Copper topical for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 5)

• srs...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 22, 2015

Copper topical "I got my ParaGard after my 2nd son 5 years ago and decided I would do a review because I see a lot of negative reviews! I haven't had any complications with my ParaGard, I love my ParaGard!!! My husband wants to try for a little girl, but I'm not ready yet, so ParaGard is perfect for me until I decide if I want another baby or not. I love that it is hormone-free and lasts 10 years!"

• Amy...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 16, 2014

"I had the ParaGard IUD in for 8 years. When they first inserted it, it hurt so bad and I experienced pain in my lower abdomen for days. I bled heavily for a week and spotted here and there during a 2-month stretch. I also menstruated every 2-3 weeks during 2 months also. It got better and my body adjusted. My periods lasted up to 8 days each time for 8 years. This past February, I had it removed and had the tubal ligation. Now my periods last 5 days. I believe the IUD blocked my menstruation and caused it to come slowly, and that's why it lasted longer. The IUD was great for me because I didn't have to think about missing a pill, and other contraceptives such as Mirena, NuvaRing, Depo shot, and pills are way too hormonal and can cause problems."

• Bla...
• June 23, 2019

Copper topical "So I tried it 2x. 1st after my 2nd child. I gained lots of weight, got acne, cramps, and bleeding heavily. Finally, it fell out about 2 years later. My doc said my body rejected it. I feel like they have false ads saying it has little side effects. Gave it the benefit of the doubt, tried it a 2nd time since my birth control pills were no longer covered by my insurance. Huge mistake. Same thing all over: horrible acne, gained 40 lbs in 1 yr. Nothing helps me lose weight. I was going through tampons & an extra heavy flow pad within 1 hr. Kept bleeding through my clothes, not to mention 10-day periods. My life was on hold, had to miss work because I was bleeding so much. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, got it taken out after 1 year. My skin is so clear, never break out anymore, not even before periods. My periods are back to 3 days and light. Lost 7 lbs in 1 month so far! Never again! False ads, lots of side effects. Obviously, I’m not the only one by reading some of the reviews. Wish I would have read on it sooner!"

• Chr...
• June 5, 2015

"The scare tactics online are so ridiculous. I understand everyone's pain tolerance is different, but what boggles me is the women who have given birth saying that this 2-minute (if that) procedure is worse. I mean, really? I almost changed my mind about the Paragard due to all the 'worst pain of my life' stories. Ladies, get a grip. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT BAD! Two quick, intense period cramps that each last about 10 seconds. Some mild period-like cramping after. I have an insanely low pain tolerance, and all I took was 2, 500 mg Naproxen. I was so scared after reading all the stories online, and it was all for nothing. Trust me when I say if I can tolerate the procedure, anyone can. I'm a big baby. But obviously, not the biggest!"

• Geo...
• March 28, 2017

Copper topical "If you are reading reviews... stop. ParaGard reacts differently to everyone that gets it. I almost scared myself out of getting it after days of reading the reviews, but you will never know if you do not go through with it. I'm not lying, it was painful day one and two, but it really is not bad! My periods are the same as they used to be (last about 4 days with moderate flow), just a bit crampier a week before and when I ovulate. The pain is nothing a few Advil can't solve. A few side effects that I experienced: I was bloated for the first couple weeks, spot bleeding here and there, cramps are sharper. Honestly, that's it... for me, this was the BEST option on the market!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2012

"I was very scared to get this inserted, but knew this was my only option because it had no hormones in it. My doctor was very patient and didn't rush anything, she got it in, and I didn't feel any pain or discomfort during the process. After it was complete, I did have some cramping in my abdomen and got the dizzy spells. Ibuprofen took care of the cramping, and as for the dizzy spells, that lasted about 4-5 hours. The next day, I had some mild cramping again, but the ibuprofen took care of that again, and I didn't get dizzy. I am going on my 2nd week, and the only thing that I have experienced is spotting and some gooey discharge every now and then (I don't know if this is normal, but I got to check into this). Other than this, I am satisfied so far."

• sis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2020

Copper topical "DO NOT GET THIS. DO NOT GET THIS. You will poison your body, even if it takes years to notice, you can hurt yourself. I had mine 4 years and had several horrific experiences that I thought were related to other things. At the end, it was all that stupid IUD. There are many people trying to sue the company, it's not worth the risk!!"

• 007...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2020

Copper topical "I took hormonal birth control for about 7 years, and then after switching off (due to irregular periods and being on it for so long), I noticed a decrease in stress, and I lost 9 pounds. This led me to wanting to avoid taking hormonal birth control again, so I looked into ParaGard. The insertion was painful but not terrible, and it took about a week for me to feel completely back to normal again. Now my periods are fairly consistent and really heavy, with a lot of cramping, but on the bright side, I don’t have to take a pill every day, there are no excess hormones going into me, and I’m baby-free. Woot."

