Cap or diaphragm

Combination birth control pill

Contraceptive gel

Copper IUD

Female condom

Hormonal IUD

Birth control implant

erfref erferg

ffrfinoerfnkerf

Male condom

Mini pill

Natural family planning

Birth control patch

Birth control shot

Spermicide

Sterilization

Vaginal ring

Vasectomy

Withdrawal or pull out method

Mirena IUD-review-id-c9f78450-65ca-45a3-9750-45ebfab5ce59

Better than copper IUD. Similar in side effects to birth control ring except less effect on sex drive.

Kyleena IUD-review-id-f951f7ef-b921-4952-b837-a19e16ba9147

Hormonal IUD-review-id-55b78760-fa94-4944-a4c9-65c9bf23e749

I initially thought I was having a positve experience, but after 3 months was diagnosed with Sebohrreic Dermatitis with an extremely itchy scalp and bumps on jawline. Within 5 months I started having noticeable hair loss. I have lost at least 50% density. It is now 11 months from insertion and still shedding drastically. 8 months after insertion, I started having cystic acne which Ive never experienced before. I use to have the Paraguard IUD and didnt have these symptoms

Kyleena IUD-review-id-df7ffde4-635c-4568-98cf-6857905f3575

I’ve had the Mirena since 2022 and just got it taken out today. I will preface this with I do not do well with birth control in general and it’s a struggle. I did not realize the correlation between my Mirena and my side affects. I feel like my side affects got gradually worse. I already suffer from anxiety and depression but since the Mirena was put in I have had to add on another anxiety and depression medication. I’ve also had to get on an acne medication from the dermatologist because I was getting deep acne and my face chemistry had changed including a little more facial hair growth. Once on the medication I no longer had an issue the the hair growth or acne. Let me also point out that I’ve never had acne my entire life so this was new. Everyone’s body reacts differently to birth control. I just want to make sure that I said these things in case there is another person who thought they were going crazy. I had extreme exhaustion and this increased my depression and made things much worse. I am not the only one who has had these symptoms either so take comfort in knowing you are not alone.

Mirena IUD-review-id-589a681c-a956-49a3-a9ea-4c315de54355

Has helped overall by stopping my periods which were long (5-7 days) and heavy.

Skyla IUD-review-id-d12aaf5d-b3a5-4621-8fbe-838513c10fc5

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. 

Kyleena IUD-review-id-3d2f0e43-4007-4faf-9883-b4b5ba0d47a5

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.

Hormonal IUD-review-id-350789bb-9da2-4b7c-bdf9-578920395dd8

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. 

Kyleena IUD-review-id-21c92175-374b-4422-be5c-aa883b42676b

I've had horrible bloating. From when I wake up till I go to bed my clothing size changes up to two pant sizes because of the bloating depending on what I eat. As in it's so much worse with things like potatoes. I've had to switch to basically only wearing stretchy clothes because it gets so bad. 

Hormonal IUD-review-id-21fcca9d-dc8f-4324-b1da-7dd6a4af761e

Mirena IUD

Kyleena IUD

Skyla IUD

Hormonal IUD vs Spermicide

Overview

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Spermicide ingredients

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Check out our latest reviews

Used for 8+ yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 2 days ago

Read more

Used for 1 - 3 mo

27 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1 week ago

Read more

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 1 month ago

Read more

Used for 8+ yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 2 days ago

Read more

Used for 1 - 3 mo

27 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1 week ago

Read more

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 1 month ago

Read more

Birth control alternatives and comparisons