Perimenstrual dermatitis secondary to a copper‐containing intrauterine contraceptive device

Although allergic reactions to copper are rare, skin disorders may appear or worsen during the perimenstrual period. This paper presents the case of a 41-year-old user of a copper-containing IUD who presented with a history of recurrent, self-healing skin eruption associated with abdominal pain. The eruption followed a cyclical pattern, appearing 3-7 days before menses and improving spontaneously with the onset of bleeding. Patch testing revealed a positive reaction to copper sulfate and nickel sulfate. After the IUD was removed, abdominal symptoms subsided at the next cycle and progressive resolution of the dermatitis was observed.