Copper topical and Mood Swings: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Mom...
• February 19, 2018

Copper topical 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."

• Anonymous
• May 19, 2017

Copper topical for Birth Control "Was effective, but was the worst thing I've done to myself. Gained 30 pounds, mood swings like crazy, many other reactions that the doctors swore weren't because of it. I've had it out for three months, and I finally feel normal again!"

• She...
• August 8, 2017

Copper topical 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."

• Ala...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 1, 2018

Copper topical for Birth Control "I respect all of the stories shared here and have no doubt that some women have issues with it, but I’ve had ParaGard three times and always go back to it. Hormonal birth control turns me into a fruit loop of emotions and causes me to gain weight while killing my libido. ParaGard just gives me a few extra days of bleeding. I’d say my period is 5-7 days versus 3-4 like it used to be. If you’re prone to anemia, you will most likely not respond well to it. If copper toxicity is a concern, then take a methylated folate vitamin. All birth controls have pros and cons. You ultimately have to find one with pros and cons you can tolerate. A lot of women here are complaining of side effects that occur when you stop using hormonal birth control (PCOS, acne, moods, etc. can start when you change what you’re taking.) I also believe that the experience each woman has also depends on how good the provider is who placed it. For me, it’s the best option I have found, but not perfect."

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

Copper topical 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."

• Bul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2019

Copper topical for Birth Control "I absolutely love mine. Getting it put in and then the first period after was honestly very painful, but after that, it's been wonderful. I think my period is a teeny bit heavier, but that is about it. I have not had any weight gain or increased acne breakouts due to this BC, and no issues with mood swings. Occasionally I can feel the implant if I stretch a certain way or on my heaviest period day, but I honestly do really love my ParaGard."

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

Copper topical 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!"

• Wil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2019

For Birth Control "I had the copper IUD for one year, and in that time I lost so much weight, which has never happened to me before. (I went from 115 lbs all the way down to 85 lbs). I was horribly depressed and felt foggy and tired all the time. I talked to my doctor, and she told me weight loss and mood change couldn’t be from the IUD, but I had it removed anyways. I started gaining weight back within weeks, and my mood has since gone back to normal. I will never, ever use this product again."

• Tso...
• November 10, 2016

Copper topical 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."

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

Copper topical 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."

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

Copper topical 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

Copper topical 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.'"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I got the IUD after really bad experiences with different birth control pills, had weight gain, UTIs, swelling, mood swings, and sadness. So, the best thing about the copper IUD was there were no hormones and I felt relief. The downside was my period lasted 12 days and I had spotting. This may have been due to copper toxicity when estrogen feeds off of the excess copper, allowing there to be elongated periods because progesterone is decreased-the hormone that helps the period clear up and stop. Sometimes I experienced pressure when gassy. Once I took out the IUD, my periods shortened and I was able to get pregnant right away. There is no best hormone-free birth control, but the pros outweigh the cons. I didn't get pregnant and felt much better mentally and physically."

• LAM...
• June 1, 2017

Copper topical for Birth Control "I had the ParaGard inserted 3 years ago after my second child. Heavy period, headaches, bloating, mood swings, and weight gain about 15 pounds. I had it removed last week. Felt better almost instantly. I wouldn't recommend. Also tried the Mirena, that was even worse."

• Nom...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 17, 2020

Copper topical for Birth Control "Awful experience. Had ParaGard in for 9 years. Had major mood swings (which I never had, even when pregnant), high anxiety, hair loss, weight gain, and heavy, heavy periods (like can’t go through the night with a super tampon without changing it). Had it removed, and my bloating, fatigue, and anxiety disappeared."

• non...
• August 30, 2016

Copper topical 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!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm 23 and haven't given birth. Got a copper coil placed at the beginning of November 2016, and it was one of the most horrifying experiences I've gone through in my life. It wasn't necessarily because of the operation itself, but for the fact that I wasn't informed beforehand that I should've had a big meal before arriving, because the first thing they gave me was two pills of paracetamol to ease the discomfort of insertion. That morning, I only managed to grab a small bite before running to the clinic, so I basically had them on an empty stomach. (So ladies, make sure you have received all the vital information before getting anything placed! X) The insertion was quite okay. It was done fast. The doc gave me some instructions for the future, and I was ready to go. As soon as I exited the clinic, I started shivering and sweating. Back to the clinic, I sat on a chair, and that's when the world started spinning. For the next couple of hours, I was throwing up the paracetamol in the clinic's toilet. Didn't get much assistance, but luckily my boyfriend left work to pick me up. As soon as it was out of my body, the cramps and the pain started and lasted for a couple of days. Five days after, I only felt pressure. Then finally, I went back to normal. Phew. The pain comes back when I'm on my periods, around 2-3 days before it starts. I've got mood swings, feel bloated, and pressure in my lower belly. Then the cramps start, and last time lasted for a day, so I'm hopeful it's the same this time because I'm on my periods, and at this moment, it's very painful. Before the copper coil, I never had much issues with periods. One day it would just start and be gone in 4 days, now it takes around 7-8 days. Good things to say about ParaGard are that there's no hormones, which I love, and that I haven't gotten pregnant, so it works. I'll give it another 6 months or so to see if the pain will ease in time when my body gets used to it. If not, I will get it removed with no doubt."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 17, 2020

Copper topical 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."

