Contraception Reviews

Kyleena IUD vs Mirena IUD

Kyleena IUD

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Mirena IUD

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Overview

Rated 3.4

16 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 4.1

20 reviews

Every 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Kyleena IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Kyleena IUD

Androgenic progestin


Mirena IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Mirena IUD

Androgenic progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

38% no impact on mood

Bleeds

44% lighter periods

Sex drive

38% no impact

Weight

44% gained weight

Skin

50% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% in 1 month

Mood

60% no impact on mood

Bleeds

80% stopped periods

Sex drive

45% no impact

Weight

65% no impact

Skin

40% no impact on skin

Cycle return

75% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Heavy periods

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Kyleena IUD reviews

16 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Kyleena IUD  

Didn't use it long enough to really form an opinion yet, but the reason I got it in the first place was because of very heavy periods and cramps. It has helped with that.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

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 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Kyleena IUD  

Didn't use it long enough to really form an opinion yet, but the reason I got it in the first place was because of very heavy periods and cramps. It has helped with that.


Somewhat negative mood

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


Mirena IUD reviews

20 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Aug 24

Mirena IUD  

After 14 months I pretty much don't have a period, but I still have light to moderate cramping a couple of times a month.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jul 24

Mirena IUD  

Great experience, insertion cramping was minimal. Got pregnant 4 months after removal.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Apr 24

Mirena IUD  

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.


Worse skin

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Aug 24

Mirena IUD  

After 14 months I pretty much don't have a period, but I still have light to moderate cramping a couple of times a month.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jul 24

Mirena IUD  

Great experience, insertion cramping was minimal. Got pregnant 4 months after removal.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Apr 24

Mirena IUD  

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.


Worse skin

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 8+ yr
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Apr 24

Mirena IUD  

Love the Mirena!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Feb 24

Mirena IUD  

Side effects: cystic acne & overall acne, metallic vaginal discharge, low libido & irritability. It was difficult to tell if IUD was in place since the doctor cut the strings too short. Went into OB & Planned Parenthood, they couldn't find it and were unsure if it fell out. This didn't give me a great deal of security as a BC since I couldn't tell if it was there or not...


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th Jan 24

Mirena IUD  

Insertion is extremely painful, but I'm so glad I did it. I went from having debilitatingly heavy periods to no periods after having the first one inserted. After my second, my periods returned but are so light I only need to use very thin and light panty liners. I originally got this as a way to manage cysts that were growing and bursting on a yearly basis. This has completely stopped and haven't experienced a burst cyst since.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  18th Jan 24

Mirena IUD  

Everyone will have a different experience, however from my personal experience, I have had the IUD twice, and both times insertion was very painful. With that being said it was over relatively quick and in the long run I can say with 100% certainty it was worth it since I can now have a worry-free reliable birth control. Knowing ahead of time that pain is a possibility during insertion can help you take steps to reduce it/ possibly take away some of the fear that comes with uncertainty. Additionally, I have stopped bleeding/ having regular periods, however I still have period symptoms around the same time each month, so cramps, acne, back pain, and tender breasts for a couple days. I hope that was helpful!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  9th Jan 24

Mirena IUD  

I was put on it for endometriosis however it didn’t stop my pain and the loss of sex drive and acne did not outweigh the benefits


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  9th Jan 24

Mirena IUD  

I’m sort of neutral about this birth control. I have had years of trying to find an oral hormonal contraceptive that both helped with my excruciating cramps and didn’t make my mood terrible most of the month. I will say, this has stopped my periods most months so I’m not getting cramping nearly as often, however I would say they’re actually worse than before the mirena when I do get them, so sort of win some lose some. It doesn’t affect my mood though, which is nice to not feel dreary all the time. I have gotten a lot of migraines, which is something I ran i to with a couple different pills I tried in the past, so I knew that was a risk of anything that was hormonal. Sometimes OTC pain killers do the trick, but I almost traded the cramps for headaches. I also have never been someone that sweats much, and I live in Arizona, but since getting this I have horrible night sweats and have phases each month where I’m running hot all day and sweating way more than usual. I’ve never had this side effect from a birth control, so that one was unexpected but definitely manageable. With the convenience of not having to take pills in mind, I would say I prefer the IUD to any birth control I have tried so far, but I’m not sure I love the mirena brand itself.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jan 24

Mirena IUD  

The main side effect was decreased libido, but when I started using the Mirena I had increased libido from using a birth control pill


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Kyleena IUD with other birth control

Compare the Mirena IUD with other birth control

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