As she explains on her blog , her birth in an area of Germany well-known for toxic amounts of heavy metals in its water, high-copper dietary habits in childhood and home with pipes made of copper were the “perfect storm” for copper toxicity. 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. I get A LOT of pushback when I mention it, because I’m basing this on anecdotal evidence. I hope you enjoyed it! How many more have to suffer before this nutrient connection is made!? 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. But does that mean it doesn’t exist? I’d always advise against it. This makes implantation of a copper IUD in a female that is already (and usually unknowingly) overloaded in copper a recipe for disaster. 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. [64], "One of the effects of Xenoestrogens is to reduce the excretion rate of copper from the body. 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. Generally, having an IUD inserted isn’t painful. in medical circles and by prescribing physicians, women often don't associate their symptoms with the pill, or even more so with the ‘non-hormonal’ IUD. Weight can be affected since excess copper can affect the thyroid. The serum copper level almost doubles during pregnancy! , Julie Casper, a health practitioner who specializes in Tissue and Mineral Analysis, describes a scenario where using the copper IUD can lead to copper toxicity. Igor Tabrizian, "The Estrogens in [birth control pills] do have Estrogenic effects, but the progesterone (being synthetic) tends not to have true progesterone effect. Note the similarity between those symptoms and the symptoms of copper toxicity. Serial estimations in copper IUD wearers showed that there was no alteration in serum copper levels for up to 24 months. But women may experience some discomfort or pain when the copper IUD is put in. The risk was triple for suicide. When I apply copper topically, I apply 2000 times more copper. How much copper is released by a copper IUD? ParaGard is an intrauterine device (IUD) that can provide long-term birth control (contraception). her physical and emotional side effects on Facebook: “these are most of the symptoms I had before getting the IUD removed…. I just want people to be aware that heavy metal toxicity is real and what to watch for. 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. “Copper toxicity, or copper poisoning causes symptoms such as headaches, fever, fainting, nausea, vomiting, blood in your vomit, diarrhoea, black stools, abdominal cramps, brown rings in the eyes, and jaundice. Many of the emotional symptoms of PMS are also copper induced as estrogen rises during the cycle. Serial estimations in copper IUD wearers showed that there was no alteration in serum copper levels for up to 24 months. Copper Toxicity is a condition that is increasingly common in this day and age, due to the widespread occurrence of copper in our food, copper fungicides, e-cigs, Copper IUD's, hot water pipes, along with the common nutritional deficiencies in Zinc, Manganese and other trace minerals that help keep levels of Copper in balance. ~William J. Walsh, PhD. A fine nylon thread is attached to the IUD - the thread comes out through the cervix into the top end of the vagina. Evidence of a true causal relationship between ParaGard (currently the only approved copper IUD in the US) and copper toxicity is yet to be seen. Studies have clearly shown that zinc deficiency resulting from increased copper occurs during the luteal phase - when PMS symptoms occur. My mother had a bout of copper toxicity when I was young. Estrogen dominance is a major issue which really throws off our mineral balance and leads to increased copper retention. The estrogenic effect of the oral contraceptive pill, combined with the fact that the synthetic progesterone does not have a true progesterone effect, means that minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and B6 diminish while copper rises [22]. Hi! Side effects of copper IUD as copper accumulates usually begin with increasing brain fog and fatigue, often paired with a racing mind. Further, the copper IUD can cause copper toxicity, or excess copper in the body. The copper IUD is promoted as a safe option because it's "non-hormonal". Is anyone listening?). For this reason, the Paragard website even says, “Do not use Paragard if you have a pelvic infection, get infections easily,” and so on. By Samantha Gilbert Copper IUDs have soared in popularity as a hormone-free birth control choice for females. We've already seen through scientific studies of wildlife how frogs and fish are switching gender due to this rise in estrogens. (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). Believed by many to be the “natural” option for birth control (given that it does not contain any synthetic hormones), the copper IUD has its own set of risks. It's placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Growth hormones given to much of the (non-organic) livestock and poultry we eat is another source. This is due to the copper dysregulation it can cause. Anything going on in your life currently causing you stress? So how does the copper IUD work, exactly? 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. Many of the emotional symptoms of PMS are also copper induced as estrogen rises during the cycle. Excess copper can create. One woman described her physical and emotional side effects on Facebook: “these are most of the symptoms I had before getting the IUD removed…. When the copper connection is made, considering excess copper's direct link to increased rates of depression and copper's effect on raising tissue calcium and lowering magnesium (which in turn increases the risk of blood clots [54]), questions raised by cases examined in articles such as this one would certainly find clearer answers, and those researching why youth mental health cases are exploding in schools (example) might stop scratching their heads. It's sometimes referred to as a nonhormonal IUD option. 