ParaGard and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 10, 2020

For Birth Control "I decided to get the copper IUD a year and a month ago. I have been reading some reviews on the effects of the IUD and can agree with many of them, which I did not originally think was the cause at the time. The main one being extremely moody and unpredictable. Around the 6-month mark, I was feeling depressed, overly anxious, and paranoid for no apparent reason. It has helped tremendously when it comes to preventing pregnancy, as I already have one child and was not planning for other children anytime soon. Currently, I’m debating whether I will be removing it but am not sure what to do, as hormonal birth control methods do not really do well with me."

• Mid...
• November 30, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve had ParaGard since Feb 2019. I’ve had BV once, 2 yeast infections, and a UTI. The insertion was as expected-moderately painful but nothing I couldn’t manage. I had cramping and spotting afterward. The 6-month adjustment cycle was tough. I went through several phases of periodic cramping, spotting, achy joints, and mood swings. Afterwards, the intermittent cramping stopped, and my periods are regular. They are longer than they were pre-ParaGard (before they were 3/4 days, now 5/6 days + a day of spotting). I’ve also noticed my PMS is worse. Although there’s no hormone, I am much meaner when it’s period time, and I feel it. I have an appointment with my OBGYN to discuss removal because I can’t keep having infections. For context, before this year, I've had 1 yeast infection when I was pregnant with my oldest 8 years ago and 1 UTI when I was pregnant with my youngest 4 years ago. To be on my 4th infection this year is crazy!"

• Col...
• June 11, 2017

For Birth Control "Good, but it's like the first car. It needs a redesign that is more flexible. Pros: It's nice to not worry about pregnancy or condoms with my SO. In a way, it allows for more intimate sex without the conversation of BC. I have had the ParaGard for 4 years after trying other hormonal BC. Cons: I traded mood swings for pain. Right from the start, it is trouble when the nurse tells you to take an aspirin before the insertion, but she should have prescribed a real painkiller for the procedure. There have been a few times when I almost had it taken out. I never had cramps before this. Every month, I take a minimum of 600 mg of ibuprofen. There are cramps after ovulation in the middle of my cycle, as well as more intensely before and during my period."

• Mom...
• February 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I got the ParaGard IUD inserted 6 weeks postpartum. My periods were normal but slightly more painful, especially during ovulation. There was cramping after sex that went away after 6 months. I started to notice at 8 months with the ParaGard that I had severe acne. I changed my diet, I drank only water because I felt so ugly. Nothing worked and now I look crazy as hell, my face is disgusting. I started thinking my PMS was getting out of control. I found myself in these crazy mood swings at least twice a week in the 9th month. The last straw is here in this review because I'm too embarrassed to admit the thoughts that have crossed my mind in the midst of what could be undiagnosed psychosis because of a hormonal or chemical imbalance caused by the copper. I know I'm not crazy, and my doctor is claiming none of these side effects can be possible because the IUD doesn't have hormones. This birth control could be poisonous. Don't ignore the signs if you have them, it could be dangerous. 1 year."

• BKa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2017

For Birth Control "33 y/o with 1 child, ParaGard (copper IUD) over 2 years now. Originally chose due to non-hormonal option (had extreme nausea on the pill.) POSITIVE: had immediate nausea relief, no daily pill, no mood swings or weight changes. NEGATIVE: long, heavy, painful periods like never before and did not improve over time. 1-2 days became 7. Super Plus tampon each 45 minutes and lots of stained clothes. A simple tampon change on a 'ParaGard period' can make your bathroom look like a scene from Dexter. Hubs felt IUD string poking him until the doctor tucked it farther up inside the cervix. It served its purpose for a season of life, but now I'm willing to give hormones another try and switching to Mirena."

• Tso...
• November 10, 2016

For Birth Control "Okay, so the ParaGard worked well to prevent pregnancy. I had it for 3 years. Love it, and it didn't mess with my period at all, much besides increased cramps. But 3 years into having the ParaGard, something strange started to happen. I don't know if it was the IUD, but I'm thinking it was, because a month after removal, I felt just like my old self. I was so dizzy, headaches when I went to bed and when I woke up, fatigue was bad, mood swings where I was angry then crying for no reason. I lost half of my hair, it was coming out in clumps, panic attacks that resembled strokes, no joke. My hands would turn into claws, and I would seize up. I had blood work done and even had a doctor think it was a brain or adrenal tumor. But no... IUD came out, and 3 weeks later I'm back."

