It is used for birth control and emergency contraception within five days of unprotected sex. I had IUD for 1.5 years and I ended with severe copper toxicity, consequently disfunction of liver, thyroid and adrenal glands. Copper IUD’s work by releasing small but significant amounts of copper into the uterus. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies assure women that unless they have a known genetic disorder (such as Wilson’s disease) that affects their body’s ability to filter out copper, that copper toxicity from this IUD is extremely unlikely. I really respect the author So, a copper IUD is not suitable, and the woman could develop copper toxicity. (All donations over $10 receive a free copy of the Copper Toxicity e-book). This page contains some content originally published in an article by Kathleen Taylor at. For many women symptoms first begin appearing 2 or 6 months after insertion, for others though the time period may be much longer, years to decades before they notice anything, or connect the dots. I'm looking for something non hormonal besides condoms. If this matters to you, please, Note the similarity between those symptoms and the, Click here to learn about excess copper's connection with certain diets and its effects on digestive health. I’ve now had my copper IUD for six years, which is over half its ten year lifespan. Generally, having an IUD inserted isn’t painful. For example, 68% of all ADHD kids have a tendency for very high levels of copper. Known in the United States by the trade name Paragard. My mother had a bout of copper toxicity when I was young. I published it in the middle of my recovery from this copper toxicity, at a time when I had a lot of new joint pain. (It would be interesting to see how even more prevalent this connection would surely be if proper HTMA testing had been done for that study). Favorite Answer. The period 2 to 5 months post-insertion is a common time for many when metabolism begins slowing and energy, behaviour, and reactions begin changing, especially with increasing depression and irritability. Around 60% of women go off the Pill in the first six months due to unwanted side effects. For women as they enter their late-thirties, progesterone levels begin to decline more quickly than estrogen, further contributing to estrogen dominance in women. As a result, copper toxicity symptoms (commonly also seen as copper IUD symptoms) may simultaneously reflect that of both copper deficiency and toxicity. Excess copper can create symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, depression, irritability, cravings, mood swings, brain fog, among many others. "Estrogen...has been shown to increase serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels in humans and rats...It may be concluded that estrogen therapy depletes hepatic stores of these elements with abnormal accumulation of copper in the brain." A fine nylon thread is attached to the IUD - the thread comes out through the cervix into the top end of the vagina. But women may experience some discomfort or pain when the copper IUD is put in. This is something your doctor will not tell you about. Reprinted with permission. It isn’t like adding an implant That said, it will not take much searching online to find forums filled with thousands of women who's lives and health have been utterly ruined after having their IUD put in (some stories included here), and numerous class action law suits have been filed as a result (that alone should be a clue as to the dangers). After giving birth, if the mother is not able to detox her copper load (either through natural and healthy liver and bile functioning) or through breast-feeding, much of her elevated copper level remains stored in her body, a contributing factor to depression / PPD, and anxiety. Stephen Gangemi, DC, DIBAK, DCBCN [40], "In pregnancy, Henkin, Marshall, and Meret reported the doubling of serum copper from conception to term, explaining frequent mood shifts and psychotic breaks. The relationship between the birth control pill and copper toxicity; What are the symptoms of copper toxicity? Hi! As with other IUDs, there is also the risk of painful insertion and risks of migration, ectopic pregnancy, and uterine perforation. As well, depression that might not develop until years or decades after going off the Pill is almost never associated with a young woman's early years on the Pill, even though research shows ", HOWEVER, what the media and doctors aren't teaching our women is that the, Update September 2017: The petition above has been started to help women receive fuller disclosure. I have the non-hormonal copper IUD. Women report, however, experiences on the copper IUD including alarming psychiatric effects, such as racing thoughts, suicidal ideation, and anxiety, and depression. Further, the copper IUD can cause copper toxicity, or excess copper in the body. The patch was linked to the highest risk of suicide attempts, followed by IUD, the vaginal ring and then pills. This is important to be aware of, especially since we are constantly exposed to things that, Although the copper IUD doesn’t release hormones, it does in fact alter biochemistry in the body. Copper toxicity is a type of metal poisoning caused by an excess of copper in the body. Nor are they being given fully informed consent when they are prescribed the pill or the IUD - something (informed consent) every woman surely deserves to have! We tested copper at 20, 40, and 60 times the clinical dosages to study copper toxicity under severe conditions. Copperiedus can occur from eating acidic foods cooked in uncoated copper cookware, an IUD, or from exposure to excess copper in drinking water and other environmental sources . Pesticides are our biggest source of xenoestrogens, both from crops and produce as well as eating meat from animals which previously consumed those crops. The vast majority of women are provided the Pill or their IUD without any investigation ever done on their FVL status. It is one of the most effective forms of birth control with a one-year failure rate around 0.7%. You can get what is called a hair mineral analysis done that looks at the mineral levels (including copper) in your body. While some women can handle them, others experience depression, anxiety, personality shifts and many horrible side effects from them, either acute or chronic." Copper wire coiled around the device produces an inflammatory reaction that is toxic to sperm and eggs (ova), preventing pregnancy.ParaGard is the only copper IUD available in the United Stat… Of course, some blood elevation in of itself does not necessarily lead to problems (initially), as for many women their