Birth control implant vs Hormonal IUD
Birth control implant ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control implant
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
What Lowdown reviewers say
27% no impact on mood
52% spotting
37% lost sex drive
46% gained weight
31% worse skin
46% in 1 month
41% no impact on mood
44% stopped periods
42% no impact
50% no impact
41% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Birth control implant reviews
85 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I love it, as far as preventing me from conceiving its doing its job, but I think it depleted my sex drive a lot... Like A LOT. Anybody else having any similar issues? It's so bad my fiance has taken notice. Any advice on what to do? Im super scared of getting pregnant again and don't want to take it out... (He would prefer it out)
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I was very irritable, aloof, and generally unhappy on this birth control. It also worsened my menstrual cramps.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
5 starts for preventing pregnancy but the vaginal dryness and libido loss was my breaking point .
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I love it, as far as preventing me from conceiving its doing its job, but I think it depleted my sex drive a lot... Like A LOT. Anybody else having any similar issues? It's so bad my fiance has taken notice. Any advice on what to do? Im super scared of getting pregnant again and don't want to take it out... (He would prefer it out)
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I was very irritable, aloof, and generally unhappy on this birth control. It also worsened my menstrual cramps.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
5 starts for preventing pregnancy but the vaginal dryness and libido loss was my breaking point .
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal IUD reviews
84 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• today
I’m still giving it time since it’s only been a month, but my periods are like clockwork. I’m fine through the night, then between 8am-12pm I get bad lower back pain and heavy cramping and blood clotting/bleeding through clothes sometimes. Then the rest of the day is light periods and like no cramps.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
im on month 2 of iud and I js hate the consistent spotting I want to have sex without getting stuff dirty likeeee
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Aug 26
Wish doctors were honest about how Kyleena (and hormonal IUDs in general) cause acne breakouts in women. I asked doctors and they repeatedly assured me that since hormonal IUDs use a localized progestin, the hormone doesn't enter into the bloodstream and cause acne. But this is not true. I had never struggled with acne prior to my Kyleena insertion. I've now had my IUD for over 3 years, and ever since I have persistent hormonal acne on my chin. It's still a good birth control product, but please keep in mind that acne is a common side effect of the hormonal IUD, affecting between 14-30% of people who have one.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• today
I’m still giving it time since it’s only been a month, but my periods are like clockwork. I’m fine through the night, then between 8am-12pm I get bad lower back pain and heavy cramping and blood clotting/bleeding through clothes sometimes. Then the rest of the day is light periods and like no cramps.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
im on month 2 of iud and I js hate the consistent spotting I want to have sex without getting stuff dirty likeeee
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Aug 26
Wish doctors were honest about how Kyleena (and hormonal IUDs in general) cause acne breakouts in women. I asked doctors and they repeatedly assured me that since hormonal IUDs use a localized progestin, the hormone doesn't enter into the bloodstream and cause acne. But this is not true. I had never struggled with acne prior to my Kyleena insertion. I've now had my IUD for over 3 years, and ever since I have persistent hormonal acne on my chin. It's still a good birth control product, but please keep in mind that acne is a common side effect of the hormonal IUD, affecting between 14-30% of people who have one.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Aug 26
initial "spotting" turned out to be almost 10 days of light to medium bleeding but cramps and bleeding have become much lighter compared to my regular cycle
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th Jul 26
Increased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 11th Jun 26
’m young (under 30) and yet desire is not there like it used to. I walk around with constant painful acne on my face no matter how many times I wash my face. I had it removed years ago and everything went back to normal. Then I got it again 3 years ago (still have it) and instantly remembered exactly why I got it removed in the first place.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Apr 26
I've tried all the pills out there for BC, but my last resort was the hormonal IUD to stop me hemorrhaging every month. For the last 9 months, I've had 4 UTIs and constant pelvic pain. I've seen a urologist twice, and the hypothesis is that the IUD is drying out not only my skin but my vaginal tissues as well. I wish I could get it out to remove myself this constant UTI type pain, but I haven't bled a lot in the last couple of months. It's a very bad negative for a semi positive.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Apr 26
The insertion did cause me a great deal of pain, and the following days after I was cramping constantly. I am on my 2nd month of Kyleena and I do still experience some cramping in my day to day. It has made my period lighter but I have been bleeding for 22days.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 27th Mar 26
No major changes but i started to have ovarian hemorrhagic cyst 3 times in the last 3 years. Got scared and now i am focusing on family planning technique, specifically measuring Basal Body Temperature (BBT). So super excited with this. Also using this amazing app called Cosia where I am not only tracking but also getting practical lifestyle tips to make my hormonal balance settle.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th Mar 26
Absolutely loved my Mirena IUDs (I've had 3) compared to the other forms of birth control I've used. I did develop irritable bowel and didn't realize it was because of the IUD until I removed it and it went away (my doctor's also never suspected the IUD so I spent a lot of money and time with specialists only to find out it's a listed side effect in the insert). I've also had a steep decrease in migraines since removing my IUD, but besides the migraines and IBS, it was great!
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Popular birth control
Combination pillImplantShotThe legal stuff
Terms of usePrivacy & cookieContent policy©The Lowdown 2026