• Jes...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I've had the copper ParaGard in since 2012. I'm now 7 years in, and I'm starting to get mean, emotional. My period or bleeding has been going on since July 2019. I don't know when I'm on my menstrual cycle because it will go away and come back 20 minutes later. I use a full pack of pads and a box of tampons when I usually use 10 pads and maybe 5 tampons. I went to the E.R. and was told everything was fine, IUD still in place, but I just know something is wrong because it just started. I have made an appointment to get it taken out. Will not recommend to anyone."

• 30-...
• September 26, 2019

For Birth Control "The cramping, good lord, the cramping. I would compare it to early to mid-labor contractions. Sometimes they would hit me so hard I would literally double over. For a solid week, every month. Flow, so heavy. Beyond what a super plus tampon and maxi pad could handle for more than a couple of hours. For a solid four days, with what I would consider normal flow for the next three. Now, I know this is non-hormonal, so it may have to do with my body rather than the actual IUD, but my mood swings were outrageous. Like a solid week of being sad, a solid week of being angry, a solid week of insomnia, a solid week of physical pain, repeat. Sometimes one of the first three would be swapped out (or accompanied by) heartbroken. I've been in a steady relationship for almost five years and just at random I would start to question everything about him and his motives. Before ParaGard, I didn't have any kind of emotional swing month to month, so I blame it, but it could also be me aging and my hormones changing."

• 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."

• BeB...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2018

For Birth Control "It was more of a mental problem for me than physical. Never had any cramping or pains, maybe a little discharge problems between periods, but the main concern for me was feeling depression, anxiety, isolation, tiredness all the time, mood swings affecting my marriage! I never suspected my IUD to be the problem, but it all started after I had it put in about 2 years ago and slowly progressed to being very noticeable now; it had me considering going on anti-depressants!"

• non...
• August 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had my ParaGard in for 8 months so far. Same as everyone else, pretty crampy when getting it inserted. However, I love the fact that it works. The only downfall is I bleed WAY more. I bleed through super+ tampons in less than 8 hours. I'm going to a doctor to see if I need to change the device. Also, my mood swings are pretty crazy lately. I'm not sure if it's the excessive bleeding or what. I want to love the ParaGard, but if you have known problems with low iron or thin blood, it may not be right for you!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 9, 2021

For Birth Control "I got ParaGard 3 years ago, and it’s been nice not having the extreme mood swings I used to get on the pill. I also didn’t notice other side effects for the first year. However, in the 2nd year, I started getting really bad cramps and pain in my lower abdomen. My uterus felt like it had a rock in it, and I couldn’t wear my normal jeans because it made the pain worse. I was sure the IUD was misplaced, but my gyno said it was in place and everything looked fine. After a while, this pain started to radiate to my lower back, butt, and legs. The butt and leg pain almost felt like sciatica, which I never had until then; I was 28, 115 lbs, and active! I was trying hard to avoid hormones as much as possible, so I kept the IUD for another year. I’ve now decided to take it out because I just can’t deal with the cramps and back pain!"

• Jha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 29, 2018

For Birth Control "Painful intercourse from friction from string. It was an extremely painful insertion. I had fatigue, always 'feel' something inside me, mood swings, and weight gain."

• She...
• August 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 23 years old and have not had any children, and I believe this is a lot of the reason why Paragard wreaked such havoc on my uterus and body. I gave Paragard a shot because I was told it was one of the most 'natural' forms of birth control, and I have never met a pill that I could tolerate. I thought the no hormones involved with the Paragard would be the answer for me. I had the IUD in for a year and was miserable the whole year. Here were some of my symptoms: chronic lower back pain, which made it uncomfortable to sit for long periods of time, sharp pain in my right hip area, which traveled down my leg to my foot, 2-week long periods with heavy flow and painful cramps, lightheadedness when exercising, anxiety, mood swings, irritability."

• fun...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 3, 2023

For Birth Control "I had ParaGard for three years. I want to post about my experience with the hope of validating anyone reading this. If you have the copper IUD and you’re experiencing water retention, weight gain that seems impossible to reduce, cystic acne, mood swings, decreased sex drive, gut issues, bowel movement issues, joint pain, and overall less quality of life… you’re not crazy, you’re not imagining it. I was never once told that perhaps my copper IUD could be the root cause of symptoms, and I could probably go to college again with all the money I’ve spent on medical and dermatological bills. Yes, the IUD prevented pregnancy for me, but at what cost? Trust yourself and what your body is telling you. So far, it’s been 10 days since the removal. The dull ache in my abdomen is subsiding, my brain feels like an anvil, my mood is lifting, and my mid-section is noticeably less swollen. Also, my bowel movements aren’t a liquid nightmare. I hope things continue to improve."

• 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."

