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Copper topical and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 3)

Brand names: ParaGard, Miudella

Reviews for Copper topical

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Kar...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 6, 2021

Copper topical for Birth Control "I have had the IUD for almost 10 months now, and I am debating getting it taken out. I was prepared for more cramping and heavier periods (those are common side effects), but I wasn’t prepared for sharp cramping almost all the time. Before the IUD, I had a very predictable cycle every 35ish days and got cramps the first day or two of my period. Now I feel like I get a period randomly every 2-3 weeks, and there is no way to track when I will be bleeding/cramping or not. I feel in almost constant pain. Then I’ve also felt much more anxious, depressed, and irritable and have gained significant weight. There may be no way to know whether these symptoms are actually caused by the IUD or other things going on in my life, but they seem to have appeared right after insertion and are similar to other reviews. It’s hard to decide whether to get it removed because if I get it out, I have to try another option, which may have similar side effects anyway. Bleh :/"

4 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • March 31, 2012

For Birth Control "Getting Paragard inserted was uncomfortable. It did not cause me to have heavier periods or make my cramps worse. When my husband and I decided to try for a baby, it took us 4 months. I will be getting it again after the birth of our daughter."

9 / 10
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  • Lil...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 14, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had a child via C-section. So I found out the day of my appointment the doctor is not comfortable placing IUDs in women who haven't given birth. Anyhow, it was resolved, and another doctor placed it that day. I took ibuprofen before, I was REALLY scared. I had Mirena before, and the doctor had trouble getting it in, and I had trouble with the hormones, so this is my only option left. The doctor was great, and she finished within 10 minutes. I felt 2 cramps, and I was fine after I left. I rested the rest of that day, and I haven't needed any pain medicine since the day I got it placed. I'm just so shocked, and I feel like there's nothing in me. I have minimal bleeding, to my surprise. Have to get an ultrasound to check it and a check-up in a month. So far, so good!"

7 / 10
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  • AMP...
  • July 15, 2019

Copper topical 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!"

2 / 10
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  • Col...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • May 23, 2016

Copper topical for Birth Control "I've decided to post because I've heard so many horror stories about the ParaGard IUD. I've tried Depo, the pill, and even the Nexplanon implant, and they all didn't work due to hormonal side effects. They were all hell. I'm only 20, in college, and being miserable is the last thing on my mind due to birth control. The ParaGard IUD was my last option, and it has been absolutely amazing. Before any birth control, I had a heavy flow, very painful periods. With the ParaGard, my first two days are the only days I cramp, and it's not too bad. My flow is pretty normal, I can get away with wearing a regular tampon, and it lasts 6 days. I love it because I can predict my period, and it is very accurate. No mood swings or anything. AMAZING!"

10 / 10
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  • Lau...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 24, 2014

For Birth Control "I chose to get the Paragard IUD after being on the pill for the last 20 years. After so long taking hormones, I wanted to be hormone-free. I've never had a child, so I was warned that the insertion was going to be very painful. There were only two instances during the process that lasted about 5 seconds each that I experienced sharp pain. I did feel slightly shaky afterward, so my doctor told me to just relax for 10 minutes, which I did. The cramps I had for the rest of the day were pretty intense, but by the next day, they were 90% better, and by the day after that, they were completely gone. So far, I haven't experienced any other adverse effects, but I suppose I will have to wait until next month to see how my first cycle goes with it."

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 3, 2016

Copper topical for Birth Control "I'm sharing my positive experience with Paragard - I hesitated for quite some time because of some of the things I'd read online. I've had Paragard for 4.5 months now, and I wish I'd gotten it sooner! It's wonderful! Two main points - first, my period hasn't changed much. Still lasts 5 days, with 1-2 days of bleeding on the heavier side. No, I don't have to change my tampon every hour =) As for the cramps, mine have actually IMPROVED. I don't even have to take Midol anymore! My cramps used to be a constant, dull ache that would last all day - they were terrible. With Paragard, they come in short waves (lasting for like 10 seconds). They are so much more bearable now! No maintenance, no hormones, and highly effective? Best decision ever!"

10 / 10
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  • Ano...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • October 28, 2013

For Birth Control "I have had a Paragard IUD for 3 years and have had constant BV and odor. I have been treated several times with oral antibiotics and gels. I have bad cramps during my cycle and heavy periods. I also have cramping and bleeding between periods and feel bloated most of the time. I am getting it removed this week."

7 / 10
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  • Ano...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • October 28, 2013

For Birth Control "I have had a Paragard IUD for 3 years and have had constant BV and odor. I have been treated several times with oral antibiotics and gels. I have bad cramps during my cycle and heavy periods. I also have cramping and bleeding between periods and feel bloated most of the time. I am getting it removed this week."

