Copper IUD side effects

[skylee]

I had a copper iud put in a little over a year ago after my second child.  I experienced the side effects I was told could happen, worse cramps and heavier bleeding.  I am fine with these because my choice for birth control is very limited because I get blood clots and cannot take the pill.  

However, I am wondering if anyone has experienced a decrease in thier sex drive becasue of it.  I am only 29 years old, married to a very wonderful and attractive man, but honestly I could care less about sex.  I have been this way ever since I had my last child, which is also when i got the iud.  I just assumed it was because I had children and was so busy with them (I have a 2 1/2 year old and one that is almost 1 1/2).  I am starting to think it could also have something to do with the iud.  

I am considering getting it removed to see if this changes anything.  If anyone has experienced anything similiar to this I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

[sdee1975]

I have had my copper IUD in me for about 7 years.  My first few periods after it was inserted were so bad, I thought I was going to pass out.  Like sweating, dizzy, SO much pain from cramps.  That died down a bit through the years, but I have found that my periods are like 8 days long.  I am getting nauseous before every period and for the last year or so, I have been having PMS cramps that go from my hips to the tip of my toes.  My ankles even hurt.  It's crazy...  My pelvis hurts and I get no help from pain killers.  My body just wants to stretch to relieve the pain.  I was put on the copper IUD (no kids) because I was diagnosed with migraines and my Doctor said more hormones would increase migraines.  So... here I am, 7 years later and the cramps have not gotten lighter, the period has not gotten lighter.  I dropped weight, went down to 94, 96, 98 lbs for the past 3 years from high levels of anxiety.  Just recently have I put weight back on and am a comfy 117 again.  I still have anxiety and I still get sick to my stomach before my period.  I want to have sex, so I know it hasn't killed my sex drive.  Just makes it totally uncomfy to have my period for what seems every 3 weeks as they last so long!  Now I am worried that secreting copper into my body isn't doing anyone any good.  How can that be good for you?  I have had friends and my husband beg me to get it taken out as they see me in such pain.  Sometimes the pain is insufferable like it was when I first got this thing put in me.  I had no idea that depression could be a side effect from this thing.  ALSO, I don't like how it feels in my body.  I am small at 5'2" and now 117 lbs.  When I feel inside and touch my cervix I can feel a hard bump where it seems the tip of the IUD is.  Does anyone else have that?  The strings are in place, all is good there.  But the hard bump on the underside of my cervix worries me.  My paps come back fine, and no Dr. ever said anything about that.  So I am guessing it is just part of having an IUD?  I don't know.  But I hate this thing so much that I have to get it out of me as soon as possible.  Plus it has been there for 7 years..... I have been dealing with this for 7 years.  I did however always have had bad cramps.  But my periods lasted five days tops!  I did the shot once, and I had my period for 6 months straight and then not again for another 6 months.  That was scary and lame and I won't ever do that again.  Right now I am nauseous and there should be no reason why.  And I know my period is about to come because of the pre-cramps I get running through my legs and feet.  IT *****!!!!!!  I guess I have heard some have no side effects while others have many.  I guess my body is too in tune with what is natural and what is not, and it is telling me that it does not like the copper IUD, or any IUD for that matter at all in my body.  I do not have bad acne, the occasional pimple around menstrual time .  I just turned 36.  No kids.  I want kids and hope this IUD doesn't ruin my chances.  If it does or did ruin my chances of having a child naturally, I will adopt a baby that needs a loving home.  

[ashlee58]

I just went to my doctor today to have my IUD removed. i have had major
bleeding,cramps,bloting, zero sex drive and lots of acne..... my doctor told me that he thinks my iud was the problem,,,,,

[NourishingGirl]

Wow, Thanks everyone for sharing....
I've just had an IUD (copper) put in, and I was really not 100% comfortable about having a foreign object put in my body, because I am quite in-tune with myself and was instinctively not feeling great about it....
It does not feel good to have pain where I have never had pain before (I have not had kids, so my cervix was totally closed before this morning!)...
So I started researching more this morning, and the first thing I found before this was that the copper kills the sperm and makes your uterus produce fluid that kills the sperm, and I was like- "what?"""..... because the whole point of this for me was that it was non-hormonal and therefore would not interrupt my natural bodily functions...I thought it would just stop implantation because the womb lining could not grow properly around a foreign body?!!
.....of course, if an element can kill sperm cells, it stands to reason that it kills other healthy cells....
hence the whole list of side-effects- I can look forward to being poisoned by this copper, probably starting with the destruction of my natural vaginal flora- i.e fast track to yeast infection when it kills my friendly bacteria... and then onwards from there to more acne because the copper disrupts the hormones anyway, and the depression etc etc.....grrrrr.......
these bastards int he pharmaceutical industry want to make money, not be honest about the effects....

