Contraception Reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown56243
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Sep 23

Mirena IUD  
•  Stopped using

The Mirena was great for stopping periods- I was 18 when I had it inserted and loved not having a period. I did not know of any of the side effects and when I discussed with my doctor, she said that these were not symptoms brought about by the IUD (so she put me on medication to combat the symptoms I was experiencing). I decided to remove the IUD last month- my hair has stopped falling out in clumps, I’ve lost weight and am never bloated, I am never constipated, my sex drive and sexual function are back to normal, my skin has cleared up, my body hair is not growing in as thick, and I have not gotten any yeast infections, vaginal irritation, abnormal discharge or smell. The worst part about this IUD was that it hurt to get it inserted and removed and my pain and anxieties were not taken seriously by medical professionals- if this birth control is right for somebody, make sure you go to a doctor who understands what this birth control method is, what it can do (good and bad- it can work super well for some people), who might not be a great candidate for this (because some people just aren’t), and especially how to help their patients manage discomfort, pain and anxiety during the insertion and removal processes.


Mood

Very negative

Skin

Got worse

Sex drive

Reduced

Weight

Gained weight

Bleeds

Stopped

Mood

Very positive

Skin

Improved

Sex drive

Increased

Weight

Lost weight

Cycle return to normal

1 month
While using
 Body hair getting darker
 Body hair increase
 Sweating more than usual
 Vaginal dryness
 Hair loss
 Period like cramps
 Lower back pain
 Vaginal discharge
After using
Breast enlargement
Sweating more than usual

I feel better than I’ve ever felt. I’ve been on some form of BC for 11 years- the Mirena for about 6. My mood is stable (mostly), my skin is great and glowy, I have stopped bloating, I can poop normally and regularly, my sex drive is back to normal, and i just feel so much more content in my own body.


0 helpful

1 comments

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Lowdown62345

22nd Dec 23

Did you ever experience vaginal dryness?? I got my iud taken out and immediately felt the lubrication coming back. I know with iuds it can effect ur sex drive and that’s why probably I just want to know if anyone had this same experience or it’s just in my head my doctor never gave me a clear answer on to why I was experiencing that

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Lowdown62345

22nd Dec 23

Did you ever experience vaginal dryness?? I got my iud taken out and immediately felt the lubrication coming back. I know with iuds it can effect ur sex drive and that’s why probably I just want to know if anyone had this same experience or it’s just in my head my doctor never gave me a clear answer on to why I was experiencing that

Post

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Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Hormonal IUD  

Caused increased anxiety, extreme cystic acne that did not respond to prescription acne treatments, and severe hair loss. Made my periods longer and heavier at first, then they finally started getting lighter but I was still spotting almost every day. Gave me hot flashes badly.

Read more

Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Kyleena IUD  

Didn't use it long enough to really form an opinion yet, but the reason I got it in the first place was because of very heavy periods and cramps. It has helped with that.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Aug 24

Mirena IUD  

After 14 months I pretty much don't have a period, but I still have light to moderate cramping a couple of times a month.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jul 24

Mirena IUD  

Great experience, insertion cramping was minimal. Got pregnant 4 months after removal.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th May 24

Kyleena IUD  

Getting it in hurt briefly, but tolerable. The first period after getting it was early and super intense, and I continued having spotting most days for the first three months or so, but bleeding dwindled over time and by a year later I was barely getting periods at all, which was great.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th May 24

Kyleena IUD  

I have been on kyleena almost 5 years, January 2025 it will be 5 and little to no problems. But I didn't know there was a mucus discharge, had thought I always had a yeast infection. Almost time to get a new one and I've started spotting again.


Increased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th May 24

Liletta IUD  

I could feel it when I exercised always. Starting year 5 I had terrible cystic acne and lower back pain that travelled down my left leg to my knee. It’s been 4 days since it was removed and my back is already feeling better. A heavy period starting the night I had it removed. It’s been going on 4 days and it is still heavy. I am hoping the acne goes away over time since it is out. It was nice not having heavy periods but not at the expense of my face and back. I have had to see a Dermatologist for several years now and the treatments don’t help much. I also saw a back doc and had a shot to help with the pain along with physical therapy for a few months. The shot helped for a month or two but the pain returned. I gained weight because it was uncomfortable to exercise and feel the IUD even when I walked uphill and the back and left leg pain. Insertion was traumatizing and I was conscious sedated for the removal which was a much better experience. Women should not have to go through that without conscious sedating. We should also be provided with more info on what to expect when we get it, how it might age, what to look for side effect wise, and guidance on getting it out and the aftermath. Terrible experience


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th May 24

Skyla IUD  

Overall I really disliked this IUD. The insertion was extremely painful. I experienced spotting everyday for 6 months. When I started to get monthly bleeding again I would get debilitating cramps that caused me to miss work and school.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Apr 24

