Q:        Dear Dr. Hatcher,

Can a half year or so of zinc supplementation damage a ParaGard IUD or make it less effective?  I’ve come across a few articles saying copper and zinc “antagonize” each other, but those articles are older (70’s and 80’s) and hidden behind pay walls (since I don’t work for a university anymore).

Thank you for any advice and feel free to crosspost to Managing Contraception.

A:        Good morning,

I looked it up in Guillebaud, Speroff and Darney and Contraceptive Technology.  So no mention of this.  I do not think it is a problem.

I will send it to Dr. Carrie Cwiak and Lisa Haddad for their response.

From Dr. Lisa Haddad on 12-23: “I have not heard anything about this – sorry.”

Robert A. Hatcher MD, MPH

Emeritus Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Emory University School of Medicine

Atlanta, GA

Lisa Blake Haddad, MD

Family Planning Fellow

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Emory University School of Medicine

Atlanta, GA

 

To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of the ParaGard IUD, go to: www.managingcontraception.com and click on Choices 2013 edition.  You can also order this wonderful new educational book from our website or by calling 404-875-5001.  Do you have your copy yet?  It is now available in English and Spanish.

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Key Words:  zinc supplement, damage, ParaGard IUD, effective, articles, copper, antagonize, Guillebaud, Speroff, Darney, Contraceptive Technology, Dr. Carrie Cwiak,. Dr. Lisa Haddad

 

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