ParaGard and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 5)

• tev...
• May 3, 2018

For Birth Control "Please do your research and pay attention to your own body. This IUD did not work for me, but it may in fact be amazing for you. I had it placed at 6 weeks postpartum. By 12 weeks, I was having panic attacks and anxiety. Flash forward a year, my anxiety and panic attacks are at a whole different level. I started having depressive episodes (all of this is new to me). In the past year, I have had two yeast infections (this also has never happened). I finally went to a naturopath who prescribed progesterone therapy for my low progesterone and my sky-high estrogen. I have constant fatigue, joint popping, and headaches. My lower back would throb constantly. I couldn't feel when I needed to pee. My libido is in the trash. After finding some blogs, I decided to have it removed. Immediately, my back pain was gone within 30 minutes, and within 24 hours, I could feel when I had to pee again. If you have a reaction to nickel or fake earrings, please do your research and make sure this IUD is for you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2018

For Birth Control "I would rate ParaGard a 0 if it were an option. Having ParaGard in for 3 months was a nightmare. My hair was falling out, my skin became discolored, my chest broke out in painful cystic acne, the bleeding and cramping were extremely unbearable, my anxiety was much worse, my libido disappeared, and my boyfriend also got cut from the strings whenever we had intercourse."

• Mar...
• March 31, 2018

For Birth Control "The IUD perforated my uterus. It was discovered at my two-week string check. The IUD had traveled and imbeded in scar tissue between my left ovary and fallopian tube. I fear that I may never be able to conceive again. I experienced quite a bit of postpartum depression as a result. I had the IUD surgically removed roughly one month after it was discovered out of place. Interestingly, I knew something wasn’t right shortly after it was put in because I couldn’t sleep, had severe anxiety with red blotches on my chest and face from heightened anxiety. I had a number of other symptoms, such as trouble fully connecting with my new baby, which hadn’t been an issue early on. It was over a year ago, and I'm still having ultrasounds to check for fluid in my uterus, which continued to expand for about 6-7 months after it was removed. In summary, it was a big mistake, and I’m still paying for it due to excessive medical bills for therapy, psychiatric care, ultrasounds, surgical costs, etc."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2018

For Birth Control "Copper toxicity, heart palpitations, uncontrollable cystic acne, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, bloating, prolonged spotting prior to period, lethargy, terrible cramping. Awful, awful birth control! I was not warned about any of these side effects prior to insertion."

• Ale...
• February 16, 2018

For Birth Control "I had this put in 5 months ago. I’ve never been depressed before for no reason. But after almost 3 months of depression, I’ve been having suicidal thoughts and crazy anxiety like I’ve never had before. It may be non-hormonal, but my doctor never once mentioned the possibility of copper toxicity. Along with 2-week periods, HEAVY periods (bleeding through supers in 30 minutes for 5 days straight), insane cramps, painful sex, and hot flashes... this thing is coming out TONIGHT."

• Liz...
• February 8, 2018

For Birth Control "Terrible! The insertion was horrendous. For hours afterward, my uterus contracted and tried to expel it. My periods got much heavier. I had to use a tampon and a pad so that I didn't leak through to my clothes. There are so many other side effects, though. There is a psychological component that isn't being investigated. You have a copper foreign object in your body. I had mine removed yesterday after two years. I struggled with the physical side effects and the emotional ones, too. Depression, anxiety, and then full-blown panic attacks and crying spells, brain fog, memory loss, cold hands and feet, heart palpitations, paranoia, feelings of doom, enlarged lymph nodes, chronic bacterial infections, discharge, fatigue, irritability, and bone spurs. Yes, it worked for preventing pregnancy, but it was not worth it to me. Not everyone has the same experience, but that was mine. I do not recommend it."

• jve...
• November 9, 2017

For Birth Control "I was on ParaGard for about 3 and a half years. Insertion didn't hurt at all for me. I had it placed after my second child was born. Everything seemed fine for a long time, except for the super heavy periods. I accepted the periods in exchange for convenient BC. However, the periods got worse. I was starting to lose my hair, and I had no energy. I got blood work done and my ferritin levels were crazy low. Doctor told me to take heavy-duty iron supplements. That helped my energy levels, but the hair continued to fall out. I also had a huge increase in anxiety, panic attacks, heart palpitations. I never had these kinds of symptoms in the past, and I'm starting to wonder if it was all related to the ParaGard. Just had it removed."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2017

For Birth Control "After 6 months with this IUD, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to have it removed. I have never ever in my life dealt with depression, anxiety, or panic attacks until I got the Copper IUD. Before the IUD, my periods were fairly light and 4-5 days on average. Light PMS. Some back pain. With the IUD, they were 7-8 days. So heavy I had to wear a pad and a jumbo tampon and change every 2 hours. Horrible cramping to where my only relief was laying in bed curled up with a heating pad. Midol and Tylenol rarely made a difference. Around my time of PMS, I would suddenly feel very, very depressed and so fatigued. And then my mind would race into a downward spiral where I would then panic I would feel this way forever. Glad to have this out and be me again!!!"

• Gra...
• September 28, 2017

For Birth Control "This IUD doesn't work. My daughter is 8 weeks pregnant after having it put in over a year ago. The doctor's acting so surprised! In an attempt to remove the IUD, the damn string broke off. No idea what the outcome will be. But this has caused an extreme amount of stress for my daughter. The stats on the effectiveness of this IUD need to change."