7 / 10
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  • Sea...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 8, 2015

Copper topical for Birth Control "I wanted to leave a review because I feel that naturally, people with bad experiences are more likely to post than people who had positive experiences. For me, the copper IUD has been the best form of birth control I've used. Insertion was extremely painful, but the potential to have 10 years of hormone-free birth control is worth it. The 1st month, there was a lot of light bleeding and occasional cramping while the IUD 'settled' in. The cramping at the start of my 1st period was hell, the 2nd period less so, and now the 3rd period is almost pre-insertion levels. Periods are heavier and longer, but I am so relieved to 1) have a sex drive (bad experiences with hormones) and 2) 10 years of no pills in my future! I don't notice my IUD anymore, 3 months in."

9 / 10
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  • kat...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • February 25, 2020

Copper topical for Birth Control "I would like to start off by saying the ParaGard is a bit painful for insertion. The bleeding sucks! I have been on it a little over two years. I've been experiencing spotting before and after my periods to this day. I do have brain fog and severe cramps. BV has been coming and going, and before ParaGard, I'd only had BV once with my firstborn. Didn't get ParaGard until my second baby was born. Really contemplating getting this out. I have talked to my OB about the side effects, and she swears it's all natural! This birth control is not for everybody. Trust your body!"

7 / 10
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  • Ano...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 15, 2019

Copper topical for Birth Control "I was on the pill since I was 17 years old. I am 25 now. I stopped taking the pill about two years ago because it was making me very moody, and it would make my hands and feet swell up. But then I got very serious with my boyfriend, and we started discussing birth control. And I thought about the pill again, but I didn’t want to gain weight and go through all of that again. So I did some research, and the only thing that I could find was ParaGard. It has no hormones, so I wouldn’t gain weight and all the other stuff that I didn’t like from before. I thought, why not? I’ll give it a try. So I got ParaGard. Let me tell you, the process is not comfortable by any means. From the time I got it until about a week later, I was cramping (like cramping I’ve never felt before), but after that week, I haven’t felt it at all. It is worth it! I promise. You just have to get past that first week. I HIGHLY recommend ParaGard. I never have to worry about it, and I don’t feel it."

10 / 10
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  • dan...
  • April 20, 2015

Copper topical for Birth Control "I got my ParaGard put in 3 days ago, and I will let you all know I was absolutely terrified. I researched and researched for weeks before and almost decided against it from all the horror stories I read. Ladies passing out, bleeding all the time, cramps from hell, etc. Well, my doctor herself had an IUD put in, so she firsthand knew how badly they hurt. The entire procedure took less than 5 minutes, and when I was done, I said, 'Was that it?? That's all?' It wasn't bad at all, and I had very, very minor cramping in the days following. It is absolutely worth it for what it's worth! Highly recommend."

10 / 10
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  • Jen...
  • April 8, 2014

For Birth Control "I've been on Paragard for 2 years, and I have to say that it's great. At first, it was tough because I have a low pain tolerance, and insertion was hard for me. The cramping was extreme, but I can honestly say that it was worth it. All I can say for women who are thinking about trying it is that the periods will be longer and a lot heavier than before. Also, the pain of the cramping will be a little more intense for 6 months afterwards. Stock up on Extra Strength Ibuprofen, and you'll be fine. The peace of mind is worth the cramping."

9 / 10
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  • Tha...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 5, 2020

Copper topical for Birth Control "My cycle started 5 days early. The first few days were very light, minimal cramping, and pretty bearable. Day 4 (which I’m on right now) is HEAVY, from the minute I woke up, a super plus tampon lasted about 1 hour and an hour and a half if I was lucky. I’m curious to see how this all plays out, seeing as I had really heavy periods as a teenager and that went away into adulthood. Now it’s bringing me flashbacks to high school. Within a 14-hour period of time, I think I used 8-10 super plus tampons! I’m willing to give it a few more months to see if this calms down. Hoping for the best because hormones don’t mix well with me."

4 / 10
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  • Bet...
  • August 20, 2018

Copper topical for Birth Control "This device has ruined the past two years of my life. I have had severe cramps, blood loss during just one day of my cycle of what should be the amount lost during the entirety of a cycle, and copper toxicity issues. I have had heart palpitations without any previously, and recently went to the ER due to those. I have had severe back pains and anxiety. I recently had the IUD removed, and these symptoms are subsiding. The back pain completely disappeared. It sounds like a great option at first, but prolonged exposure to copper can cause many complications within you. Copper also affects your adrenal system - which directly regulates hormones. So if you believe it is completely non-hormonal, it is still indirectly (and significantly in my case) affecting your hormones. Please do research on this device before you just place a foreign object in your body. I would not recommend it to anyone."

1 / 10
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  • ray...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 28, 2017

Copper topical for Birth Control "I am 21 years old and have never been pregnant. I've had my ParaGard for about 4 months now. I did an immense amount of research on IUDs. Therefore, I felt I was completely prepared for the insertion as well as the effects thereafter. I was probably more anxious for the insertion process than I needed to be. It did not hurt as much as the horror stories stated online. It hurt for about 10 seconds as my doctor was measuring, then about 2 seconds for the insertion. After that, there was a mild cramp for the rest of the day and some spotting. Tada, 99%+ efficacy. I'd say the worst part would be the longer/heavier periods and random spotting. But I'd honestly rather have that than a child I'm not ready for. Do your research and know your options!"

