ParaGard and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Mus...
• June 21, 2018

For Birth Control "I got my copper IUD 2 years ago. I took ibuprofen extra strength before, but the pain was excruciating. I nearly fainted. I couldn’t stand for half an hour. The cramps were intense. Fast forward 2 years, my periods have gone from 5 days of moderate bleeding to 7-8 days of extremely heavy bleeding. Some days I soak through super plus tampons and pads in just a couple hours. And never mind the spotting, which happens after sex, before my period, and after, and at any random time. My iron is the lowest it’s ever been. I’m exhausted, my sex drive is nonexistent, I experience brain fog almost 24/7, and my anxiety has never been so bad. I have gone back to school in the last year, which is likely contributing to my symptoms, but having been through college before, I am not convinced that my symptoms are entirely due to that. After hearing some similar stories from people who had the copper IUD and who felt better after it was removed, I am now planning to have mine removed."

• She...
• August 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 23 years old and have not had any children, and I believe this is a lot of the reason why Paragard wreaked such havoc on my uterus and body. I gave Paragard a shot because I was told it was one of the most 'natural' forms of birth control, and I have never met a pill that I could tolerate. I thought the no hormones involved with the Paragard would be the answer for me. I had the IUD in for a year and was miserable the whole year. Here were some of my symptoms: chronic lower back pain, which made it uncomfortable to sit for long periods of time, sharp pain in my right hip area, which traveled down my leg to my foot, 2-week long periods with heavy flow and painful cramps, lightheadedness when exercising, anxiety, mood swings, irritability."

• 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."

• Bad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2021

For Birth Control "Insertion was horrifically painful. I haven't gotten pregnant yet in the 10 months I've had this thing, so I guess it's doing its job… but I'm considering having it taken out. Sucks because this is my last option. Period blood smells of copper, 10-day long periods, random stomach cramps, anxiety, depression, dissociation (I had a bit of a breakdown a week ago), panic attacks, itchy vagina, rectum/pouch of Douglas pains, loads of discharge, achiness, tiredness, dry brittle hair, hair falling out more, really run down and catching more illnesses, heart palpitations, feeling like I'm gonna have a heart attack sometimes… this thing is awful. Don't get it."

• Lil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 26, 2021

For Birth Control "I had the ParaGard inserted 3 years ago. The pain was minimal, and I experienced minor cramping. My periods became much heavier, between 7-12 days. Earlier this year, I began experiencing my first signs of copper toxicity: severe panic attacks, painful muscles and joints, and fatigue. Then the second copper dump came about 2 weeks ago. My chest and back are inflamed and painful, my joints pop everywhere, limbs tingle with pins and needles, extreme fatigue, and anxiety. I had enough yesterday morning and removed it myself. Don't listen to the studies that tell you it doesn't cause copper toxicity, copper is stored in the tissues, not the blood or urine, and those trials did not test for it correctly. Proceed with caution. The only positive side to this is that I never fell pregnant, so in that regard, it worked, but the side effects were too horrible to keep it."

• don...
• March 1, 2019

For Birth Control "DON'T DO IT! I had ParaGard for a full year and thought about/researched IUDs for a few months before getting it. Yes, it's nice not having to take a pill every day or worry about getting pregnant, but the negative side effects FAR outweighed any benefits. I'm only fully functional half the time since having this IUD. At least two weeks each month, I experience emotional mood swings, anxiety, fear, and cramping that makes me double over in pain. Then I get my period, where I am bedridden and depressed for 3-4 days. I feel terrible - cramping, bloating, lots of pain. I usually feel so bad that I don't eat properly, shower, or take care of myself. Also, the strings do not soften. My boyfriend gets poked by them, which is painful for him, and it has made our sex life very stressful, uneventful, and infrequent - SPECIFICALLY because of this device. I would NEVER EVER recommend it to anyone. I cannot wait to have it removed and feel like myself again."