And when I read the info. about the "copper personality" I really resonate with that, AND I have moved away from eating meat so I don't even fancy it, and I already have chromium/magnesium/zinc issues (diabetes/hormonal issues) so I am exactly the kind of person for whom excess copper will be a major problem.

And I'm pissed off at myself for walking into this situation without really using my instincts, just because I wanted a nice easy solution for myself and was more interested in believing in that solution than listening to my own doubts.
i suppose I really wanted the freedom, and added sensitivity for my partner of not having to use condoms or worry about getting pregnant, but my body and soul are telling me this is no good....
I wonder how it will work out for me- I wouldn't be surprised if my body decides to expel it- she's a clever one and will know it's not supposed to be here!!!


Here are those links to info. re copper toxicity again for people that want them: http://www.*********.com/crcu.html http://www.*******.com/CopperToxDoc.htm

[2lovely]

Hi I have had the copper IUD in since August 25,2011 and I already hate it. I am so emotional I cry about everything,I can be in the middle of a conversation and be happy one moment and angry or sad the next. I have had 1 period since then and it lasted 10 days non stop heavy leaking. I feel depressed most of the time. Some days I dont feel like eating and other days I eat all day.It feels like Im always wet, I have a oder all day even after I get out the shower.I have a 1 year old son and i havent had any interst in dealing with my son. Sad I know I feels like Im being so mean to him. When I have intercourse my boyfriend can feel it, he says it feels like its ripping his penus, now we barely have sex. My sex drive was ok at first but now I just dont want to be bothered. Just 1 of my breast will hurt at a time,I get painful headaches. As soon as I get a day off I am getting this removed ASAP I cant deal with this any longer and it hasnt even been that long its just so sad.

[armarosa]

I know how you feel. I'm a late bloomer (44) with one 12m and one 4 y/o. I also work 3 days and live on a farm. I'm fairly busy. I was going was back at the gym & losing weight and starting to feel good. At my age, i decided two kids would have to do. I am alergic to the pill and any hormone type medication, so opted for the copper IUD. Was very excited. No more fear of pregnancy and no need to pull out, count the days, or worry about it. Then my period, (usually 4 days gone) lasted most of the month. It has settled now (put in June - 4 months ago). I now suffer from headaches, tummy pain/dull aching, on and off with pain in the spot i swear is where the IUD is. Terrible constant nagging lower back pain. I snack on Panadol now. I am lathargic and feel down. I keep thinking i've got a disease or cancer or something and have had numerous blood tests, went to chiro, had x-rays. Nothings the matter. Havent been to the gym. Putting on weight and generally don't feel like me. It works though. Not pregnant. Mostly because we have had sex about 4 times since it was put in. I always say, ' i feel sick', 'i'm too tired' - and i am. Docs say it can't be true, can't be the wonderful IUD.

[littlemissey]

So, I had my copper IUD put in in December 2010.  I had the normal bleeding like off and on, mostly on, for the first 4 months.  Then when I finally stopped all the spotting and got my normal period I thought great!  Well, not so much!  I actually was going through a tampon every 30-60 minutes, or I would bleed out.  It lasted for a day, then went to about every 2 hours for the next day...then got lighter.  But then I would spot.  So, I thought I would just wait and see what happend...well the next month it was even worse and lasted longer.  So, I talked to my doc about it and she tired me on some hormones, just to re-set the uterus and see if that would help..well it didn't. I bleed off and on for like 3 weeks straight.  Then I finally stopped and thought we would see what would happen the next period.  Well, it started out okay, for the first day, super light.  Next day nothing...next day a bit heavier...next day...SUPER heavy for like 3 days! So, my doc wanted to make sure it was in the right place...but then when I got there she thought maybe we should just take it out. I have tired LOTS of different BC.  She didn't want me on any hormonal BC because I have lots of headaches and migraines and things and pretty much feel pregnant the whole time I am on that.  After my 3rd child, I did the Mirena IUD and that was great for the first year..then I had spotting ALL the time with it.  So, I guess BC isn't for me!  I tell you, she took the IUD out like 4 days ago, and I am like a different person!  My husband was even like, I think I have my wife back!!!  So, I didn't realize just how much it was effecting me...besides the HEAVY periods, I just had a total lack of energy. I thought maybe it was our 4 kids, but now I am sure it was the IUD.  I am so glad we decided to get the copper IUD out :)  It was for sure the best move ever!!!  I can't believe how great I feel!!!!  So, don't think you are crazy, just realize that this little copper thing can do a lot more than you think it can!