9 / 10
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  • Emm...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 12, 2016

Copper topical for Birth Control "I had ParaGard put in on March 28 of this year. It is now October, and I could not be more pleased with this birth control. After deciding that I no longer wanted to use the pill, I tried other options such as the arm implant and the patch, neither of which worked for me because they made me fat, emotional, and took away my sex drive. ParaGard gave me really bad cramps and heavy periods for the first two months. After that, my cramps went away completely, and I have not had them again since then. My periods have gotten lighter and lighter until they are now back to my normal flow. My sex drive is also now higher than ever before. I would recommend this to anyone that can bear through the cramps for the first few months."

10 / 10
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  • coe...
  • September 28, 2017

Copper topical for Birth Control "I got the ParaGard because I was sick of having to pick up my pill prescription, and I love the idea of a non-hormonal birth control. I really wanted to get my body back on its natural cycle, as I have been on the pill for years. The insertion was painful, as expected. Would not recommend working that day. But so far, I am loving it. I bled for the first 4-5 days, nothing too heavy, and have since stopped. My sex drive has already increased, and I lost 5 lbs within a week of being off the pill (added bonus). I have not reached my first period with it yet, so I am expecting more cramps/heavier bleeding, but that's a small price to pay, in my opinion. Lots of negative reviews on here, so I wanted to write a positive one!"

10 / 10
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  • Fel...
  • March 31, 2017

Copper topical for Birth Control "So this morning I got my first ParaGard inserted. I am 20 years old and have never had a baby. I made the mistake of reading reviews and experiences, along with the horror stories about insertion. I figured that since I was so young and had never had a baby, this was going to be awful, downright excruciating. Well, it was not. I realize the pain varies from body to body, but if you were like me, reading and reading reviews, scared to death, it is okay, you will be fine, it legit lasts a minute. It does not feel like someone is tasering my uterus, nor is it the worst pain I have ever experienced (literally what I read and expected). Feels like a deep strong cramp, tolerable cramp."

10 / 10
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  • Ana...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 6, 2017

Copper topical for Birth Control "My sister had it for 3 years and took it out when she was ready to get pregnant. Boom, pregnant the next month. Here's my story. I'm 28, and I just had my first wonderful baby girl. I have had a horrible experience with the pill, the patch, and the depo shot, which almost killed me, and I hope no one ever gets it. So I, like most people, was a little bit frightened to go back on birth control. After having my daughter, I'm 4 months postpartum. I think honestly the anticipation was worse than anything, lol. I took 800 mg ibuprofen (doctor's orders) before the insertion, which helped tremendously because all I felt was a slight discomfort, and it was over. I had some spotting and cramping (heating pad). I'm 4 days into it and no pain. Breastfeeding and no milk issues!"

10 / 10
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  • Ell...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 16, 2020

Copper topical for Birth Control "It's been alright. I have never had a baby before. Insertion was really painful, and I was crampy for a few days. Now, I just take a few ibuprofen when I have my period, and it is completely tolerable. I have not noticed any heavier bleeding than normal yet, but my period does last one day longer than it used to. I think it is a great option for people who want to avoid hormonal birth control. So far, so good!"

9 / 10
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  • met...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 29, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had it in for about a month. Insertion was painful. I've never had children, though. Make sure you take ibuprofen and eat something before your appointment, and have someone to drive you home. I had bad cramps for about a day and a half and spotting for 4-5 days. Since then, I have light cramps every day that are easily remedied with a heating pad, and on occasion, I may take some pain reliever. I find that working out helps the cramping. Sex is a little uncomfortable still (makes me crampy), but it is getting better. I'm almost a week late. I've been told that isn't uncommon, but it's a little nerve-racking. I feel more lively, and my sex drive has increased! Best part? Completely covered by my insurance."

8 / 10
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  • met...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 29, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had it in for about a month. Insertion was painful. I've never had children, though. Make sure you take ibuprofen and eat something before your appointment, and have someone to drive you home. I had bad cramps for about a day and a half and spotting for 4-5 days. Since then, I have light cramps every day that are easily remedied with a heating pad, and on occasion, I may take some pain reliever. I find that working out helps the cramping. Sex is a little uncomfortable still (makes me crampy), but it is getting better. I'm almost a week late. I've been told that isn't uncommon, but it's a little nerve-racking. I feel more lively, and my sex drive has increased! Best part? Completely covered by my insurance."

8 / 10
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22 Report
  • met...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 29, 2014

For Birth Control "I've had it in for about a month. Insertion was painful. I've never had children, though. Make sure you take ibuprofen and eat something before your appointment, and have someone to drive you home. I had bad cramps for about a day and a half and spotting for 4-5 days. Since then, I have light cramps every day that are easily remedied with a heating pad, and on occasion, I may take some pain reliever. I find that working out helps the cramping. Sex is a little uncomfortable still (makes me crampy), but it is getting better. I'm almost a week late. I've been told that isn't uncommon, but it's a little nerve-racking. I feel more lively, and my sex drive has increased! Best part? Completely covered by my insurance."

8 / 10
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22 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.