copper iud weight gain

[April]

Has anyone gained weight w/ the copper iud. I have put on about 5 lbs since it was inserted and have not changed my lifestyle whatsoever. I'm wondering if thats the cause.

[Gena]

OMG!!! Yes, yes, yes!! I had 3 children close together. I gained 19 lbs. with each child but lost more than that after each one. At the end of my three preg. i was smaller size 6) than b4 i got preg.(size 8/10) w/ my 1st. After my 3rd i decided to get an iud. I started gaining weight pretty much right away. After 4 years i am a very healty size 14/16 and i still keep gaining weight. My doctor said my iud has nothing to do w, my wt. gain!! I am really considering having it removed.

[April]

Gena-
Thanks so much for the response. I keep checking this site everyday to see if anyone else is experiencing what I am. I have an appt. to get mine removed tomorrow at 11:30. I really think it HAS to be the cause of my weight gain. Do you have the copper or mirena?

[Christine]

I have the copper IUD have have gained weight since having it inserted. It has been about a year and I have jumped 1-2 sizes. I didn't think about any correlation there. Thanks for bringing this up. Have you had other problems with it? I have an appointment tomorrow to discuss problems.

[April]

I just got mine removed three days ago. I thought it hurt! I had much heavier periods and cramping w/ the copper. I also felt and looked bloated all the time. I will keep you updated on whether any weight comes off. I was also much more emotional w/ the iud. All of this, the weight gain, emotions, etc... happened after it was inserted.

[Naomi]

I got a copper IUD inserted 3 weeks ago and I am freaked out. I have already gained a little spare tire where I have NEVER had weight before. I am bloated all the time now and look slightly pregnant!!!! I went online to see if anyone had had a similar experience and was surprised (and yet not), to see posts like the ones above and more. I am going to monitor my weight carefully for the next month. If this weight gain continues, the IUD is coming OUT. I'm 45 and have never been pregnant. I'd love to hear from someone who had their copper IUD out - did you lose the weight??? I don't want to have this poooochie tummy!!!!

[kiera]

the whole reason I want one of these (copper IUD) is to get rid of the weight / bloat from the pill & nuva ring (which is just as bad, if not worse.) is this really a typical side effect?

[rmh]

I had the copper iud inserted in June cos I was fed up with the pill, and wanted to lose weight..thinking there were no hormones etc going through body...boy was i wrong, 2 months and 7lbs heavier!!! Heavy heavy bleeding but after reading on another site, I started taking ibuprofen every 4hrs as soon as period started and it definately worked, the bleeding lessened dramatically (before it was pouring out) and stopped after 6 days, whereas since having it inserted I was bleeding for a week and a half and changing tampon/pad every 30mins to 1hr...

[April]

My copper iud was removed one week ago and I can already tell a difference in my body. I haven't weighed myself yet, but my stomach is not so bloated anymore. My boyfriend has even noticed a big difference! He said he could see my ab muscles again and it's only been a week!!!!

[Nads]

I've got the copper IUD (had it for almost a year - I'm 44 years old)and I chose it over the Mirena as I'd heard about the weight gain with the Mirena.

I think the copper IUD has helped me lose weight. I was half way through a weight loss program when I had the copper IUD inserted (hadn't been using anything before that). I kept losing weight really well, and the rate of loss didn't slow down even as I approached goal. I'm on about 800 more calories than my predicted maintenance calories are supposed to be.

If anything, I think the slightly heavier periods are causing me more weight loss. Also, I did get low iron but now I eat lots of meat.

I have no bloating or anything. About a month ago I went on the Yasmin pill for 2 weeks so I could delay my period and I did get a bloated lower stomach then and that was annoying.

How do you think a copper IUD is having hormonal type effects on your system? The Mirena I can understand, are you sure it wasn't one of those?

[Karen]

I have had the copper IUD for 2 years and have steadily gained wieght.I am 42 and in 2 years I have gained 35 pounds. I really had no idea it could be the IUD until now. I have tried Nutrisystem and WeightWatchers....nothing is working. Tonight my boyfriend told me he noticed I started gaining the weight after the IUD. After reading the other comments I am having it removed. I have an appt. with obgyn Sept.17th. I will let you all know if I start loosing weight!

[Bliss]

I'm using the copper IUD and I felt I was bloated and gaining weight also... I'm breastfeeding and still haven't had my period... maybe I'm retaining water from not having my period?? lol! I may deal with the weight if it doesn't keep getting worse!

