ParaGard and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• pbh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I had Paragard IUD for about 5 years. Starting around year 2, I started getting very, very heavy periods that lasted for well over a week at a time and came back every 3 weeks. I felt like I was always bleeding. That was the main reason I had it removed, but afterwards, I realized that there were a lot of other effects that I didn't make the connection until now. I felt a lot more lethargic, depressed, and gained over 30 pounds. I never had PMS-type symptoms before, but I would rage when I had Paragard. I had it removed and replaced with a hormonal IUD this October, and I already feel so much better."

• Anonymous
• March 16, 2019

For Birth Control "Effective for not getting pregnant! BUT really bad side effects. I’m 24 years old, and I was the most happiest person ever! Always so energetic, laughing, etc. Got this thing put in and started having really bad cramping and EXTREME anxiety and depression! I’m now even on antidepressants. Always in a bad mood, crying, not wanting to do things. I just got this thing removed!"

• Get...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 2, 2017

For Birth Control "I had my ParaGard inserted in June 2015, just after we had our second child. I don't remember it being a painful experience. Over the last two years, I've noticed a change in my body and mind. I attributed it to my new body after pregnancy and 'mom brain,' and tried to get over it. I'm always tired, something always aches, and I get extremely terrible migraines, which I never had before. I have no desire to do anything (maybe depression?) or go anywhere. I feel like I'm just floating through life. I tried changing my schedule, my diet, my habits, but I can't get out of this funk. Then I started researching ParaGard to see if it could have anything to do with how I'm feeling. I'm getting it removed next week. I will update here in 1 month."

• 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."

• Ray...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 22, 2019

For Birth Control "Had it 4.75 years. It was 100% effective at preventing pregnancy - its only upshot. My broad ligament needed massage to accept the foreign object. Increased bleeding throughout the month is no joke. I bled 7-10 days a month with IUD, very heavy. Could not go through the night! I spotted on ovulation and *every* time I had sex. It led to anemia. It makes your body double down on uterine lining - 2x as much blood to be shed each month. The symptoms of copper toxicity can be subtle! I could feel it in there all the time, like a sliver. Six of the last eight weeks before I had it removed, I had low back pain, 6/10, unable to bend my spine + extreme fatigue and was in such a depressed state. The pain only relented during my menstruation. It works by causing inflammation and disrupting your mineral balance. I would not recommend this form of birth control for anyone who struggles with inflammation, autoimmunity, anemia, or postpartum depression."

• 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."

• Sic...
• April 11, 2018

For Birth Control "I did not get pregnant, so the ParaGard was effective. However, I did suffer many side effects: hair loss, bloating, even when I didn't eat, heart palpitations, intense anxieties and depression, migraines, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, all the time, thirsty (dry mouth), yeast infections, pain during sex (my man would get poked or scratched by it), spotting either randomly or after sex, super super light periods, joint pains (sciatica, my neck, wrists, and knees), red dots on my face, which were never there before placement of IUD, loss of appetite, vagina smells like copper (pennies), I lost my sense of taste, loss of interest in sex, literally. I couldn't feel anything down there. It was like my clitoris nerve was murdered. I was never wanting to have sex, so I would never initiate it. I would get annoyed or stressed when boyfriend wanted to have sex. Copper toxicity is real!"

• 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."

• LEM...
• November 26, 2017

For Birth Control "Side effects included fatigue, joint pain, depression, loss of libido."

• can...
• May 23, 2015

For Birth Control "My experience with ParaGard was horrible. I had heavy periods, outrageous cramps, acne, mental issues due to the implant because now that I've had it removed, I feel excellent. When I had it removed, there was rust on the copper. I do not suggest anyone has ParaGard implants ever. It was the biggest mistake that I ever made having the implant put inside of me, and I am so grateful that I finally had it removed."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Rit...
• November 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard for 5 years now. When getting it put in, it hurt so bad I got dizzy, went home, and went straight to sleep. After about 1 year, I got a UTI. I have been to the doctor for antibiotics 6 times now, still have a UTI, meds are not working. I’ve gotten brain fog, depression, cramping bad, odor when I pee, very bad headaches, and still a UTI! Don’t get this birth control. I’ve had it, and my doctor keeps beating around the bush and won’t take it out. I’m going to contact a lawyer."

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2018

For Birth Control "I've had mine in for about two years. Over the last several months, I've noticed severe episodes of depression, up-and-down spikes in mood. I have had intense bleeding (going through three super tampons in one night). I've gained weight, which could be due to the lack of motivation for 7-9 days of my period, along with food cravings. I don't feel normal. I'm legitimately nervous for my period each month, knowing my mood will be so low and irrational. I've made an appointment to take the IUD out as that is the only thing that I have changed. I try to live a very healthy lifestyle."

• 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!"

• 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."

• AWM...
• September 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGuard for over two years. It has done a great job being a contraception. It has, however, created a lot of problems, which is why I'm getting mine removed in four days and will never use it again and warn my friends to do the same. My first symptom was migraines with the onset of menstruation. Within a year, I had gained 15 pounds. I had a rash on my face that my dermatologist couldn't diagnose. At 18 months in, I was diagnosed with severe depression and put on antidepressants. And, the entire two years, I had a week of bleeding before my period, extra discharge (I had to wear a panty liner every day), and painful mid-cycle cramps called mittelschmerz. I am amazed that this product hasn't been more carefully studied."

• Nat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 6, 2017

For Birth Control "To be honest, I had ParaGard in under 4 months and had horrible experiences. Severe stomach cramps, which felt like labor pains, hair loss, severe depression, which led me to self-harm and overdose. Mood swings were very bad to the extent I was lashing out and getting arrested, heavy bleeding where it was going through my clothing, and suffered many migraines. After having the ParaGard removed, it's taken over 6 months to get where I am now, which is I am in more control with my moods, the bleeding is back to light, no more cramps, and my hair is now back to long and thick. My depression is now controllable."

• 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."