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. I hoped that as I detoxed the copper, I would heal. Women report, however, experiences on the copper IUD including alarming psychiatric effects, such as racing thoughts, suicidal ideation, and anxiety, and depression. Frequently Asked Questions: Is it painful to have a copper IUD inserted? Copper toxicity is a type of metal poisoning caused by an excess of copper in the body. Some of the more serious, rarer side effects listed include ectopic pregnancy, sepsis, pelvic inflammatory disease, embedment, perforation of the uterine wall or cervix during insertion, expulsion of the device and menstrual cycle pattern changes. "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." It sounds like magic, but it’s just science. I hoped that as I detoxed the copper, I would heal. The mother's excess then gets transferred in utero via the placenta to the fetus during pregnancy, leading to elevated levels in the male population as well. So while the copper IUD has been falsely praised as a natural birth-control option, it’s worth remembering there is nothing natural about placing a foreign device in your body, and it isn’t as side-effect free as your doctor may think. Copper toxicity can result from chronic or long-term exposure to high levels of copper through contaminated food and water sources. Thanks for watching this video guys! In fact, the 'science researchers' seem to finally be catching up to this connection with a study published in 2016 (something the pioneers of HTMA and copper toxicity research have already known about for 40 years, trying for decades to get the medical community and public to listen). The accumulation of excess copper will lead to greater storage in the liver and in the brain. The study most often referenced is a 1980 study by Dr. Krishnamurthy Prema and colleagues that found no evidence of increased levels of copper in the bodies of women who wore copper IUDs for 24 months. My Experience; Detox; Contact; Links ; Detoxing from Copper Toxicity. Nonetheless, countless people who have used ParaGard blame the IUD for symptoms related to copper toxicity, including anxiety, depression, fatigue, brain fog, and pain. The connection between copper toxicity and the copper IUD; What is copper toxicity or excess copper and what causes it? I got my copper IUD during the summer of 2016, so I’ve had it for just over 2 years. 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. Xenoestrogens are manmade chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. Evidence from available medical literature does not suggest the IUD can cause copper toxicity. That’s what the end of this article is all about, getting the IUD It isn’t like adding an implant in the ram where a cut is made. 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. However, the average copper IUD contains an exposable surface of 0.38 mg of copper, which is approximately already 1/3 of the copper I’d need per day, without having consumed any food or water. Yes, you SHOULD absolutely worry about copper toxicity due to the copper IUD!!! Anyone have the copper iUD and have copper toxicity. But when the woman is estrogen dominant (low progesterone) or already copper toxic, the cycle build up of estrogen leads to a further increase of copper along with its correlated emotional symptoms. For thousands of years, copper has been known to be anti-microbial in nature. The failure rates for different models vary between 0.1 and 2.2% after 1 year of use. Approximately 5% of the population in the US, or upwards of 10%-15% of the population in northern European countries, have the genetic Factor V gene mutation, resulting in Factor V Leiden (thrombopholia). On that note, consider the unstable (negative) emotions associated with pregnancy, or post-partum, or with PMS. 6 years of misery. 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… The copper problem has significantly worsened in the years since the birth control pill was introduced. 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. Copper IUD (ParaGard) The copper IUD (ParaGard) contains no hormones and prevents pregnancy for up to 10 years. Most people however just think of the Pill's connection to estrogen, without making the copper connection. What is a Copper IUD and […] Even stress contributes to excess estrogen, while estrogen in turn mimics the shock phase of the stress reaction. Copper Toxicity Cause #2: Water Pipes. Known in the United States by the trade name Paragard®, the copper IUD carries with it the well-known side effects of heavy bleeding and menstrual pain, including cramping and backache. The aim was to ascertain any danger of copper toxicity with copper-medicated IUD use. Copper Toxicity is a condition that is increasingly common in this day and age, due to the widespread occurrence of copper in our food, copper fungicides, e-cigs, Copper IUD's, hot water pipes, along with the common nutritional deficiencies in Zinc, Manganese and other trace minerals that help keep levels of Copper in balance. Excess copper can cause inattention, anxiety, and hyperactivity. Also developed pulmonary hypertension, which can be caused by excess copper in the blood, while having the IUD.”, is a registered trademark of CooperSurgical, Inc. Reviews where the item has been tried and tested for years are the ones I like to read, especially on something long lived. Adding significant amounts of calcium to their dietary intake will very likely exacerbate tendencies toward hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency (characteristics of slow oxidizers). Rather, it acts more like a spermicide by destroying the sperm before they can make their way to the egg. Excess copper can create symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, depression, irritability, cravings, mood swings, brain fog, among many others. Its not