Hormonal IUD and positive mood

I love that I don’t have to worry about taking a pill, but the painful cramps and acne that I’ve experienced make it not worth it to me. I will be switching BC methods soon.

I first got my Mirena IUD when I was 13-14 for hormonal-induced migraines. The insertion was very painful, but the cramping did not last too long after insertion. I had mild spotting for a few months, then my period stopped completely for 5 years. Last year, my period came back and has been irregular since. Overall, my period has been much lighter and my PMS symptoms and menstruation symptoms have been minimal. I also have noticed more stability in my mood and have had decreased migraines since starting my IUD.

I had a very good experience with my Kyleena IUD. I got it right before going away to college for the first time because I didn't want to deal with birth control pills while dealing with moving to a new environment, starting higher level classes, being far away from my PCP, etc. and I knew I wouldn't want to become pregnant while at college or in the year after graduating. Contrary to most, I didn't have any pain with insertion. The speculum made me more uncomfortable than the actual IUD insertion. I had bleeding for about two weeks after insertion then didn't have any periods until it was almost expired. Those periods were very light with very little cramping -- honestly more like spotting. The worst part of having an IUD, in my opinion, is getting it removed. It wasn't necessarily painful -- just a slight pinching or scraping feeling. However, I had a lot of difficulty finding a doctor who would actually do the removal. Most receptionists told me I should return to the doctor who originally placed it, which was not possible for me after moving 12 hours away from that doctor's office, no longer being enrolled in the insurance that doctor accepted, etc. This would obviously not be a problem for someone who doesn't plan on moving during the duration of the IUD. Overall, I definitely recommend Kyleena to anyone who isn't too worried about the pain that normally comes with insertion and/or knows they don't want to become pregnant within the next 5 years.