Hormonal IUD vs Birth control shot

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.

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!

Unsure about depo considering switching too pill.

It’s not for me gave me lots of acne and constant mood swings.

It's fine

I am experiencing hormonal changes, gained weight and high blood pressure but was advised to test in the hospital and l find out which birth control method is suitable for my body.

The shot has worked wonders as far as no longer getting the monthly, but I do feel as my cramps have progressed

It’s great after your body is used to it. Feels invasive when you first get it because of the mood swings, weight gain, loss of sex drive (this is almost permanent for me) and cramps. But……. Worth it i guess #nomoreperiods

Terrible

I think this is a great birth control method if you have absolutely 0 other options, but it DESTROYED my sex drive and made sex painful because I was no longer getting as much lubrication as I used to. I also gained a good bit of weight and retained a lot of water.

I had a painful lump for 3 months where I got the shot

Personally this has not been a very good experience, even after over a year.