nearly enough copper to be toxic. For women as they enter their late-thirties, progesterone levels begin to decline more quickly than estrogen, further contributing to estrogen dominance in women. ~Merck (package insert for Desogen tablets) [55], "It has been shown that women with a history of postpartum depression (PPD) exhibited significantly higher Cu level than those without PPD history." These studies (. The copper IUD is promoted as a safe option because it's "non-hormonal". So how does the copper IUD work, exactly? If this matters to you, please click and sign. Few studies address this issue in connection with Paragard. I really respect the author It’s a thing, it’s very real and it can create a living hell for you!!! Copper Toxicity … This is something your doctor will not tell you about. Copper Toxicity Cause #2: Water Pipes. BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the chronic systemic and local toxicity of a copper intrauterine device in a rat model. This information presented here also underscores the importance of catching copper imbalances in young girls before they enter adolescence. 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. Sometimes these medications are tolerated well, but many times the side effects are insidious, like depression, anxiety, lack of libido, or headaches that can too easily be ascribed to just being a 'teenager' or a 'moody female'. Further, the copper IUD can cause copper toxicity, or excess copper in the body. , such as racing thoughts, suicidal ideation, and anxiety, and depression. During pregnancy, estrogen rises, increasing copper retention. In addition, women on the copper IUD have reported feeling, other effects often associated with copper poisoning. ~Dr. As far back as 1975, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer in his book Mental and Elemental Nutrients made the connection between the increasing prevalence of copper 'toxicity' and use of the pill and IUD. This underscores the importance of testing young women before their estrogen rises in adolescence in order to correct potential impending copper imbalances before symptoms really start to show. While there are no large-scale studies confirming that copper toxicity is a possible side effect for women who use the copper IUD (except for those who have a preexisting condition like Wilson’s disease), anecdotal evidence of the mood-altering effects (often attributed to copper toxicity) of the copper IUD abounds. Do not take any other forms of contraceptive such as the birth control pill or the NuvaRing. 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. , wrote, “copper is considered a less toxic heavy metal but has been associated with sabotaging thyroid function.” The thyroid—as in, the gland that directly affects our reproductive hormones—is damaged by copper. Copper builds up slowly in the body. Copper IUD increases copper causing anxiety and panic attacks, depression, hair loss, anger, rage, brain fog, spaciness, paranoia, anemia, and fatigue. Side effects of copper IUD as copper accumulates usually begin with increasing brain fog and fatigue, often paired with a racing mind. … (This warning was given to us back in 1979. After looking into copper toxicity symptoms, I decided that's most certainly what I was experiencing and I made an appointment to get the IUD removed. Those with this mutation are more susceptible to blood clotting / deep vein thrombosis. I have the non-hormonal copper IUD. 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! After copper IUD insertion there is an increased copper release into the body, and both blood tests and hair tissue mineral tests may likely show this increase in copper levels. 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 . Casper explains that copper can kill bacteria and fungus (you can even use it in your garden) and how it works well in humid environments. It is one of the most effective forms of birth control with a one-year failure rate around 0.7%. in the body after IUD insertion, and considering other environmental factors (such as having copper pipes in the home) and dietary choices, the IUD could be the thing that puts someone over a healthy copper level. Even though it doesn’t contain synthetic hormones, the copper IUD can still affect hormones. For some women, the copper IUD experience is without any significant symptoms, at least initially. Frequently Asked Questions: Is it painful to have a copper IUD inserted? show that the head and tail of the sperm are literally separated, making sperm motility impossible. If you're high in estrogen, you'll be high in copper." What is the copper IUD? Fatigue and exhaustion; hypothyroid; brain fog; headaches; migraines; mood swings; cold hands/feet; depression; dry skin; constipation; racing/pounding heart; concentration and memory [problems]; spaciness; overeating; high anxiety; PMS; bloating. After copper IUD insertion there is an increased copper release into the body, and both blood tests and hair tissue mineral tests may likely show this increase in copper levels. It has been estimated that almost 85% of females (of all age ranges) are adversely affected by a common, yet little known condition called copper overload or copper toxicity, and have no idea it’s the cause of their distress. Once again, the more estrogen (regardless of source), in men or women, the higher the rate of copper retention in the body. 〰️Copper “toxicity” (dysregulation) * Even though it doesn’t contain synthetic hormones, the copper IUD can still affect hormones. Answer Save. Copper Toxicity is a build up of stored bio-unavailable copper in the body. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cu-IUD fragments were inserted into the uterine horns of female Wistar rats for 26 weeks (equivalent 15.42-17.33 years in humans). Copper toxicity CAN cause headaches. 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. 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