ParaGard and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• 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."

• Ali...
• July 28, 2017

For Birth Control "Insertion was extremely painful. Two weeks on painkillers straight after. Pains in lower abdomen and groin still after four months. Heavy periods. Two times BV, one time yeast infection. Loss of libido. Worst of all: mood swings, anxiety, depression, including suicidal thoughts. Taking it out next week! Too much copper is toxic and, unfortunately, not well understood yet. Google 'copper toxicity.' Also, a foreign object in the uterus still messes up your hormones. Please don't get one, ladies! Be careful with what you choose, all contraceptive methods for women can be dangerous, even this 'non-hormonal' one - was even worse for me than the pill!"

• eri...
• June 22, 2017

For Birth Control "This gave me depression. The copper toxicity did not allow for me to lose weight, I had ongoing infections that immediately went away after removal. I had low sex drive and acne a month after having it inserted. My discharge smells more than usual."

• chl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 14, 2017

For Birth Control "ParaGard was inserted July 2016 and removed June 2017 (almost a year!). The first week after it was installed, I had debilitating cramps for three days straight and constant bleeding. Every month, my periods were twice as heavy, twice as long, and 10 times more painful! I was told this would calm down after 6 months, so I persevered. If anything, my periods got MORE painful to the point where I couldn't leave the house in case I'd be hit by a wave of contractions. On a side note, I felt anxious, depressed, introverted, alone (I'm usually so social and confident!), worthless, and I experienced social anxiety for the first time! I also gained 20 lbs, which is definitely not due to a change in diet/exercise. If anything, I was eating better!"

• Sjo...
• May 20, 2017

For Birth Control "Awful! Made me have heavy periods for 2 years! Painful sex, depression, weight gain, anemia, insomnia, caused my gallbladder disease and if not bad enough, embedded in my uterus and had to be surgically removed. Don't use."

• K E...
• May 19, 2017

For Birth Control "I had the ParaGard placed shortly after my second son was born. I was teaching at that time. I moved over that summer and worked in another education-related field. I started getting difficulties with focus and concentration. I developed anxiety and depression. I tried to teach again, but my body could no longer handle stress. I went through years of therapy and doctors trying to give antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. I had the IUD removed and was able to get pregnant after. Pregnancy holds onto copper, and I had PPD after this pregnancy. Depression and anxiety worsened. It was affecting my nervous system, causing electrical shocks in my hands and feet. I had high unbound copper and finally found the right doctor to help clear the copper and decrease inflammation."

• KLT...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 12, 2023

For Birth Control "Insertion was extremely painful to me, but I was okay an hour later. I had it for one week before I wanted it out of me, the cramps were so bad I had to sit down no matter where I was, or I'd feel the urge to vomit. I kept it for 13 months, hoping it would get better, but it didn't. I was told to expect cramps and longer/heavier periods, but I didn't expect 10-14 day periods with spotting in between. I can count the days I didn't bleed on one hand. I had emotional issues with ParaGard as well. I was anxious, angry, and depressed, I had nothing going on in my life that would have caused the mental health issues, so I know it was the IUD. It claims to be 'hormone-free,' but it does affect hormones. Long story short, I hated ParaGard. I'm working on getting a refund and getting the side effects that myself and other people had listed in the pamphlet through the FDA."

• Jes...
• January 9, 2023

For Birth Control "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, feeling emotionally numb, brain fog, and constipation. I also experienced severe hormonal jawline 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."

• Don...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 5, 2022

For Birth Control "I’ve had my ParaGard for 9 months, and I developed severe anxiety/nausea from it. I felt depressed/panic attacks for a week before I realized it was this! I was put on medication to help, and nothing worked! I still felt the same. Get it removed before this happens to you. :( Praying for anyone who is currently going through this. It took a mental toll on me."

• Pep...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 25, 2022

For Birth Control "My body reacted to the copper by producing 3X the amount of hormones than regular birth control. I wanted to believe that the low risk of pregnancy was worth the emotional and mental pain I was experiencing. After several years, it wasn’t worth it anymore. It felt like it was getting worse and worse every month. I wish I had gotten it out sooner. I should have prioritized my mental health more. Just got it out, and I immediately feel better after years of mental agony that was becoming so severe I was debating going to a mental hospital. Only one OBGYN validated my experience and gave me the information about the copper causing my body to produce more hormones as a defense mechanism to having a foreign object in my body. If the fear of pregnancy is more important than your mental health, I guess it’s worth it. I’m excited to look into natural methods of B.C."