• IM4...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 15, 2017

For Birth Control "1 is the lowest score option, but the ParaGard actually deserves a negative rating. It did its job for birth control but wreaked havoc on me both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, I didn't make the connection between my ailments (extreme fatigue, anxiety, depression, digestive problems, just to name a few) and the IUD until many years after insertion. After spending a fortune on doctors, tests, etc., to find out what was wrong, I still had no answers, except to be put on a variety of medications to treat symptoms. I did some research and finally made the connection-copper toxicity from the ParaGard IUD. Years of my life had been sucked away from me and my family that I can never get back. Symptoms still persist a year post-removal."

• Mel...
• September 8, 2017

For Birth Control "Destroyed my life! Worst decision ever! Had it less than 2 years and it wreaked havoc on my body and mind! Aged me 15 years, copper toxicity, over half my hair fell out, thought I was dying of cancer. Caused extreme anger, anxiety, depression, irrational fears, and personality change. Sadly, I've seen many others with similar stories. Beware!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 7, 2017

For Birth Control "I had it in for 5 years. Okay at first. Gradually started having VERY heavy periods, constant bacterial vaginitis, and after about 3 years was no longer able to feel strings. My OB assured me that was not so abnormal. I also began having anxiety, panic attacks, hair loss, and decided to have it out. Two attempts in the office were unable to remove it. It has embedded into my uterine wall. I had same-day surgery to have it removed. Within 6 months, anxiety and panic were resolved, and hair loss leveled out. No more heavy periods or BV."

• Kat...
• July 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I had my ParaGard removed today. I had it for about 17 months, and maybe 3 months after the insertion, I started feeling really bad-first just depression, insomnia, and an overall feeling of not being well. Then I developed bad anxiety followed by panic attacks, my heart beating like crazy from the minute I woke up. I was a wreck, not able to get myself to work and be productive, I was drained, exhausted, and unhappy. I was not able to enjoy anything, day after day. I had my blood and urine tested, and everything seemed fine to my PCP. They wanted to treat me for mental issues because I really thought I was going crazy. I went to my gynecologist for a check-up and mentioned my symptoms, they said nothing... Now I am dealing with copper overload!!"

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2017

For Birth Control "No, no, no. A piece of copper implanted into your body? I had it in for 1 month. In that time, I felt like I was always about to have a period, I never had cramps before. I experienced anxiety, racing thoughts, repetitive thoughts, empty feelings, extreme anger and resentment, extremely itchy labia and skin, tremoring vision, nausea, headaches, terrible back pain, sharp joint pains, earaches, sadness, and the worst TOTAL LOSS OF SEX DRIVE. Also, vaginal dryness. I basically couldn't feel myself on the inside. The stress of unplanned pregnancy is easier to deal with than this. Anything that causes this as it 'settles in' is just messed up. Just because the side effects may go away doesn't make it OK. It's your body numbing out to this hideous device."

• Ril...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2017

For Birth Control "Always do research before putting anything in your body. My doctor said it was safe with no symptoms except heavy periods, which were crazy heavy! The actual procedure isn't bad. However, I had extreme hip pain for weeks afterward. My stomach was always bloated, and depending on how I moved, I would get a sharp pain in my lower stomach. I had extreme anxiety and depression. I couldn't sleep, and I was tired all the time. I had to take sleeping pills. And holy mood swings! I cried because I ran out of hot water in the shower... The worst part was my hair falling out in clumps! After 2 1/2 months I was done. I've been off of it for a month and I feel so much better. My mood is better, no pain, and I'm able to sleep without pills."

• Bra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 20, 2017

For Birth Control "This thing was causing so many problems for me. I bled like I was hemorrhaging during my 10-12 day periods, with cramps so bad I could barely get out of bed to take care of my children. I was weak, exhausted, beyond moody, and struggled with depression. Not to mention my anxiety going to levels I didn't know existed for me. I had ParaGard for 2 years before reading about other women with similar issues and making the choice to get it removed. My reason for choosing ParaGard was all the issues I'd had with hormonal birth control, but the side effects with this were far worse."

• Alw...
• May 19, 2017

For Birth Control "This so-called birth control took away 4 years of my life I can never get back! I ended up with copper toxicity, my hair fell out in clumps, my periods were so heavy I couldn't even leave my house because I was severely anemic...let's not mention the severe anxiety that again kept me a prisoner in my home. When I finally had the torture device removed, it came out rusty and falling apart! I still suffer long-term effects from it. It needs to be removed from the market...nothing good comes from it!"

• 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!"

• War...
• August 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I had Paragard for a total of 5 weeks. Never felt so miserable in my life. I bled for the entire time I had Paragard, with 2 heavy periods and constant spotting in between. I gained weight (I was back in my skinny jeans 5 weeks after giving birth but had to wear yoga pants again while on Paragard because of serious bloating that made me look 5 months pregnant). I developed anxiety, depression, panic attacks while driving (I'm a professional driver), bloating, cramping, feeling extremely fatigued all the time, constant back and neck pain, major hair loss, anger, headaches (I never suffer from headaches because I hydrate all day). Had it removed yesterday and already feeling so much better and happier. Neck/back pain is gone..."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

For Birth Control "I had a copper IUD for approximately 1 month before I had it removed. Symptoms included anxiety, panic attacks, and nausea mostly. It's not for everybody!"

• MsL...
• May 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had the copper IUD for close to two weeks. Unprotected sex with my boyfriend and long-term birth control are the ONLY pros. Cons include: acne, anxiety, low sex drive, fatigue, weight gain (4 pounds in one week), cramps, random shooting pains. I am a thin woman with a high metabolism and have found it impossible to lose the weight. I look puffy and feel horrible. I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone. I'm getting it removed today."