[adele]

I have had the Merina IUD in for 5 months and gained 13lbs. I have been doing everything, from cuting out all my carbs and sugar, to increasing my workout times and nothing works! I called my doctor, but she said it cannot be the iud, so I started searching the internet. How frustrating, how obvious this problem is and the medical community is chosing to ignore the issue.

[Abby]

I had a copper IUD for 7 years, and gained about 50 pounds in that period.
I had it removed about three months ago and lost 7 pounds in the first week. As of now, I've lost 35 pounds. I never even considered my weight could be due to the IUD, until it started coming off and I wondered why.
My breasts aren't always sore anymore and even my shoes are a little loose - most of my weight gain was around my belly, but I must have been swollen from head to toe. Does anyone else think this thing just tricks your body into acting like it's pregnant?

[Nads]

This bloating and weight gain sounds like hormonal effects? Are you sure you had a non-hormonal IUD implanted or did you have a Mirena?

The only thing the copper IUD does to stop you getting pregnant is that it irritates the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation. It doesn't make the body feel like it's pregnant.

I feel the other way around - that the copper IUD has helped me with weight loss because of some extra bleeding. I definitely feel less hormonal now.

I've actually lost 60 pounds in the last year (I've been eating less and exercising).

[GayleM]

Weight gain should NOT happen with the Copper IUD (paragard). Check your menus ladies!
The Paragard is hormone free unlike the Mirena which contains progesterone (known to cause weight gain), if you are experiencing weight gain with the Paragard it's merely coincidence. Ask your health care professional and check out your caloric intake!!

[Jill]

I have to disagree I am 37 and never weighed more than 98 pounds my whole adult life. Since I had the IUD inserted about 5 months ago I am packing on the pounds there has to be something to this. It is all around my middle I look like i am 4 maybe 5 months pregnant. I have the Paragaurd not Mirena.

[April]

Everyones BODY reacts differently! I honestly believe 100% that the copper IUD caused weight gain! I checked w/ my dr. to ensure that she did not insert the Mirena by mistake b/c logically, it does not make sense that the copper iud would cause it! However, I firmly believe it did! To those who think it's the caloric intake...take a look at the other posts. Women know their bodies and if everything else in your lifestyle...diet, exercise, etc has remained consistent but then all of this weight gain comes about after getting the Paragard...I think that it's pretty self explanatory. A doctor will tell you that the mirena iud will not cause weight gain, but give me a break, take a look at the Mirena posts!

[Jill]

April Thank you so much for giving us the credit for knowing our bodies. I have already made a call to my GYNO telling her I wanted it out because I feel like I am bleeding or spotting 3/4 of the month. She told me to hold on a little longer. Now this month no period at all? I love the not having to fear getting pregnant. I spend most of the month out of commision because i am bleeding. My husband and I are done having children,This seemed the best way to go. My Dr. Is young I wonder what her response will be to the weight gain being linked to the IUD. I'll let you know.

[Tressie]

I am 25 years old and this October I will have had my copper IUD for 2 years. I have always been heavier than people my age all throughout my life. I was on various hormones/birth controls for a consistant 10 years. A majority of that time was Orthotrycycline then Nuvaring. After a 6 month period of being hormone free, I realized so many things that I felt had slowly gone away... SEVERE depression, vision issues, extreme moodiness, LACK of sex drive, and many more that should NOT have been happening for my age.
I fought with my doctor to get the IUD, which she tried to talk me out of because it would be painful and I have never had children. After getting my IUD, I started to have lots of changes.
1. Growth of Facial Hair
2. Weight gain, especially around my belly.
3. Acne on my face, neck, and back.
I really struggled with these changes and for the first time in my life felt unhappy with my body. I was away of the positive emotional changes that came from stopping hormonal birth control, but was struggling with the physical changes that were coming from the IUD.
I later learned that I had Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Which I had all along, it just was controlled by the birthconrol.

My point is, the older I get and the more people I meet, PCOS is more common. I feel that EVERYONE should be checked for PCOS and become educated about what hormonal birthcontrol REALLY does to your body. I have been on a non hormonal treatment for PCOS for a year now and am having great response to the prescribed medications.

Ps. Jill... I spotted for a year. It was worth the wait. I now have a normal cycle with no inbetween problems and TEN years of protection. You've gotten this far, stick with it.