• Aca...
• February 16, 2022

For Birth Control "Removing the copper ParaGard was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I realize this form of BC has worked well for many of you, and that is really fortunate... but for those women who are unsure, please do research on copper toxicity before getting this inserted. I failed to do this, and for four months I had cystic acne, heavy periods, and I felt completely depressed. Copper made my uterus swell, and the effects from that negatively impacted my entire body. I am so glad it's out of me. If anyone tells you, 'the ParaGard doesn't cause all those side effects and it's completely in your head,' they are completely wrong."

• Ns4...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2021

For Birth Control "2 years in, started ruining my life, lost my job because I couldn't get out of bed, developed high blood pressure, sleep apnea, endometriosis, fibroids, severe depression and suicidal ideation, weight gain, IBS, severe bloating, 2 weeks of bleeding and clotting, then 2 weeks of cramps and spotting, migraines, food intolerances. I could go on. Good luck trying to have it removed once it's in, it will take you months or you will have to find another way. The doctors swear the symptoms aren't from the IUD, but I have thousands of other girls that say differently."

• Rmo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2021

For Birth Control "Horrible experience! ParaGard is a non-hormonal birth control, but it messed me up. I was not myself at all. Brain fog, mood swings, depression, bloating, cramps, sciatic pain, and constipation, to name a few side effects. I had it taken out about two weeks ago. I'm glad I had it removed when I did. My IUD was starting to embed itself into my uterus. If I had waited any longer, I would have needed it surgically removed. I feel like myself again now that it is out. Listen to your body... if something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't! ParaGard is not worth it!"

• IUD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 10, 2021

For Birth Control "I had the IUD, and it was almost the end of me. I had it for just 2 years. Currently, I have side effects of nerve damage, insomnia, chest pain, high copper toxicity, body pain, hair loss, cystic acne, UTI, weight gain, brain fog, depression and anxiety, blurry eyes, deafness, metal taste, nausea, migraine. I can go on and on. It did not work for me because it's toxic to women. There is no benefit for this."

• Suz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2021

For Birth Control "I had the copper IUD inserted as I had been on the pill for 5 years and decided to try something hormonal-free. I got put under local anesthetic, so can’t comment on insertion pain, but omg, the cramps were so terrible and heavy periods I had never experienced. I decided to push through, as they say it gets better. The IUD turned me from a healthy, happy woman to depressed, anxiety-nearly bipolar-like-with symptoms like I’ve never had and panic attacks I’ve never experienced-so terrible! My sex drive was nonexistent, I was at a loss, as I would have never thought my “hormonal-free” IUD would be causing these issues until I came on this page! My doctor told me I was suffering from chemically imbalanced depression/anxiety?? I had my IUD removed the next morning after seeing so many women going through the same thing. My depression has now gone, and I haven’t had a panic attack since (removed 2 days ago). I cannot stress this enough-don’t get the IUD."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 10, 2021

For Birth Control "I've had ParaGard for 2 years now, and ever since I've had it, my mental health declined rapidly, and all of the sudden, I had depression and panic attacks! I also haven't been able to sleep right or really feel like myself. I'm getting it removed tomorrow. After doing tons of research, I've found that I am not the only one who has experienced these types of issues and wanted to put this out there! I've recently been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, and I've had anxiety all my life, but since I've had this IUD, it intensified tremendously to where it's uncontrollable, and I have to take medicine daily just to be 'normal.' I find it extremely strange. I'd think twice before using this."

• Ste...
• July 7, 2021

For Birth Control "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 microbiome, 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."

