ParaGard and Depression: What Users Say (Page 4)

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

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

For Birth Control "When I was on the ParaGard, there was not one day I had zero bleeding. So annoying for 5 months. I have never been depressed, but when I was on this, I was feeling sadness that I've never had. I was SO irritable, it was crazy how fast I could snap. I had extreme pain 2 weeks after they put the IUD in, like it felt like I was dying. Got an ultrasound, and everything was okay... it was so freaking scary, though. I was constantly bloated. Sex was painful, like very painful, and I had zero sex drive. I was always tired. I think I may have had copper toxicity."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Emm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Well, it works for birth control, but I did have skin problems probably due to no hormones. But there were also changes to my mood in terms of PMS and depression. I always felt like I was in a fog and had anxiety. Recommend just taking the pill, at least you would have clear skin, and your mood will be under control and lighter periods."

• 31Y...
• July 23, 2018

For Birth Control "I had the copper IUD for about 3 weeks, and I finally got it removed this morning. First, I got it inserted, and the first week I was having contractions and bleeding blood clots. Very heavy bleeding. It was so bad that I would get chills from the pain. Second, I started to have panic attacks, and my anxiety felt off the charts. Third, my brain felt super foggy. My brain felt like I was off on a cloud, and I couldn't focus at work. Fourth, I felt depressed and moody. It was like my emotions were up and down, and I couldn't help it. Fifth, I felt bloated and fatigued. I was told numerous times that this IUD didn't have hormones, but it sure had something in for me to get symptoms like this. I know that every woman is different, but with my experience, I would recommend the Mirena IUD over the ParaGard IUD ANYTIME. I had both, and by far, Mirena is better. For now, I'll stick with the old school birth control - 'The Pill.'"

• Mim...
• June 29, 2018

For Birth Control "Got the IUD after my daughter was about a year and a half. At first, everything seemed normal. I was stressed out, of course, being a new mom. About 2 years later, I noticed how crazy depressed I would get before my period. I would also lash out at everyone. I was extremely emotional. I ignored it. But several months later, I started getting panic attacks and anxiety. I used to get attacks when I was a teen, so I knew exactly how to cope, but it kind of started making me stressed out. Then, I started getting odd thoughts that didn't make sense and brain fog. It was creeping me out. I started Googling and realized I had Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), which is severe PMS. I had no idea why I would have this. I tried working out and eating better. Nothing worked. Then one day, I typed in copper IUD and PMS. A thousand articles showed up. Women telling the same story as me. I called the doctor and had it taken out immediately. It's been 3 months now, and I feel better. Research birth control. The human body doesn't understand foreign objects."

• 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."

• 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."

• Lwo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2017

For Birth Control "I just got the copper IUD removed after having it for 7 months. I am normally a really positive person with a happy demeanor, and I am convinced that the copper IUD threw me into depression and anxiety. I have NEVER had depression or anxiety, and every month my moods got worse. I would cry almost every day, I would snap at my bf or family for the smallest thing, and I felt rage almost all the time. I was trying to figure out if something else in my life was affecting me. I even went to my therapist and a depression care specialist. I finally read some reviews on the copper IUD and depression, and it seems pretty common. Drs will tell you it's not the IUD, but please trust your intuition. I also had a yeast infection & BV almost every month because of the IUD."

• cmd...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 7, 2023

For Birth Control "I had ParaGard for exactly one year (to the day) before my body spontaneously tried to expel it. The insertion process was awful, honestly. It’s just going to suck, and that’s the reality. My periods went from being 5-7 days and light, with no cramps, to weeks where I would lose cups of blood per day and cramp so hard I would get nauseous and pale. That lasted for the first 6 months and then reduced in severity but still remained worse than before I got the IUD. My boyfriend said he could feel the strings stab him, and sex became less comfortable for me. I was always aware of my cervix and *things* that would hit it. I am not sure if it was related, but during this year I developed debilitating depression for the first time in my life, but again, this could be a coincidence. I also had 6 UTIs in the last 6 months of 2022. It became dislodged during sex last week and was so painful it had to be urgently removed."

• 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."

• Ded...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 29, 2019

For Birth Control "I have had the ParaGard for 14 months now, and I am considering having it removed. I have always been a 4-day bleeder without cramps or heavy bleeding. Now I bleed for 6 to 8 days, and I bleed so heavily, and I cramp. I literally have to stay at home during my period because I bleed so heavily. I am constantly taking showers throughout the day because I continue to mess up my clothes. I am very depressed and have had a lot of weight gain. I'm going to have the IUD removed after reading about 'copper toxicity.' Please do your research before getting the ParaGard."

• 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!"

• Bel...
• August 28, 2018

For Birth Control "It’s almost a week ago that I got the ParaGard. I decided to switch to ParaGard from hormonal birth control pills because hormones made me gain weight. I also couldn’t tolerate the hormones anymore because I was depressed, my nipples hurt, and I had vaginal dryness. The insertion was very painful because my cervix was too small. My GP was also inexperienced. During the insertion, I felt massive cramps, and I also started to bleed, which lasted for 4 days. I took 2 Naproxen hours prior to the insertion. After 10 years of feeling like a zombie on birth control pills, I finally feel myself again. I’ve lost a little bit of weight, especially around my thighs, my nipples don’t hurt, and I feel less depressed. I also don't have massive food cravings like I did on the hormonal contraceptives. My acne is back, unfortunately, but this is manageable with acne skincare products. I also suffer from vaginal discharge with a little bit of blood, but in time, I think this will go away. I think my body needs time to adjust."

• 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!!!"

• 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."

• Lan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 15, 2017

For Birth Control "I had my ParaGard fitted 3 months after the birth of my 2nd boy. I chose it as it was non-hormonal, therefore, very little side effects should occur. Since having it in, I put on weight, I got depression, and felt really tired all the time. I thought it was just because of life with 2 little boys plus full-time work. 3 1/2 years later, I decided to remove it as I was suffering constant BV and antibiotics were not helping. I booked the appointment and started researching, and I was shocked with the amount of women complaining about the weight gain, heavy periods, fatigue, and depression. I also read some lost weight straight away after getting it out. To my surprise, 3 days after getting it removed, I have lost 2 lbs and I feel much more energy. I wish I never had it in."

• taa...
• November 2, 2017

"After trying 5 different birth control pills over the years and suffering from major mood swings, depression, hair loss, etc., I read several reviews on the ParaGard IUD, the majority of the reviews were negative and terrifying. However, getting the ParaGard IUD has been the best option for me. The insertion hurt but wasn't overwhelming. I took ibuprofen and brought my heating pad. The insertion took maybe 15 minutes. I spotted for 2 days, and then it was fine. Prior to getting the ParaGard, my periods lasted 2 days, and now they are 4 days. Periods are heavier, but it's 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."