• bba...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2018

For Birth Control "I had ParaGard for about 5 years, and during that time, the device did what it said - prevented pregnancy - but also a great deal more. From the beginning, my periods worsened, and my face broke out for about 6 months in a hive-type rash on one cheek. From there, the symptoms kept coming, such as headaches after exercise, lowered libido, increased PMS, which finally built up to full-on PMDD during my luteal cycles. Please understand that copper, while not a hormone itself, does affect estrogen, which leads to a slew of emotional issues, not to mention bone loss and possibly increased cancer risk."

• cit...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 26, 2018

For Birth Control "After much consideration, I removed my IUD. I got the IUD 2 years ago. The insertion was a pinch and quick, and the cramping/spotting only lasted for a couple of hours. I loved it so far until I experienced my first period. She said it would be heavy and painful the first few months, but for me, it was every month I got my period, SUPER heavy, excruciating cramps, terrible depressing mood swings. I also noticed sex started becoming painful when it never used to be. But the worst of all was the chronic BV. The first time I ever had it was 3 months after insertion. I took rounds and rounds of antibiotics and home remedies for 2 years, and it always came back after I would have sex. I read that the IUD could play a role in recurrent BV episodes, so I am hoping the removal will help me live a happier and healthier life. OVERALL, the IUD is amazing at preventing pregnancy at 99%! I just couldn’t live with the side effects any longer. Hope this helps!"

• 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."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 19, 2017

For Birth Control "Sharp pains randomly through the cycle. Prolonged periods up to 13 days of bleeding. Excessive blood loss led to fatigue, emotional instability, dry, flaky skin and scalp, brittle hair, as well as hair loss, and I'm only 22. Reoccurring yeast infections almost every other month. Stopped pregnancy, but wasn't worth the side effects. Had it just over a year."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I chose the ParaGard since it was hormone-free and a long-term birth control option. Insertion wasn't very painful, but I did bleed for 4 days afterward. The first 6 months, my periods were extremely painful and 7-8 days long. After 6 months, the cramping wasn't as bad, but the length of the period remained. I've had it over a year and have noticed some extreme differences in my life. I feel fatigued often, have gained 10 lbs without a dietary change, my mood swings are crazy. I can't prove that ParaGard is the cause of these, but I have a great reason to believe that. I am having it removed this week, and I cannot wait."

• Tri...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2022

For Birth Control "I got my copper IUD put in when I was 15. I was encouraged by my mother after her being a teen mom and her having hormonal IUDs in the past. After being convinced by the doctor that it was the best long-term contraception, I was told it was not a painful insertion, but let me tell you that was so far from the truth. I had it put in and the pain was unbearable. I left after 10 minutes and had to pull over to vomit from the pain. I couldn’t get comfortable for at least a week, but now I am absolutely terrified to get it taken out. I’ve now had it in for around 5 years, and I have horrible mood swings, acne, migraines, I bleed during sex, and it’s uncomfortable. I feel it scratch me unexpectedly during the day. I need to get it removed, but I’m just absolutely terrified. Please, if you're a mom looking into contraception for your teen, please please do your research."

• Rev...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 18, 2022

For Birth Control "I used ParaGard for 3 years and recently had it removed. I am very happy with the decision. I expected heavy periods and more painful cramps with the IUD, but did not expect the severity and frequency of the cramps. Sometimes they would start and maintain for 2 weeks prior to my period, at times being so painful that I would buckle over. I was fine with that, but what I also didn't expect was many other side effects, including panic attacks (which I had never experienced before), joint pain, teeth grinding while sleeping that would cause me to wake up in pain, and extreme mood swings that were like clockwork every month. Additionally, I had strange linear rashes show up on my lower torso and back, which no doctor could provide a diagnosis for. Reading reviews on here, I was surprised and relieved to find others having the same issues. Since having it removed 2 months ago, all of these issues have either significantly improved or disappeared."

• Tan...
• September 3, 2020

For Birth Control "I used Nexplanon before and had terrible mood swings, so I thought ParaGard would be a better alternative, being non-hormonal. I had ParaGard for 4 months and noticed I was way more fatigued and anxious, with bad cramps, and my period was heavy, I was bleeding through an extra-large maxi pad in an hour. I went to get it out, and they said it was stuck and I may have needed surgery to get it out! It took three tries to finally yank it out a few days ago, and I already feel so much calmer and less in pain. Instead, I’m going to use natural family planning (apps like Lily allow you to track your cervical mucus and temperature and cycle to be more effective) with barrier methods like condoms or cervical caps during my fertile times. I’m really disappointed in this contraception method. I have PCOS as well and found it made my symptoms much worse than before. I wish I didn’t get it to save myself 4 months of anxiety and laying in bed with debilitating cramps."

• 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."