Mirena IUD vs Kyleena IUD
What Lowdown reviewers say
60% no impact on mood
80% stopped periods
45% no impact
65% no impact
40% no impact on skin
75% in 1 month
40% no impact on mood
40% lighter periods
40% no impact
47% gained weight
53% no impact on skin
33% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Mirena IUD reviews
20 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4th Aug 24
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
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Jul 24
Great experience, insertion cramping was minimal. Got pregnant 4 months after removal.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Apr 24
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4th Aug 24
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
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Jul 24
Great experience, insertion cramping was minimal. Got pregnant 4 months after removal.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Apr 24
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
Kyleena IUD reviews
15 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 28th May 24
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th May 24
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Mar 24
This caused pain/vomiting/inability to sleep for 3 months after insertion. I was promised it would improve, and told to just keep giving it time. Severe menstrual cramps continued the whole 2 years that I had this. Doctors promised many times over the 2 years that my symptoms were normal and/or not due to the IUD(both incorrect). Around the 9 month mark I began to develop progesterone hypersensitivity autoimmune disease. This continued to progress until I removed it. This new condition landed me in the ER multiple times due to anaphylaxis: asthma, heart palpitations, high BP, frequent fainting, extreme rashes etc. I had to quit my job because I was not functional on any level. Luckily I eventually figured it out.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 28th May 24
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th May 24
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Mar 24
This caused pain/vomiting/inability to sleep for 3 months after insertion. I was promised it would improve, and told to just keep giving it time. Severe menstrual cramps continued the whole 2 years that I had this. Doctors promised many times over the 2 years that my symptoms were normal and/or not due to the IUD(both incorrect). Around the 9 month mark I began to develop progesterone hypersensitivity autoimmune disease. This continued to progress until I removed it. This new condition landed me in the ER multiple times due to anaphylaxis: asthma, heart palpitations, high BP, frequent fainting, extreme rashes etc. I had to quit my job because I was not functional on any level. Luckily I eventually figured it out.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Mar 24
It is nice to never be worried about pregnancy. The random bleeding, frequent cramping unrelated to bleeding, and breast shrinkage has not been great.. but all better than pregnancy i guess. I am definitely more emotional. I used to cry 1 day/month typically day before starting my period. I now cry ~70% of the month.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Mar 24
While this birth control didn't cause me to bleed like several others had, I became depressed and had painful cystic acne all over my face and began to get some on my back as well. This was completely irregular for me.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Feb 24
when i got the iud put in the pain wasn’t too bad but after a short time the pain got worse and worse and i literally cried myself into exhausted sleep. my periods are just as long, heavier, and more irregular. my cramps hurt worse and they last longer, my breasts are always tender, i can’t lose weight i just keep gaining, my acne is either barely noticeable or flaring up very badly at random, and i almost always have a headache or migraine
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Feb 24
I love that I don’t have to worry about taking a pill, but the painful cramps and acne that I’ve experienced make it not worth it to me. I will be switching BC methods soon.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Sep 23
The insertion is intense but the place it and forget about it element about IUDs is worth it!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Aug 23
I had a very good experience with my Kyleena IUD. I got it right before going away to college for the first time because I didn't want to deal with birth control pills while dealing with moving to a new environment, starting higher level classes, being far away from my PCP, etc. and I knew I wouldn't want to become pregnant while at college or in the year after graduating. Contrary to most, I didn't have any pain with insertion. The speculum made me more uncomfortable than the actual IUD insertion. I had bleeding for about two weeks after insertion then didn't have any periods until it was almost expired. Those periods were very light with very little cramping -- honestly more like spotting. The worst part of having an IUD, in my opinion, is getting it removed. It wasn't necessarily painful -- just a slight pinching or scraping feeling. However, I had a lot of difficulty finding a doctor who would actually do the removal. Most receptionists told me I should return to the doctor who originally placed it, which was not possible for me after moving 12 hours away from that doctor's office, no longer being enrolled in the insurance that doctor accepted, etc. This would obviously not be a problem for someone who doesn't plan on moving during the duration of the IUD. Overall, I definitely recommend Kyleena to anyone who isn't too worried about the pain that normally comes with insertion and/or knows they don't want to become pregnant within the next 5 years.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
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