I'm on my period, all of a sudden feeling sad, cramps, lower back pain, and all of a sudden feeling sick. I don't want to discourage anyone, but that's my experience. Can't wait to get it removed."

• Ray...
• May 12, 2021

For Birth Control "I've had ParaGard for over 2 years now, I got it when I was 17 as an affordable and long-term birth control option. I think because I'm older, my acne isn't as bad, but one of the main reasons why I didn't want to do hormonal was for not wanting weight gain and acne. I tried the pill for a few months before I got the IUD, and it wasn't for me. The insertion wasn't too bad. It just kind of felt like a sharp pain in a sensitive area or a really bad period cramp. Before I got ParaGard, my periods were really short, and I never had cramps, and now my periods are pretty heavy. I had to get a menstrual cup in size one and two to be able to hold the amount of blood. My periods are about 5 days long: 2 mild, one extremely heavy (60 ml), and three extremely light. They said that your cramps and blood flow would go back to normal after 3 months, but mine haven't, and I'm fine with that. I am comfortable and trust the IUD to let my boyfriend, you know... in me."

• ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm 25, and have never had kids. Insertion wasn't bad, like a PAP x 3? Cramps after were more strange feeling than super painful-- it felt kinda stabby? I broke out pretty bad 2 weeks after insertion, but it healed up pretty quickly and hasn't happened again. I had very regular, light, and non-painful periods before. My cycle is now shorter (24 days). Before, cramps just enough to remind me that my uterus exists and a reg. tampon every 6 hours on the heaviest day. Now, a super plus every 4 hours and cramps that wake me up from deep sleep/feel like my insides will fall out, but they almost completely go away with ibuprofen. Totally worth it. First 3 months, random poke-cramps freaked me out, but normal. Ovulation is also more painful."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2018

For Birth Control "I’ve had it for about 3 months now and got it because hormonal birth control did not work for me. It made me extremely moody and depressed. I would gain 10-20 pounds and was constantly hungry. Finally decided to try this even though I was skeptical about the poor reviews. My period lasts about a week with heavier periods and definitely more cramps than I had, but nothing unbearable. In my opinion, no birth control is going to have no side effects, so it is worth it to me. I do have slightly more acne than normal, but I think it’s due to the lack of hormones my body is used to from pills. It’s been the best birth control for my body so far!"

• Cop...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 18, 2018

For Birth Control "ParaGard is very effective if the copper toxicity is meant to affect only the thin lining of the uterus that prevents implantation of a fertilized egg and doesn’t start circulating in your bloodstream. First 2 to 3 months signs of fatigue with morning leg and joint aches (calves and ankles). You’ll dismiss because the cramping and heavy periods will have your whole attention. At 4 months still fatigue, morning body aches, and skin breakouts. That is your body showing you it’s getting deeper. About 6 months in, add sleepless nights, and within 9 months your sex drive is diminished naturally due to that very thin lining being always inflamed and communicating with your ovaries, consequently with your brain that produces less libido. If you’re lucky like me, you’ll start with vomiting, fainting, and eventually going through an expulsion, and saving yourself a bunch of money for the removal. Doctors will not disclose adverse conditions, they lose money!!"

• Mom...
• February 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I got the ParaGard IUD inserted 6 weeks postpartum. My periods were normal but slightly more painful, especially during ovulation. There was cramping after sex that went away after 6 months. I started to notice at 8 months with the ParaGard that I had severe acne. I changed my diet, I drank only water because I felt so ugly. Nothing worked and now I look crazy as hell, my face is disgusting. I started thinking my PMS was getting out of control. I found myself in these crazy mood swings at least twice a week in the 9th month. The last straw is here in this review because I'm too embarrassed to admit the thoughts that have crossed my mind in the midst of what could be undiagnosed psychosis because of a hormonal or chemical imbalance caused by the copper. I know I'm not crazy, and my doctor is claiming none of these side effects can be possible because the IUD doesn't have hormones. This birth control could be poisonous. Don't ignore the signs if you have them, it could be dangerous. 1 year."

• Ala...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 1, 2018

For Birth Control "I respect all of the stories shared here and have no doubt that some women have issues with it, but I’ve had ParaGard three times and always go back to it. Hormonal birth control turns me into a fruit loop of emotions and causes me to gain weight while killing my libido. ParaGard just gives me a few extra days of bleeding. I’d say my period is 5-7 days versus 3-4 like it used to be. If you’re prone to anemia, you will most likely not respond well to it. If copper toxicity is a concern, then take a methylated folate vitamin. All birth controls have pros and cons. You ultimately have to find one with pros and cons you can tolerate. A lot of women here are complaining of side effects that occur when you stop using hormonal birth control (PCOS, acne, moods, etc. can start when you change what you’re taking.) I also believe that the experience each woman has also depends on how good the provider is who placed it. For me, it’s the best option I have found, but not perfect."

• Tri...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2022

For Birth Control "I got my copper IUD put in when I was 15. I was encouraged by my mother after her being a teen mom and her having hormonal IUDs in the past. After being convinced by the doctor that it was the best long-term contraception, I was told it was not a painful insertion, but let me tell you that was so far from the truth. I had it put in and the pain was unbearable. I left after 10 minutes and had to pull over to vomit from the pain. I couldn’t get comfortable for at least a week, but now I am absolutely terrified to get it taken out. I’ve now had it in for around 5 years, and I have horrible mood swings, acne, migraines, I bleed during sex, and it’s uncomfortable. I feel it scratch me unexpectedly during the day. I need to get it removed, but I’m just absolutely terrified. Please, if you're a mom looking into contraception for your teen, please please do your research."