• Lio...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2014

"Let me be honest. The ParaGuard is a great birth control method because you do not need to think about it. I mean, sex was fine for me, didn't feel anything, but I am a paranoid and anxious person. At first, I always went to the doctor thinking it moved or it was not in place. Years later, I got used to it. I have now had it in for 5 years. I think it is time to take it out and try to have a baby. I can tell you, if you have a high pain tolerance, you are all set, all that will bother you is the heavy periods. I have been in tears for days, tired, and just uncomfortable each and every month I get my period. It is sometimes unbearable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 10, 2021

Copper topical "I've had ParaGard for 2 years now, and ever since I've had it, my mental health declined rapidly, and all of the sudden, I had depression and panic attacks! I also haven't been able to sleep right or really feel like myself. I'm getting it removed tomorrow. After doing tons of research, I've found that I am not the only one who has experienced these types of issues and wanted to put this out there! I've recently been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, and I've had anxiety all my life, but since I've had this IUD, it intensified tremendously to where it's uncontrollable, and I have to take medicine daily just to be 'normal.' I find it extremely strange. I'd think twice before using this."

• Kik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2014

Copper topical "I had the ParaGard inserted in less than 5 min, pain-free. After my doctor did a vaginal and stomach sonogram to make sure it was in the correct position, I was done. The only complication is my periods are longer, heavier, and more crampy, but no biggie. I love the ParaGard. I have no complaints."

• MCa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2020

Copper topical "I got the ParaGard IUD inserted in 11/2019. I am scheduled to get it removed next month. It has been a horrible experience. I experience heavy cramps and bleeding. The excessive bleeding led to anemia. I want to warn people, if you experience heavy bleeding and lethargy after getting the ParaGard inserted, please get tested for anemia - iron storage levels. It has impacted my entire life from having to take days off of work and being less energetic in general. Not to mention the heavy, long-lasting periods and horrible cramps that put me on bed rest for 5 days every month. It was not worth it for me, and ParaGard needs to warn patients about these side effects more often."

• Kar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 6, 2021

Copper topical "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 :/"

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2011

"Paragard caused a little discomfort when it was first put in, but about 2 days after it was put in, I was back to doing the normal things I do. I like it because I can still have my period, which is like taking a pregnancy test monthly! I also have the option to take it out whenever I want and try to get pregnant, which is good being a military wife."

• Not...
• August 30, 2015

Copper topical "So I had the ParaGard for 2 years, 2 months before I had it removed last Friday. I really enjoyed the ParaGard, and my husband enjoyed it as well. I had heavier periods for the most part while having the IUD inserted. Up until recently, my periods were returning to normal. Now you're asking, why did you have it removed? I noticed that I was a week late for my period, and I had breast tenderness. So I thought to myself, no way, or can I really be pregnant? So I took a pregnancy test a week and two days ago, and of course, it was positive. I thought to myself, I have two kids already, I'm almost 33, and I have an IUD, how can this be? So if you get the IUD, just keep in mind you could be part of the 1% that gets pregnant like me."

• Ano...
• January 5, 2021

Copper topical "I wanted to love my ParaGard, I really did. I had mine inserted in August of 2019. A few weeks after insertion, I began having UTIs, dull bladder pain that lasted weeks, if not months. In mid-2020, things started to get a little better, no more UTIs and less discomfort in my bladder. Now I seem to be getting what may be BV or yeast infections, and I mean constantly. Every other week, pee burns for a couple of hours until I take a probiotic. I believe it's the copper that's messing with my natural vaginal biome that's causing me to be so prone to infections. I love that it is such an effective form of birth control, but the BV and yeast infections are unbearable. I see myself having it removed and replaced with Mirena in a few months if things don't get better. If you are someone prone to UTIs/yeast infections/BV, you may want to run in the other direction from ParaGard."

• kka...
• December 16, 2020

Copper topical "It astounds me that this method of birth control is even an option. I had it for a week and that was enough. Within the first few days, I was experiencing joint pain, horrible anxiety, insomnia, anger, brain fog, irritability, all the long-term side effects of copper toxicity. Looking back, my doctor never once mentioned anything about ParaGard. Upon removal, he said, 'that's surprising that you are experiencing this, it's just copper.' Another friend of mine who works in the hospital also made the remark that, 'copper toxicity doesn't exist.' This literally blows my mind. The copper in ParaGard creates a toxic and hostile environment within the uterus. When you think about it, how on earth would this NOT affect our physical and mental health? Moral of the story: it might be worth it, it might not. Listen to your body."

• Anonymous
• March 31, 2012

"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."

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

"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!"

• AMP...
• July 15, 2019

Copper topical "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!"

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

Copper topical "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!"

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

"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."

• dan...
• April 20, 2015

Copper topical "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."

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

Copper topical "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!"

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

"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."