• don...
• March 1, 2019

For Birth Control "DON'T DO IT! I had ParaGard for a full year and thought about/researched IUDs for a few months before getting it. Yes, it's nice not having to take a pill every day or worry about getting pregnant, but the negative side effects FAR outweighed any benefits. I'm only fully functional half the time since having this IUD. At least two weeks each month, I experience emotional mood swings, anxiety, fear, and cramping that makes me double over in pain. Then I get my period, where I am bedridden and depressed for 3-4 days. I feel terrible - cramping, bloating, lots of pain. I usually feel so bad that I don't eat properly, shower, or take care of myself. Also, the strings do not soften. My boyfriend gets poked by them, which is painful for him, and it has made our sex life very stressful, uneventful, and infrequent - SPECIFICALLY because of this device. I would NEVER EVER recommend it to anyone. I cannot wait to have it removed and feel like myself again."

• The...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 23, 2017

For Birth Control "After receiving my IUD 6 weeks after my daughter was born, I was just relieved I could not become pregnant and I was still able to happily breastfeed. Periods were not an issue other than breakthrough bleeding around ovulation time. My biggest issue with this IUD is the toxic reaction I had due to the copper. I am diagnosed with anxiety, but I had never felt anxiety so bad in my LIFE than on this thing. I avoided all and any social situations, I was unable to work and cope with life. I was placed on extreme anti-panic attack and anxiety meds that I could not wean off from. I went from being healthy and fit to gaining 50 lbs. After feeling frustrated, I looked up my birth control and sure enough this is COMMON!!!!!"

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2022

For Birth Control "I lost a baby last July. In August, I needed a DNC because there were remaining tissues, and I had already loved the idea of ParaGard being non-hormonal. I decided to have it put in right after the DNC, extremely painful experience, it took my breath away. Maybe due to my situation, I was extra tender. I felt great knowing I could basically have carefree sex with my partner. However, within a month, I started experiencing strange anxiety, like I just had to get outta wherever I was. Now, here we are 6 to 7 months into having the ParaGard, and I'm suffering overwhelming anxiety, fast heart rate, panic attacks, inability to accomplish something alone like an adult should, wretched acne, bad crampy periods, bad bleeding, iron deficient. Removed today, and I feel a sigh of relief! Copper toxicity was beginning, I do believe. I don't recommend this. I'm crampy upon removal. Research!! I discovered my symptoms were similar to those on here after I read into this. You're not crazy."

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

For Birth Control "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."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I got the ParaGard inserted Dec 2014. I was made aware of the heavy bleeding for the first 6 months. During the insertion, I felt faint, like I was going to pass out. I bled for months straight and was told this was normal. Year one passed, and I was still having heavy bleeding and bad cramps. I always had a very light cycle that lasted maybe 3 days. However, with the ParaGard, I was bleeding heavily for 6-7 days. Year two to 6, same thing. I went through boxes of pads and tampons. I often bled through my clothes, and I was anxious that it would happen every month. My anxiety increased, and it was so bad. I kept the IUD in for six years! I didn't believe in the other birth controls because of the hormones. Looking back, I wished that I had gotten it removed much sooner. I became anemic, and the bleeding was just horrible. Birth control affects everyone differently. If you're considering it, take a chance but don't hesitate to get it removed."

• kka...
• December 16, 2020

For Birth Control "It astounds me that this method of birth control is even an option. I had it for a week and that was enough. Within the first few days, I was experiencing joint pain, horrible anxiety, insomnia, anger, brain fog, irritability, all the long-term side effects of copper toxicity. Looking back, my doctor never once mentioned anything about ParaGard. Upon removal, he said, 'that's surprising that you are experiencing this, it's just copper.' Another friend of mine who works in the hospital also made the remark that, 'copper toxicity doesn't exist.' This literally blows my mind. The copper in ParaGard creates a toxic and hostile environment within the uterus. When you think about it, how on earth would this NOT affect our physical and mental health? Moral of the story: it might be worth it, it might not. Listen to your body."