Mirena IUD  

I got my first Mirena when I was 17. I would describe the insertion process as uncomfortable but not painful. I did have a vagal response (came close to passing out) right after, but it didn't last long, I just needed to sit for a minute. I experienced very light cramping for about 4-6 days afterwards. I did lose some weight that year that may have been attributed to the birth control, I went from 120lbs to 100lbs (there were no other pressing reasons for the quick change in my weight other than the BC, perhaps stress as it was my senior year of high school). At the time, the Mirena was thought to be effective for five years, so I had it removed and replaced with another Mirena when I was 22. The removal and reinsertion was more uncomfortable than the initial insertion, but totally manageable in my experience. Overall, I did not experience many hormonal side effects that I noticed. I pretty much stopped menstruating after the first few months of having it, aside from very occasional, very light spotting. I would sometimes experience symptoms of PMS without the bleeding (a little fatigue, some mood changes). I did develop some cystic acne in the first 1-3 years of being on my second IUD, but it was truly not much and never lasted long. My favorite part of this method is how effective and easy to use it is. I was truly never concerned about pregnancy from 17-27 which allowed for a lot of freedom in terms of my sex life. In my long term relationship, we do not use condoms (both have been screened for STIs) and I feel completely safe and comfortable with my partner not pulling out (I know that's a personal detail but I what to emphasize that that's how effective it truly is in my experience). I did recently decide to remove my hormonal IUD and replace it with the non-hormonal IUD. My Mirena still had at least 2 years left in it, but since I had not had a period or had gone through that natural, hormonal process in 10 years, I wanted to give my body a break from hormonal birth control to develop that relationship with my body. If I did not have the option/privilege to change methods, I would have 100% kept my Mirena until it expired, and probably got a third one.


Worse skin

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 8+ yr
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Apr 24

Mirena IUD  

Love the Mirena!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Explore popular birth control reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Hormonal IUD  

Caused increased anxiety, extreme cystic acne that did not respond to prescription acne treatments, and severe hair loss. Made my periods longer and heavier at first, then they finally started getting lighter but I was still spotting almost every day. Gave me hot flashes badly.

Read more

Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Kyleena IUD  

Didn't use it long enough to really form an opinion yet, but the reason I got it in the first place was because of very heavy periods and cramps. It has helped with that.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Aug 24

Mirena IUD  

After 14 months I pretty much don't have a period, but I still have light to moderate cramping a couple of times a month.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jul 24

Mirena IUD  

Great experience, insertion cramping was minimal. Got pregnant 4 months after removal.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th May 24

Kyleena IUD  

Getting it in hurt briefly, but tolerable. The first period after getting it was early and super intense, and I continued having spotting most days for the first three months or so, but bleeding dwindled over time and by a year later I was barely getting periods at all, which was great.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th May 24

Kyleena IUD  

I have been on kyleena almost 5 years, January 2025 it will be 5 and little to no problems. But I didn't know there was a mucus discharge, had thought I always had a yeast infection. Almost time to get a new one and I've started spotting again.


Increased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th May 24

Liletta IUD  

I could feel it when I exercised always. Starting year 5 I had terrible cystic acne and lower back pain that travelled down my left leg to my knee. It’s been 4 days since it was removed and my back is already feeling better. A heavy period starting the night I had it removed. It’s been going on 4 days and it is still heavy. I am hoping the acne goes away over time since it is out. It was nice not having heavy periods but not at the expense of my face and back. I have had to see a Dermatologist for several years now and the treatments don’t help much. I also saw a back doc and had a shot to help with the pain along with physical therapy for a few months. The shot helped for a month or two but the pain returned. I gained weight because it was uncomfortable to exercise and feel the IUD even when I walked uphill and the back and left leg pain. Insertion was traumatizing and I was conscious sedated for the removal which was a much better experience. Women should not have to go through that without conscious sedating. We should also be provided with more info on what to expect when we get it, how it might age, what to look for side effect wise, and guidance on getting it out and the aftermath. Terrible experience


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th May 24

Skyla IUD  

Overall I really disliked this IUD. The insertion was extremely painful. I experienced spotting everyday for 6 months. When I started to get monthly bleeding again I would get debilitating cramps that caused me to miss work and school.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Apr 24

Mirena IUD  

I got my first Mirena when I was 17. I would describe the insertion process as uncomfortable but not painful. I did have a vagal response (came close to passing out) right after, but it didn't last long, I just needed to sit for a minute. I experienced very light cramping for about 4-6 days afterwards. I did lose some weight that year that may have been attributed to the birth control, I went from 120lbs to 100lbs (there were no other pressing reasons for the quick change in my weight other than the BC, perhaps stress as it was my senior year of high school). At the time, the Mirena was thought to be effective for five years, so I had it removed and replaced with another Mirena when I was 22. The removal and reinsertion was more uncomfortable than the initial insertion, but totally manageable in my experience. Overall, I did not experience many hormonal side effects that I noticed. I pretty much stopped menstruating after the first few months of having it, aside from very occasional, very light spotting. I would sometimes experience symptoms of PMS without the bleeding (a little fatigue, some mood changes). I did develop some cystic acne in the first 1-3 years of being on my second IUD, but it was truly not much and never lasted long. My favorite part of this method is how effective and easy to use it is. I was truly never concerned about pregnancy from 17-27 which allowed for a lot of freedom in terms of my sex life. In my long term relationship, we do not use condoms (both have been screened for STIs) and I feel completely safe and comfortable with my partner not pulling out (I know that's a personal detail but I what to emphasize that that's how effective it truly is in my experience). I did recently decide to remove my hormonal IUD and replace it with the non-hormonal IUD. My Mirena still had at least 2 years left in it, but since I had not had a period or had gone through that natural, hormonal process in 10 years, I wanted to give my body a break from hormonal birth control to develop that relationship with my body. If I did not have the option/privilege to change methods, I would have 100% kept my Mirena until it expired, and probably got a third one.


Worse skin

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 8+ yr
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Apr 24

Mirena IUD  

Love the Mirena!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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