diet contains enough zinc to balance the increase in copper, while their detox systems are strong enough (for a while) to maintain proper regulation. Copper toxicity or poisoning is another side effect that affects some women with the copper IUD. Dr. Izabella Wentz, author of, Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back. This study, available in full here, shows the mean copper increases in females as they enter adolescence. Side effects of copper IUD as copper accumulates usually begin with increasing brain fog and fatigue, often paired with a racing mind. Anything going on in your life currently causing you stress? "Blood clots and blockage of blood vessels are one of the most serious side effects of taking oral contraceptives and can cause death or serious disability." Eventually, once the liver is overloaded, copper will then start accumulating in the brain, and severe shifts in personality can occur as a result of increasing bio-unavailable copper and calcium and changes in neurotransmitter production. I’ve lost so much hair, it just fell out in globs. The copper problem has significantly worsened in the years since the birth control pill was introduced. Excess copper can create symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, depression, irritability, cravings, mood swings, brain fog, among many others. So, if IUDs are having this effect on sperm, what effect are they having on the bodies of women who chose to have it inserted? TMA data strongly suggest that most women today are slow oxidizers. Many homes contain copper plumbing, which means that the tap water, as well as the water you bathe and shower can contain high levels of copper. However,  the full extent of copper IUD risks are not even remotely being disclosed to patients, and the product is certainly not as innocuous as those promoting it make it sound. Evidence from available medical literature does not suggest the IUD can cause copper toxicity. Most people however just think of the Pill's connection to estrogen, without making the copper connection. Reproduction and distribution of this material without written permission is prohibited. In addition, women on the copper IUD have reported feeling, other effects often associated with copper poisoning. For thousands of years, copper has been known to be anti-microbial in nature. We've already seen through scientific studies of wildlife how frogs and fish are switching gender due to this rise in estrogens. This iud is a super reactive metal in its purest form. Such screening / diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death for some women. I really appreciate this article but as someone who had just about the worst case of copper toxicity from this iud, I’d like to say comparing this to chocolate is extremely innacurate. The copper IUD changes the environment in your uterus to make it toxic to sperm. If you have experienced side effects or health complications on the Copper IUD, share your story here. Women are becoming more and more estrogen dominant, especially in the Western world, and some experts link this increase of estrogen to the rise in rates of breast cancer, infertility, autoimmune diseases, etc. This study[33,34], the largest of its kind with over a million women tracked over 13 years, showed the direct link between hormonal contraceptive use and significantly increased rates of depression. It's placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. A copper IUD is a small device with a fine copper wire wrapped around a plastic frame. Young girls entering adolescence are especially at risk since their own estrogen build-up will further increase the vulnerability to the problem - this is why it's so important to acknowledge this issue and proactively test female children early. A copper IUD is a small device with a fine copper wire wrapped around a plastic frame. I’ve now had my copper IUD for six years, which is over half its ten year lifespan. website even says, “Do not use Paragard if you have a pelvic infection, get infections easily,” and so on. Birth control pills, copper IUDs, vegetarian diets, copper piping, and estrogen are just some of the contributing factors that have made copper toxicity a … It's placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. During pregnancy, estrogen rises, increasing copper retention. [42], "I will not treat a woman more than once, if at all, if she is using an IUD because it’s a certainty that it’s causing some, if not all of, her problems. The birth control pill affects copper by way of estrogen. The brain, a secondary location. Nor are they being given fully informed consent when they are prescribed the pill or the IUD - something (informed consent) every woman surely deserves to have! The ParaGard device is a T-shaped plastic frame that's inserted into the uterus. [18], "Birth control pills & copper IUDs - these two birth control methods definitely affect copper metabolism in the body. Weight can be affected since excess copper can affect the thyroid. I’ve never had a problem eating chocolate or any food with copper, but this iud nearly made me a paranoid schizophrenic. You might have the nocebo effect. As a side note, Casper also notes in the podcast that excess estrogen can cause copper retention, so interestingly, hormonal birth control users may have similar symptoms as those who experience side effects with copper IUDs. Since that time, more and more females have become copper toxic (and we see this with the evidence provided through HTMA data). Many of the emotional symptoms of PMS are also copper induced as estrogen rises during the cycle. The serum copper level almost doubles during pregnancy! In fact, women with a history of PPD have significantly higher serum levels of copper[32]. The birth control pill affects copper by way of estrogen. Another version of Estrogen dominance. Frequently Asked Questions: Is it painful to have a copper IUD inserted? This phenomenon will be intensified by the use of the birth control pill or by estrogen replacement therapy during and after menopause (Mehta & Eikum, 1989). Also, the pill had been really hard on my body—from weight gain to potentially suicidal thoughts at times. , such as racing thoughts, suicidal ideation, and anxiety, and depression. In the article, I read further and it made a lot of sense on how the biochemistry, and the IUD, and your body all work together. 8 years ago. I figured it was time for an update from this post written a few months after I had the IUD inserted.Reviews where the item has been tried and tested for years are the ones I like to read, especially on something long lived. 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