• Tan...
• September 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I used Nexplanon before and had terrible mood swings, so I thought ParaGard would be a better alternative, being non-hormonal. I had ParaGard for 4 months and noticed I was way more fatigued and anxious, with bad cramps, and my period was heavy, I was bleeding through an extra-large maxi pad in an hour. I went to get it out, and they said it was stuck and I may have needed surgery to get it out! It took three tries to finally yank it out a few days ago, and I already feel so much calmer and less in pain. Instead, I’m going to use natural family planning (apps like Lily allow you to track your cervical mucus and temperature and cycle to be more effective) with barrier methods like condoms or cervical caps during my fertile times. I’m really disappointed in this contraception method. I have PCOS as well and found it made my symptoms much worse than before. I wish I didn’t get it to save myself 4 months of anxiety and laying in bed with debilitating cramps."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 17, 2020

For Birth Control "I am planning on getting this removed tomorrow... despite recovering from a concussion. I want it OUT. Intense pain: over AN HOUR. The Drs gave me ice AND heat packs, and both helped. After March insertion: LIGHTER periods. November: they suddenly went from regular to coming every 2 WEEKS. Length of periods: okay, severity of periods: okay, mood swings: severe. I used to love attention from people, but now it feels like everyone is watching me. What was good: it decreased my frequency of yeast infections, but didn’t get rid of them altogether. Haven’t been myself since November: anxious and depressed. This has negatively impacted my studies. I recommend: hormones are better, but go to the gym often and eat plenty of greens/spinach to help iron levels if you have heavy periods. I wish I knew which hormonal IUD to switch to, to prevent mood changes and to help me prevent yeast infections, but I’ll see what the GYN thinks. Verdict: ParaGard is not worth it."

• 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!"

• AMP...
• July 15, 2019

For Birth Control "It does prevent pregnancy, but I've had many problems with ParaGard. Ever since, my periods have been like night and day from what they were my entire life (I am 39 years old). I bleed 3 weeks a month, and my cramps are much worse. Today I made an appointment to have it removed. I chose to look up some info in the hopes of finding that others had gone through this, and relief is on its way. So many other issues I have read here are also things I've been dealing with. I've had depression and anxiety, I've gained 60 lbs. I've experienced vaginal odor that I never had before. I'm in shock that so many others have had these symptoms. I just thought I was going to get my normal periods back after it's taken out in 2 weeks. Now I'm attributing other serious issues to the IUD and hope so badly that things go back to normal in all areas. Not worth it! Do not get this IUD!"

• Cel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 5, 2019

For Birth Control "My personal symptoms regarding copper toxicity: heart racing, anxiety, insomnia, depression, lethargic, headaches, no energy, migraines so bad I couldn't see, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, memory loss, mental fog, loss of taste, metal taste in mouth, low sex drive, my body odor was 10 times worse underarms and vaginal, hair oils double, my eyes turned darker, dirty looking, the white part of my eyes turned yellow, my veins in my eyes ruptured, pain in my eyes, vision problems, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea once a week, weight gain (20 lbs), felt like my body was shutting down. Oh, and one more, got candidiasis."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2019

For Birth Control "My 19-year-old daughter, with no history of self-harming/suicidal behavior, began experiencing progressively worse neuropsychiatric symptoms after her ParaGard insertion due to copper accumulating in her neural tissue and her body's inability to eliminate the excess. We never thought the 'natural' copper ParaGard could be the catalyst for the onset of her debilitating anxiety and despair, but six months post-insertion, she took her own life. We ordered hair and tissue analysis tests after her death and received results showing toxic levels of copper. ParaGard does not warn patients of this possible adverse event."

