Hormonal IUD vs Birth control implant
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
Birth control implant ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control implant
What Lowdown reviewers say
40% no impact on mood
43% stopped periods
42% no impact
48% no impact
45% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
28% no impact on mood
55% spotting
32% lost sex drive
46% gained weight
32% no impact on skin
46% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal IUD reviews
67 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• today
It's ok. No unplanned pregnancy but my periods last for 2-3 weeks and I gained 25lbs in 2 years with no changes to eating habits.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
Went on the IUD bc I had super painful periods. Modena stopped my period and once a month now I’ll have just a little bit of phantom cramps—but none that ever pose an issue. The first month was quite painful adjusting to the IUD, but COMPLETELY worth it in the end. Only negative side effect I’m experiencing is vaginal dryness. Vaginal discharge has decreased and when I’m with my partner, no matter how aroused I am, I’m still pretty dry.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I'm almost 28 years old, have had periods for the last decade and a half. They have always been regular and heavy to the point that if I didn't take iron supplements 5x a week and tranexamic acid during my periods, I'd have anemia. So I got Kyleena in December 2024. Insertion was fine, some cramping but nothing too serious. I had cramping on and off during the times my periods were supposed to come and some spotting/bleeding, but it was usually what I saw towards the beginning of my cycle. I had one reduced-level period in mid-August. I have had to go from 36D to 36DD to 36DDD/38DD bras over the span of a few months. At first I thought it was just weight gain (went from 170 to 195lb), but I have been almost 200lb before and my breast size increased this much this quickly. Even after losing 10 pounds my breast size has shown little to no decrease. I hate it. I also suspect that the IUD influenced my sciatica in my lumbar spine, which began in February 2025 and has taken several weeks of PT and a round of oral steroids to resolve. I am still not up to 100% all these months later. Overall a 2/5. The decreased period length, flow, and frequency is almost not enough to justify having this torture device in. If I get pregnant w/this in, I'll be so angry.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• today
It's ok. No unplanned pregnancy but my periods last for 2-3 weeks and I gained 25lbs in 2 years with no changes to eating habits.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
Went on the IUD bc I had super painful periods. Modena stopped my period and once a month now I’ll have just a little bit of phantom cramps—but none that ever pose an issue. The first month was quite painful adjusting to the IUD, but COMPLETELY worth it in the end. Only negative side effect I’m experiencing is vaginal dryness. Vaginal discharge has decreased and when I’m with my partner, no matter how aroused I am, I’m still pretty dry.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I'm almost 28 years old, have had periods for the last decade and a half. They have always been regular and heavy to the point that if I didn't take iron supplements 5x a week and tranexamic acid during my periods, I'd have anemia. So I got Kyleena in December 2024. Insertion was fine, some cramping but nothing too serious. I had cramping on and off during the times my periods were supposed to come and some spotting/bleeding, but it was usually what I saw towards the beginning of my cycle. I had one reduced-level period in mid-August. I have had to go from 36D to 36DD to 36DDD/38DD bras over the span of a few months. At first I thought it was just weight gain (went from 170 to 195lb), but I have been almost 200lb before and my breast size increased this much this quickly. Even after losing 10 pounds my breast size has shown little to no decrease. I hate it. I also suspect that the IUD influenced my sciatica in my lumbar spine, which began in February 2025 and has taken several weeks of PT and a round of oral steroids to resolve. I am still not up to 100% all these months later. Overall a 2/5. The decreased period length, flow, and frequency is almost not enough to justify having this torture device in. If I get pregnant w/this in, I'll be so angry.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Birth control implant reviews
69 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
It did its job effectively but the side effects were awful and only got worse with time. I have excessive hair growth on my chin, lip, chest, and stomach which I have to shave daily/every other day. Never had this issue before. I also gained 30lbs over the 4 years I was on it. I will say, my cycle went back to normal very quickly after removal (removed a little under 3 weeks ago and im currently ovulating) so very good news given that we're trying to concieve. I would have just stuck with the pill though if I had known how bad it would be and that I'd have a lapse in health insurance during my time having it so getting it removed at an affordable rate was not an option.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
I give it three starts because it was effective as far as me not getting pregnant but I couldn’t deal with the spotting and I bled almost every day, granted I didn’t keep it that long but it was miserable to bleed every day since insertion and it was the ultimate reason for it being removed.
Gained weight
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Sep 25
My birth control has helped me by making my periods really light but then im bleeding for 7 days straight. Its help with some physical changes, but also hurt some important ones like weight. Other than that, I love this so far. But I shall report back in a few months with an update -Sunstruck
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
It did its job effectively but the side effects were awful and only got worse with time. I have excessive hair growth on my chin, lip, chest, and stomach which I have to shave daily/every other day. Never had this issue before. I also gained 30lbs over the 4 years I was on it. I will say, my cycle went back to normal very quickly after removal (removed a little under 3 weeks ago and im currently ovulating) so very good news given that we're trying to concieve. I would have just stuck with the pill though if I had known how bad it would be and that I'd have a lapse in health insurance during my time having it so getting it removed at an affordable rate was not an option.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
I give it three starts because it was effective as far as me not getting pregnant but I couldn’t deal with the spotting and I bled almost every day, granted I didn’t keep it that long but it was miserable to bleed every day since insertion and it was the ultimate reason for it being removed.
Gained weight
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Sep 25
My birth control has helped me by making my periods really light but then im bleeding for 7 days straight. Its help with some physical changes, but also hurt some important ones like weight. Other than that, I love this so far. But I shall report back in a few months with an update -Sunstruck
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
40 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 31st Aug 25
Nothing worked prior to the implant…3 conceived while using another form of controlled release birth control, and my last 2 were planned by getting the implant removed. My periods are somewhat irregular but also extremely lighter than before and shorter lasting, however I have noticed every other month that it’s rougher than before, cramps, headache etc. but then 19 days later it’s just normal. I’ve also been able to maintain the same weight while using the implant and regardless of changes in my lifestyle that would suggest a fluctuation in weight over the last 7 years
Improved skin
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Aug 25
Terrible….the way my skin broke out with cystic acne….OMG I want to sue if I could, I thought I loosing all the blood in my body because I was on my period for a month every time it came, and the cramps were more painful than without this birth control, my experience was terrible I had no idea what was causing the acne until I went to a dermatologist and she asked about my birth control method and that’s when I decided to end it , I took my life back the day I got this thing out of my arm.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 11th Jul 25
Placed 6wk postpartum. Lots of bloody/brown discharge since . No true period. No pain Migraines, weight gain, sweating, mood swings. But I’m not pregnant
Worse skin
1 more effect
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 27th Jun 25
Weight gain, poor mood, more body hair, period cramps, long lasting light periods, increased sweating.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 23rd Jun 25
Non stop spotting for over a month and sudden lower back pain
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 19th Jun 25
Nexplanon is a great contraceptive, I have had no pregnancy scares. Break through took about 1.5 years last 2-3 months of constant spotting older blood.
Gained weight
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Jun 25
Very negative mood
1 helpful
0 comments
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