• Lea...
• April 4, 2021

For Birth Control "Prior to using ParaGard, my sex drive was high and my husband and I had a very active and fun sex life. I got mine put in 2 months after my first baby was born and everything went downhill fast after that. I experienced depression, anxiety, hopelessness, cystic acne, severe PMS (I'd barely had any PMS prior), crazy mood swings, forgetfulness and brain fog, no sex drive whatsoever, and just a complete lack of interest in my spouse, pain during sex (not severe but uncomfortable and lingering), and overall I just felt like a wreck and not myself at all. It took a long time to figure out that my issues were coming from the IUD and copper toxicity. After 4 1/2 years of suffering, I finally had it removed 4 days ago. Tonight, for the first time in years, I actually enjoyed sex and desired my husband!! The sex was free from pain and discomfort too. While this IUD is great at preventing pregnancy, it's not worth losing yourself over. I'm so glad to be free!"

• Lea...
• April 4, 2021

For Birth Control "Prior to using ParaGard, my sex drive was high and my husband and I had a very active and fun sex life. I got mine put in 2 months after my first baby was born and everything went downhill fast after that. I experienced depression, anxiety, hopelessness, cystic acne, severe PMS (I'd barely had any PMS prior), crazy mood swings, forgetfulness and brain fog, no sex drive whatsoever, and just a complete lack of interest in my spouse, pain during sex (not severe but uncomfortable and lingering), and overall I just felt like a wreck and not myself at all. It took a long time to figure out that my issues were coming from the IUD and copper toxicity. After 4 1/2 years of suffering, I finally had it removed 4 days ago. Tonight, for the first time in years, I actually enjoyed sex and desired my husband!! The sex was free from pain and discomfort too. While this IUD is great at preventing pregnancy, it's not worth losing yourself over. I'm so glad to be free!"

• Nuk...
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "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 bloodstream 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 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."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2021

For Birth Control "ZERO STARS for this if possible. After having the copper IUD for six years, I got pregnant with the IUD in place! (I always checked the strings.) The IUD punctured my uterus. I had to have surgery-a medically necessary abortion (D&C)-and to have the IUD cut from my uterus. If the baby had been in my fallopian tubes, I could have died. The doctor was going to give me chemo to end the pregnancy if the D&C hadn't worked. Six years of birth control is not worth the physical and mental pain I have had to endure over the last three weeks. Please read about women's personal experiences before you get the copper IUD! Now that I'm reading them, I'm realizing I have been suffering from copper toxicity as well, causing increasing anxiety and depression over the last six years. My mental state is better every day now that my IUD has been removed. I'm starting to feel like my old self. I will never get another one. If you need a natural form of birth control, please Google Fertility Awareness Method."

• Anonymous
• January 15, 2021

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard for 2 years now. It has been the worst experience. I kept waiting for it to get better, and things have only gotten worse. I get my period like every two weeks or sometimes less. I also get horribly sick on my periods with really intense cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and depression. There are also the recurring yeast infections, and recently I got BV. I am getting it out as soon as possible and really do not recommend it for anybody. I got it because my doctor did not tell me about these side effects besides the cramps and heavy bleeding, and in all of the research I did prior to getting it, I did not find many negative comments, but I probably was not looking in the right places. I really recommend you look for an alternative method of birth control. This one is really not worth it."

• Emm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2021

For Birth Control "ParaGard was an absolute disaster. Night sweats, super heavy long periods, chronic pain, depressed mood, worsened acne."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 11, 2020

For Birth Control "I had the ParaGard for a year and a half, and I experienced side effects of nausea, hair loss, depression, and really bad anxiety. I had my periods two times a month, I was losing a lot of blood, and I talked to my doctor, and she told me that the symptoms I had didn’t have anything to do with the ParaGard. I recently took out the IUD, and all those symptoms were gone. Would definitely not recommend!"

• All...
• January 30, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the IUD after having bad reactions to hormonal birth control. On paper, ParaGard sounded great: no hormones, no long term side effects... no problems. Immediately after insertion, I began having horrible lower back pain accompanied by excruciating menstrual cramps that left me curled up in a ball on the floor. My periods lasted for 2 weeks with spotting for a week after. Then came the insomnia, anxiety, and crippling depression. I totally lost interest in everything I used to like and found myself having suicidal thoughts, which was an absolute first for me. My doctor said there was no connection between the IUD and my symptoms, so I kept with it long enough to experience daily migraines, extreme joint pain, painful bloating, hair loss, constant exhaustion, and insane brain fog. After an entire year of misery, I finally got it removed. I am pretty upset with the lack of information available about this product. I would NEVER RECOMMEND this device to anyone."