Can chronic fatigue be caused by the pill, what alternative contraception methods are there which are healthy for the body. How effective are these alternative and natural contraception methods.
(note: this question has been altered to protect privacy)
A:
I'm sorry to hear that you have been struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but well done for being pro-active. In response to your question:
For the most part it seems the plastic Lippes loop has been replaced by the copper loop. I'm pretty doubtful you'll find a gynae that will insert a plain plastic loop. I certainly don't know of one. Most of the risks associated with the copper loop are shared by the plastic loop, namely:
1. The insertion process carries a small, transient increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease in the first 4 month period following insertion.
2. After IUD insertion, menstrual periods are often heavier, more painful, or both - especially for the first few months after they are inserted. On average, menstrual blood loss increases by 20–50% after insertion of a copper-T IUD; increased menstrual discomfort is the most common medical reason for IUD removal. On the other hand there are many women that experience no unpleasant side effect following insertion of the device.
3. Complications include expulsion and uterine perforation. Uterine perforation is generally caused by an inexperienced practitioner and is very rare. Expulsion is more common in younger women, women who have not had children, and when an IUD is inserted immediately after childbirth or abortion. Women should check the string of the IUD at least once per menstrual cycle to verify that it is still in place.
4. The string(s) may be felt by some men during intercourse. If this is problematic, the practitioner may cut the strings even down to the cervix, so they cannot be felt. Shortening the strings does prevent the woman from checking for expulsion, however.
5. The risk of ectopic pregnancy to a woman using an IUD is lower than the risk of ectopic pregnancy to a woman using no form of birth control. However, of pregnancies that do occur during IUD use, a higher than expected percentage (3–4%) are ectopic.
The pregnancy rate during IUD use is very low (less than 1% per year). If pregnancy does occur, the IUD should be removed.
With regards the possible risk of copper toxicity, published research has shown that at a 24 month followup of patients using the copper loop the serum copper levels remain normal. However, many women still experience some neurological symptoms of copper toxicity - anxiety, panic attacks, depression, irritability, anorexia, lack of motivation and fatigue. Taking a zinc supplement (which serves to reduce copper concentrations) improves the symptoms of some women but not all. Many find that removing the IUD clears up the symptoms.
I would recommend that you have your serum and urine copper levels checked before you have the copper loop inserted. Then at 3 months, 6 months and every 12 months thereafter. If you develop troubling symptoms (whether your copper is high or not) have the device removed. Furthermore, ensure you take a zinc supplement plus an antioxidant (copper causes damage by causing free radical damage).
Regarding the impact of copper on fertility, I always recommend that women undergo a heavy metal challenge test (to check for various heavy metal toxicity) prior to embarking on trying to fall pregnant. This is because if there is any heavy metal toxicity this can impair your chances of conception and if you do conceive, then the heavy metal load will be heavily transferred to your growing baby. This has been linked to the development of future neurological and personality disorders in children.
I'm not familiar with the kit from Dischem, so I can't comment on that.
The following completely natural methods are options, but will never be perfect contraception due to various factors including human error and irregularities in the menstrual cycle:
1. The calendar rhythm method requires abstinence in the middle of the cycle, a time of increased desire for many women. It is relatively effective if cycles are regular and the full period of abstinence is observed.
2. The temperature rhythm method requires taking the temperature every day before rising, preferably at the same time and with the same thermometer each day. This method does not permit intercourse in the first part of the cycle and imposes a wait of three days after the temperature shift (temperature shift = ovulation). Efficacy is good if all the rules of the method are scrupulously followed, but around 20% of women have uninterpretable thermal curves. The method may be acceptable for couples who can tolerate its constraints and who lead stable lives without night work.
You should find more information about these methods on google...
With regards the health issues that have lead you to this point, please do not hesitate to contact me for an appointment. I see a lot of chronic fatigue in my practice and have had good results. Although colon hydrotherapy and detoxing definitely have a place in treating this frustrating disorder, I find that other more individualised approaches give me the best results in the longterm.
Kind Regards,
Dr Cornelia Botha
P.S. Incidentally, the symptoms of chronic fatigue are often caused and /or aggrevated by heavy metal toxicity (including copper). Have you had a heavy metal challenge test done? If not, it would be a good thing to consider. If you are interested, I can do a full heavy metal challenge test for you, as well as heavy metal chelation if that is required.
