[marigold1]

Hi gaby12,

I just wanted to say that I got melasma about a year after getting my copper IUD put in, and I also have never had children and melasma doesn't run in my family. (And, by the way, the IUD can be used by women who have not had children, but there is a slightly higher chance it will be expelled.)

I agree with you that we (all women) are like laboratories for birth control. I strongly believe that the copper IUD caused my melasma, but so far have only been able to find a few anecdotal mentions, like this, and a few statements by doctors that it would not cause it or would be very unlikely to cause it. I want to have mine removed, but have not done so because my husband and I do not plan to have children, so not getting pregnant is my top concern. My husband is looking into getting snipped, but now I'm wondering what side effect he might have from that that doctors don't tell us about.

gaby12, I'm curious about whether your melasma has improved since getting your IUD removed? (I also have experienced bloating and am really wanting to get it removed.)

[gaby12]

Oh, Jeez,,, Yes my melasma is improving since I got the thing removed... The dark splotches have lightened, and are turning a pinkish color instead of the dirty brown. ( I also deflated down there, thinking I already reported this on this thread).. But from what I gather, the copper iud does screw up the hormone metabolism, causing symptoms - specific to each woman, depending on how they handle it. for me it was melasma after about 6 yrs, and when they removed it, my moods improved and i deflated down there... (didn't know i was "inflated"),,,, but a bunch of fluid came out about a day after it was removed...
At this point, not having children is our top priority, so we are using condoms and common sense,,, there will be no hormones in this household. Sorry I have been away for a while,,, I am so happy to see that this thread has generated interest....!

Originally Posted by marigold1

Hi gaby12,

I just wanted to say that I got melasma about a year after getting my copper IUD put in, and I also have never had children and melasma doesn't run in my family. (And, by the way, the IUD can be used by women who have not had children, but there is a slightly higher chance it will be expelled.)

I agree with you that we (all women) are like laboratories for birth control. I strongly believe that the copper IUD caused my melasma, but so far have only been able to find a few anecdotal mentions, like this, and a few statements by doctors that it would not cause it or would be very unlikely to cause it. I want to have mine removed, but have not done so because my husband and I do not plan to have children, so not getting pregnant is my top concern. My husband is looking into getting snipped, but now I'm wondering what side effect he might have from that that doctors don't tell us about.

gaby12, I'm curious about whether your melasma has improved since getting your IUD removed? (I also have experienced bloating and am really wanting to get it removed.)

[MangoFlamingo]

I've had a copper iud for 3 years now and had to google mealsma as I didn't know what it was. So no, no mealsma here (yet!).

[gaby12]

It took mine several years to do that.

[gaby12]

Just an update, my melasma (that was uncoverable with my makeup skills, hundreds of dollars wasted on heavy cover products), is almost completely gone, also, I lost 9 pounds. So That is just about it, some had asked previously if it was clearing, and in my last post, I indicated a trend, but now I see a huge difference... like the kind of skin you can just go out in - no makeup! Now I wear a pat of bronzer, mascara,,, 30 seconds! this past week has been wonderful!

[littlemissunshine]

I also have the IUD and it is about to expire after 10 years. I got melasma about 2 years ago. I've been thinking that might be my problem also. I guess only time will tell. I've researched alot and found that the Mirena IUD seems to be the best for melasma if you don't mind acne ? But I have 2 children that are 13 and 11. So I'm considering getting the knot...but thats me.

[brandile]

I have had my copper IUD for two years now and I now have two dark brown spots on my upper lip and i look like I have a mustache!

So glad I found this forum

Im probably going to have to get the IUD removed because I cant deal with the melasma.

Too bad because it was the only birth control that worked for me without hormones.

[Goddard]

Tubal ligation is major surgery. And I had the insides removed for cancer. Takes a while to recover from that. I don't recommend it for contraception!