ParaGard and Depression: What Users Say (Page 5)

• 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."

• TJa...
• February 8, 2018

For Birth Control "Fell pregnant after 6 months of having ParaGard IUD inserted. They told me it probably fell out. After severe pain in my abdominal region, sides, and lower back got progressively worse over the years to the point of being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and after a second pregnancy, pain escalated. After an X-ray, MRI, and CT scan, it was determined the IUD had perforated my bowel, and whilst awaiting surgery, I expelled it. My recovery has been said will take 18 months to 2 years, and I am due to see a specialist for ongoing pain since. It might be great at first (if you don’t fall pregnant), but it’s not a matter of if it will cause problems, it’s a matter of when - mine was realized 11 years later - weight gain, fatigue, acne, abdominal pain, depression... the list goes on."

• 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."

• 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!!!"

• 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!"

• 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!!"

• G11...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2017

For Birth Control "This is the worst birth control. The cramps after getting it were similar to labor. I was always dizzy and got depressed. As soon as I got it out, the symptoms disappeared."

• 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."

• 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..."