Hormonal IUD vs Combination birth control pill

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.

Love the Mirena!

This caused pain/vomiting/inability to sleep for 3 months after insertion. I was promised it would improve, and told to just keep giving it time. Severe menstrual cramps continued the whole 2 years that I had this. Doctors promised many times over the 2 years that my symptoms were normal and/or not due to the IUD(both incorrect). Around the 9 month mark I began to develop progesterone hypersensitivity autoimmune disease. This continued to progress until I removed it. This new condition landed me in the ER multiple times due to anaphylaxis: asthma, heart palpitations, high BP, frequent fainting, extreme rashes etc. I had to quit my job because I was not functional on any level. Luckily I eventually figured it out.

I liked it for the first few months but I noticed that it was really affecting me negatively at around the 9 month mark. I started having heart palpitations and chest pains and my sex drive disappeared. I thought I was going crazy but I went off of it a few weeks ago and I’m already feeling more like myself.

I have been taking it for a month now and can say that my breasts have gotten a lot bigger than they usually did before my period, but they hurt and I have sore nipples most of the time, mood swings, a lot of brown discharge, but I will see if they will go away after the 3 months of adjusting to it, otherwise the effects are really not that bad. I find it quite benefic.

While taking this pill I have a great number of headaches since taking it. I also find myself going into depression. Thinking about a lot of negativities things. I also don't have a sex drive. The plus side about taking this pill, I have clearer skin.

This birth control really helped with regulating my moods but did make me gain weight significantly even when working out more because of major appetite changes be aware. My skin cleared up a lot and after 3 months haven’t had one breakout related to hormones. My first 8 months my breast grew 2 sizes with about a 8 pound increase in weight, my second round after taking a 6 month break my breasts did not change size but i did gain the 8 pounds back again after losing about 15 in the break period. I stopped getting my period and do not have even spotting when taking the iron pills. Lastly my sex drive almost disappeared and i find getting wet a challenge when i’ve never had that problem. My experience is about 50%-50% positive to negative.

I enjoy this birth control but the constipation part sucks

I started taking this bc I have PMDD and also wanted to stop my period all together. I have no interest in getting pregnant. This pill was to stop my period and it did just that. I feel great on it.

I love it!

I take it continuously, so I don't take a break week and just start right in on the next package. This has been awesome because i don't get my period anymore (I do let it happen a few times a year). It does a spectacular job of preventing pregnancy. Been taking for 12 years and have never had a legitimate scare. Thank God for birth control.

I'm feeling headache dizzy and sometimes have no energy to walk even.i loss alot of weight from 55 kg to 47 kg.feeling tired everytime,unrine leakage problem,mood swings angry mostly.