Contraception Reviews

Skyla IUD vs Mirena IUD

Skyla IUD

Want to switch birth control?

Mirena IUD

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 2.5

2 reviews

Every 3 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 4.0

28 reviews

Every 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Skyla IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Skyla IUD

Androgenic progestin


Mirena IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Mirena IUD

Androgenic progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

100% somewhat negative

Bleeds

100% irregular periods

Sex drive

50% lost sex drive

Weight

50% no impact

Skin

50% no impact on skin

Cycle return

100% in 1 month

Mood

50% no impact on mood

Bleeds

68% stopped periods

Sex drive

46% no impact

Weight

61% no impact

Skin

39% 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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Want to switch birth control?

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Skyla IUD reviews

2 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th May 24

Skyla IUD  

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.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Jan 24

Skyla IUD  

This is the only form Of birth control that I have chosen to continue out of pills, rings. And other iuds


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th May 24

Skyla IUD  

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.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Jan 24

Skyla IUD  

This is the only form Of birth control that I have chosen to continue out of pills, rings. And other iuds


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments


Mirena IUD reviews

28 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Mirena IUD  

It actually stabilized my mood. I genuinely have no complaints.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Mirena IUD  

Irregular cycles. Mood swings, fatigue, brain fog and headaches seem to correlate to menstrual cycle. Effective birth control but still unsure if symptoms are related to Mirena or independent migraine, thyroid or other issues.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Mirena IUD  

It actually stabilized my mood. I genuinely have no complaints.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Mirena IUD  

Irregular cycles. Mood swings, fatigue, brain fog and headaches seem to correlate to menstrual cycle. Effective birth control but still unsure if symptoms are related to Mirena or independent migraine, thyroid or other issues.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Mirena IUD  

I’ve had it for 6 months and I have my period twice a month and the pain is pretty consistent day to day.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Mirena IUD  

My first IUD placement (Mirena) was without numbing shots, and it really was quite painful. The immediate pain lasted only a few seconds, but I had hot flashes for a few minutes afterwards. The next week, I got the heaviest period of my life, followed by about 4 months of light bleeding. After that, I lost my period completely for about 3 years, and then very light and irregular periods until I had it replaced. My period used to cause painful acne and very frustrating mood swings, which I was quite happy to go without. I did have some discomfort during sex, but only with larger partners and only in certain positions. My second IUD was the Kyleena. I did have numbing shots for the placement, and it was much more comfortable - similar to getting a pap smear. My period has gone away again, and I haven't noticed any pain during sex (Kyleena is a little smaller). My only real concern about the IUD is that if I were to become pregnant while the IUD is in place, it is very likely to be ectopic. I do take a pregnancy test every couple of months, so if it does happen I can get the care I need. I live in a state with very good and safe abortion care, so I would be able to get help right away, but it's still something to keep in mind. All that being said, I would 100% recommend an IUD. I have been nearly period-free since 2018, which is well worth the pain of insertion. I really appreciate being able to avoid the acne, pain, and mood swings I used to get with my period, and I really really appreciate that I have an incredibly effective form of birth control that I only have to think about once every 8 years. I love my IUD so much, and I am probably going to use IUDs as my primary form of birth control for the rest of my life.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Feb 25

Mirena IUD  

If you are considering the hormonal IUD route, I highly encourage you to read this! I primarily chose to switch over to the Mirena due to the weight gain I experienced while on the pill. To preface, I never had any issues with vaginal dryness prior to the switch. Following the insertion, I have been almost completely unable to get wet. As I stated before, this was never a problem for me regardless of arousal. It has been over a year, and without using an external lubricant, I physically cannot have sex due to the severity of this issue. It can be humiliating if the person i’m getting with isn’t aware of the causation. Just wanted to make it known, because it’s impacted my life pretty significantly.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jan 25

Mirena IUD  

I took this for endometriosis and it dialed my pain and symptoms down from a 9 to a 2-3, for a whole year. Unfortunately after a year I felt the pain begin to creep back in, a little more intense every month after that year mark, so I decided to pursue excision surgery as a more permanent solution. If you’re not ready for surgery but want endo relief, definitely encourage you to give Mirena a try!


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Dec 24

Mirena IUD  

Just got this inserted early November. It's December and Im experiencing a month of bleeding, cramps, irritability, nausea, headaches, dizziness, feeling unwell everyday.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

3 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 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
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 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

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Skyla IUD with other birth control

Compare the Mirena IUD with other birth control

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