• Mja...
• December 4, 2019

For Birth Control "Ever since I started using the copper IUD, my mood swings changed, libido back to normal, and the occasional bloating is gone. The abdominal cramps are so minimal, and most times I don't have to take any pain meds, and if I do, it's the mildest painkiller, like 500 mg of paracetamol. The bleeding is no more different from my teens before I started contraception, it's actually much improved."

• Hen...
• February 28, 2015

For Birth Control "Words cannot describe the love that I have for this birth control method. Here's why: - No hormones means no nausea or emotional instability. - No more worrying about applying the contraceptive correctly. - I no longer worry about if someone will 'find out' that I'm on birth control. It's something that no one can see or identify unless I choose to tell them. My husband and I have been child-free for our first year of marriage and look forward to continuing our childfree life thanks to this wonderful contraceptive. I have never been happier with a product. If your birth control method takes up time, energy, and provides additional stress to your life - choose ParaGard. It's a game changer."

• Nan...
• February 4, 2020

For Birth Control "Where do I even begin? Had the copper IUD fitted a year ago, having it removed next week. Didn't think that this could have been causing all my symptoms. Heart palpitations, to the point I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack, as my heart feels like it has stopped, which is terrifying. I have had an ECG to make sure my heart's okay. Stomach trouble, ended up having to have an endoscopy to figure out why I have chronic upper stomach pain along with nausea. Dizziness to the point I feel I will pass out. Severe anemia, I am now having to take iron along with folic acid. Horrendous mood swings two weeks before my period, along with crippling anxiety, which I have never had my whole life. Sharp pains in my lower abdomen when I move the wrong way suddenly. Severe tiredness. Then there's the period, night pads through the day which I basically soak through. Constant muscle pain all over my body. Aching joints in my hands. Feel like I'm not in my own body. I literally cannot wait to have this removed."

• Tsh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I had the Copper IUD placed two months after my delivery; May 2019. I experienced excruciating cramping minutes after, which I expected from what I had read about it. However, my periods have never been the same again. They last for two damn weeks, and adding salt to injury, they appear after another two weeks, not to mention I am spotting in between. This is stressing me out because it's now 8 months since the IUD was placed, and I was patient, believing this will stop after 6 months at most. I have not even mentioned the terrible mood prior to these periods, and it's happening fortnightly. To the manufacturers, edit your literature to read it causes hormonal changes/imbalances and please stop misleading your clients."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2016

Copper topical for Birth Control "I was on the progestin-only pill for 10 months and pretty much hated it. Had to be on it because I couldn't have any birth control that contained estrogen due to a family history of blood clots. The POP was effective, yes, but I had crazy mood swings, acne, low sex drive, and it gave me vaginal dryness, which made sex extremely painful. My gyno had been trying to get me to try the IUD for almost a year, so I decided to try it since I about had it with that pill. I went in today for my insertion. I had some issues because my cervix was tight, and I have an introverted uterus. She had to use the sonogram to help place it correctly. So what should have been a 5-minute procedure took 20 minutes. It was painful, but bearable. Just felt like period cramps."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2017

For Birth Control "I was put on birth control 1x in high school (pill) for acne. I was emotional and gained weight, I lasted a few weeks. Three years ago, I tried once again (Nuva Ring) to see if it would work for me, I lasted once again a few weeks. I was going on some meds that required I be on birth control, I knew the only non-hormone option was the Paragard. I have never had any children, and I do have a very high pain tolerance. I had it inserted September 21. It hurt, but tolerable. I've been spotting since. But it's better for me than gaining weight and crying all the time. It's worth the cramping and spotting. My period is heavier, but it's not unbearable. Cramps are worse, but manageable."

• Kee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2018

For Birth Control "This is a positive review since I see nothing but bad reviews. I was one of those people who read the comments, blogs, all that about getting it, making me not want to get it, and I’m glad that I went through with it! Best decision I’ve made for myself and taking control of my reproductive health! Not everyone's body is the same, so if it doesn't work for you, try something else. I was on the Mini pill with bad mood swings, anxiety, and weight gain that was driving me nuts, so I decided to get the copper IUD. Now, getting it put in wasn’t that bad, I took ibuprofen beforehand, and I was on my cycle, so it made it easy. It’s more like pressure and a 20-second mild cramp. My first cycle was heavy, but it’s been like that before birth control, but the cramps, boy oh boy! They are so sharp and painful, and my period lasts up to 7 days. But I’ll stick to it because I love having no hormones in me, finally feeling myself after 4 years."