Contraception Reviews

Hormonal IUD vs Birth control shot

Hormonal IUD

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Birth control shot

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Overview

Rated 3.6

36 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

19 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin


Birth control shot ingredients

Main hormones in Birth control shot

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

47% no impact on mood

Bleeds

56% stopped periods

Sex drive

36% no impact

Weight

47% no impact

Skin

42% no impact on skin

Cycle return

56% in 1 month

Mood

37% somewhat negative

Bleeds

37% stopped periods

Sex drive

37% lost sex drive

Weight

53% gained weight

Skin

42% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 3-6 months

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal IUD reviews

36 reviews

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.

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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
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


Birth control shot reviews

19 reviews

Birth control shot  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Depo-Provera shot  

Have been nonstop throwing up and being nauseous and dizzy, lost a lot of weight from that alone. Have a bad fever and a lot of hot flashes, very uncomfortable and won’t ever do this again. Ever. Ever. Ever again.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera shot  

I first started receiving the shot as a teenager (for 2 years) and the only side effect I experienced was no periods, which is what I wanted. I started back on it 5 years ago after trying 2 other types of BC that I did not like. Once again, my periods stopped, but this time I also gained about 30 lbs, my breasts grew, and I suffered from excessive sweating/ hot flashes. The weight gain was no issue to me since I have always been very tall and skinny. Putting on some extra weight was a plus. It was the constant sweating and hot flashes that made me stop taking the shot. I would even sweat from my head and *down there*, which I never used to before. It was very embarrassing and difficult for me to control. I was showering 3-4 times a day in between trying to work and go to school. Not to mention all of the different types of deodorant I had to try to remedy this issue. If I can find a viable solution, I would most definitely restart this BC.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Depo-Provera shot  

Depo Provera stopped my periods completely. After being on it for more than a year, I can’t fit into my favorite belt that I easily could a year ago. Mind you, last year I was more sedentary — this year I’ve been training for 5Ks. That’s how much weight I’ve gained on Depo.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Depo-Provera shot  

Have been nonstop throwing up and being nauseous and dizzy, lost a lot of weight from that alone. Have a bad fever and a lot of hot flashes, very uncomfortable and won’t ever do this again. Ever. Ever. Ever again.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera shot  

I first started receiving the shot as a teenager (for 2 years) and the only side effect I experienced was no periods, which is what I wanted. I started back on it 5 years ago after trying 2 other types of BC that I did not like. Once again, my periods stopped, but this time I also gained about 30 lbs, my breasts grew, and I suffered from excessive sweating/ hot flashes. The weight gain was no issue to me since I have always been very tall and skinny. Putting on some extra weight was a plus. It was the constant sweating and hot flashes that made me stop taking the shot. I would even sweat from my head and *down there*, which I never used to before. It was very embarrassing and difficult for me to control. I was showering 3-4 times a day in between trying to work and go to school. Not to mention all of the different types of deodorant I had to try to remedy this issue. If I can find a viable solution, I would most definitely restart this BC.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Depo-Provera shot  

Depo Provera stopped my periods completely. After being on it for more than a year, I can’t fit into my favorite belt that I easily could a year ago. Mind you, last year I was more sedentary — this year I’ve been training for 5Ks. That’s how much weight I’ve gained on Depo.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Jun 24

Birth control shot  

Moody


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Jun 24

Depo-Provera shot  

I never had any real big side affects when I was on depo over a decade ago but now that I'm older and went back on it, the breast tenderness (only 1) and slight discharge is becoming nearly unbearable. It happens about 3-5days after getting the shot and lasts 4-7days. I gotta decide if this is worth it.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Jun 24

Depo-Provera shot  

I am having pigmentation down there and its always a thrush always itching causing discomfort .


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th May 24

Depo-Provera shot  

Made me very moody for the first month. Also seems to be concerning long term side effects.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Apr 24

Depo-Provera shot  

Unsure about depo considering switching too pill.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  15th Mar 24

Depo-Provera shot  

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


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Mar 24

Depo-Provera shot  

It's fine


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Hormonal IUD with other birth control

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