How Birth Control Wrecked My Health

I Can Finally Get Off the Merry-Go-Round of Symptoms.

20+ Years of Birth Control and Copper IUD May Have Caused Years of Mysterious Symptoms

Disclaimer: This post shares my personal experience and research. It is not medical advice. Please consult with qualified healthcare providers for proper diagnosis and treatment. Every person's situation is unique.

My Story: The Perfect Storm

I'm 51 years old, and for years I've been struggling with symptoms that seemed completely unrelated: hair falling out, stubborn weight that won't budge despite consistent exercise, crushing fatigue, bloating, and headaches. Multiple doctors told me it was "just menopause" or "normal aging," but something felt wrong.

Then I discovered something that changed everything: copper toxicity.

Looking back, I realize I lived through what I now call "the perfect storm":

• Childhood: Multiple rounds of antibiotics (thanks to doctors who handed them out "like candy")

• Young adulthood: 10 years on birth control pills

• Motherhood years: 10 years with a copper IUD

• Lifelong: Stomach issues

  
  

What I didn't know was that these seemingly unrelated experiences could create a cascade of health issues that would follow me for decades.

The Copper Connection: What I Wish I'd Known

Here's what I've learned about copper and women's health:

Birth Control and Copper

• Birth control pills can raise copper levels and deplete zinc

• The longer you're on them, the more this imbalance can build

• Even after stopping, the effects can persist for years

  
  

Copper IUDs: The Hidden Factor

• Copper IUDs release copper directly into your system

• Some women develop copper toxicity, especially with long-term use

• Symptoms often don't appear until years later

• Many doctors aren't aware of this connection

  
  

The Antibiotic Effect

• Childhood antibiotics can permanently alter gut bacteria

• Poor gut health affects mineral absorption and detoxification

• This sets the stage for toxin accumulation later in life

  
  

My Symptoms: The Pieces Finally Connect

For years, I couldn't understand why my body seemed to be failing me:

Hair Loss: Not just thinning—actual clumps falling out, breaking, becoming brittle

Weight Resistance: Strength training 3x/week, walking 3+ miles daily, eating well, but the scale wouldn't budge

Crushing Fatigue: Even with thyroid medication, I felt exhausted

Bloated Belly: Looking pregnant despite being post-menopausal

Constipation: A lifelong struggle that seemed to worsen with age

Frequent Headaches: Tension and migraine-type pain

Thyroid Medication Not Working: Despite taking thyroid hormones, my levels weren't optimal

The Lab Results That Changed Everything

When I finally found a practitioner who tested comprehensively, here's what we discovered:

• Copper levels: 106 μg/dL (upper normal range)

• Zinc levels: 85 μg/dL (normal range)

• Copper/Zinc Ratio: 1.25 (should be closer to 0.7-1.0)

• High Testosterone: 421 ng/dL (normal for women is 4-50)

• Suboptimal Thyroid Function: Despite medication

• Low Iron Storage: Ferritin at 47 ng/mL

  
  

The copper/zinc imbalance was the smoking gun. Everything suddenly made sense.

How Copper Toxicity Affects Your Body

Excess copper can wreak havoc in multiple ways:

Thyroid Dysfunction: Copper interferes with zinc, which is essential for converting thyroid hormones. This explains why my thyroid medication wasn't working effectively.

Hair Loss: High copper can cause both hair loss and changes in hair texture.

Weight Gain: Copper toxicity affects metabolism and can make weight loss extremely difficult.

Hormone Imbalances: Excess copper can drive up testosterone and create estrogen dominance.

Gut Issues: Copper can disrupt beneficial bacteria and worsen digestive problems.

Energy Problems: Copper interferes with iron utilization, leading to fatigue despite adequate iron levels.

Why Doctors Miss This

Most conventional doctors don't routinely test for copper toxicity because:

• Blood copper levels can appear "normal" while tissue levels are high

• The connection between copper IUDs and long-term health isn't widely taught

• Symptoms mimic many other conditions (thyroid problems, menopause, etc.)

• Recovery takes time, so the cause-and-effect isn't obvious

  
  

What I'm Doing About It

Working with a functional medicine practitioner, I'm now addressing this systematically:

Testing: 24-hour urine copper test, comprehensive mineral analysis

Gradual Detox: Starting with zinc supplementation and liver support

Gut Healing: Addressing the antibiotic damage with probiotics and dietary changes

Thyroid Optimization: Working to get my thyroid medication working properly again

To My Fellow Women: You're Not Crazy

If you're struggling with mysterious symptoms that doctors can't explain, please know:

• Your symptoms are real

• It's not "just in your head" or "just aging"

• There may be underlying causes that haven't been explored

• You deserve answers and proper treatment

  
  

Red Flags That Might Indicate Copper Issues

Consider copper toxicity if you have:

• History of copper IUD use (especially 5+ years)

• Long-term birth control pill use

• Childhood antibiotic exposure

• Mysterious hair loss or thinning

• Thyroid medication that doesn't seem to work well

• Stubborn weight gain, especially around the middle

• Chronic fatigue despite treating other conditions

• Frequent headaches

• Gut issues or chronic constipation

• High anxiety or mood swings

  
  

Finding Help

Look for practitioners who understand:

• Functional or integrative medicine

• Heavy metal detoxification

• The connection between gut health and mineral absorption

• Comprehensive hormone testing

Ask specifically about their experience with copper toxicity from IUDs and birth control.

My Message of Hope

I'm sharing this because I believe there are thousands of women like me—women who've been told their symptoms are "normal" when they're actually suffering from something treatable.

We were told these interventions (antibiotics, birth control, copper IUDs) were safe. For many women, they are. But for some of us, they created a perfect storm that affected our health for decades.

The good news? Once you understand what's happening, you can take steps to address it.

I'm still early in my journey, but for the first time in years, I have hope. I have answers. I have a plan.

If this resonates with you, please don't suffer in silence. Advocate for yourself. Seek practitioners who will listen. Get comprehensive testing.

You deserve to feel vibrant and healthy, not resigned to feeling awful because you're "getting older."

Resources to Explore

• Institute for Functional Medicine (practitioner directory)

• American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM)

• Books on copper toxicity and mineral balancing

• Support groups for women with similar experiences

  
  

Remember: This is my personal experience and research. Everyone's situation is different, and this information should not replace professional medical advice. Work with qualified practitioners for proper testing, diagnosis, and treatment.

Have you experienced similar symptoms? I'd love to hear from other women who've discovered connections between their contraceptive history and health challenges. Together, we can raise awareness and help each other heal.