• Rag...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2019

For Birth Control "Well, good for 10 years, effective for 10 years, hormone-free - sounds fantastic, right? HA! That's what I thought. I had this godforsaken IUD put in after my second daughter (around Feb. 2018). From the get-go, I've had very painful cramps, ovarian pains, mood swings, higher anxiety, more depression, SEVERE UNCONTROLLABLE RAGE AND ANGER OUTBURSTS, very, very heavy bleeding with clots, spotting between periods as if pregnant, very long periods, back pain, bruising and anemia, increased thirst, migraines, extremely itchy legs with some small blisters (just like it did when I was pregnant), vaginal odor like copper. I'm planning to have this THING removed soon. Which sucks because I can't take hormones due to severe migraines. Condoms it is again. P.S. I also know someone who got pregnant and gave birth while on ParaGard."

• Wor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 4, 2018

For Birth Control "I had an IUD placed back in 2009 since I knew I did not want to get pregnant until I had finished college and was married. Well, life happened, and I ended up losing my brother early in life and going through an extended grieving period. I am now 36 and ready to make babies, so I went to have the ParaGard removed, and a piece of the IUD was missing when it was taken out. The removal was not painful, so I am thinking that it broke some time ago and I didn't know. I have been dealing with fatigue, anxiety, and depression and am now wondering if it was related to the copper all along. I have had two trans-vaginal ultrasounds, an X-ray, and a hysteroscope performed with no results. That little piece of plastic is still embedded in my body, and I am not sure what it will take at this point to get it out. DO NOT GET THIS IUD if you want to have children and/or avoid future surgery."

• she...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 26, 2018

For Birth Control "DON'T DO IT. I had my ParaGard in for 16 months. Terrible pain/cramping (I have a high pain tolerance, but I was literally doubling over) and heavy, HEAVY bleeding... and these side effects/symptoms did not subside after a few months as they say. Weird tissue was expelled a couple of times a month, and it was so scary to see it in the toilet. The worst thing was the anxiety and sore joints/muscles. I realized about a year or so in that I was experiencing high anxiety (freaking OUT about minor things) and couldn't put my finger on what was going on. Finally, I did my research, and it looks like this is somewhat common. I took it out last month, and I felt relief almost immediately. Anxiety has subsided tremendously, and the muscle soreness is less as well. The ParaGard is marketed as 'hormone-free,' but your body does weird things to compensate for the 'irritation' it does in your uterus. And the copper toxicity issue is just plain scary. Just don't do it!"

• Rod...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2018

For Birth Control "Got it right after I had my son (2 months after) and immediately regretted it. Terrible cramping. Painful periods. Excessive bleeding. I'd fill a super tampon and leak through to fill a liner within an hour. Then the hormonal changes started happening: mood swings, migraines, depression, anxiety, panic attacks. Fatigued. Anemic. So fatigued!"

• Tth...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 27, 2017

For Birth Control "Do not get this device. It stalks you. It dumps copper into your body by hiding in the muscles and dumping it out during stress that brings mind-blowing anxiety and terrible malaise during detox. This device is detrimental to your adrenals. Adrenal burnout is a side effect. It really messes with your mind. It causes emotional roller coasters that will leave you screaming at the ones you love. Doctors need to get on board. Research needs to be done."

• Que...
• November 18, 2017

For Birth Control "The ParaGard is bad. The insertion didn’t hurt, but the side effects of copper toxicity are hell. Hair loss, brain fog, anxiety, depression, fatigue, mood swings, headaches, nausea, and the list goes on. I hate this thing, and every time I think about it, it makes me sick. I can’t wait to have mine removed. I’ve been begging my insurance and doctor’s office for over a year now to take it out. My second child is 2, and I feel like I haven’t been able to thoroughly enjoy her for living in hell."

• Tha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 5, 2017

For Birth Control "2 years with the ParaGard IUD. Side effects progressively got worse, and eventually, unbearable. Heavy menstrual cycle, severe irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety attacks, anger issues. About a year and a half into ParaGard: severe headaches behind eyes every single day, extreme fatigue. Listed symptoms progressively got worse. Sex -- only good part: the ability to have sex when I want without the hassle of having to remember and constant protection against pregnancy. However... I had no sex drive. Very painful."