Birth control shot vs Hormonal IUD
Birth control shot ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control shot
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
What Lowdown reviewers say
36% somewhat negative
39% stopped periods
36% lost sex drive
46% gained weight
32% no impact on skin
40% in 3-6 months
42% no impact on mood
47% stopped periods
46% no impact
47% no impact
38% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Birth control shot reviews
28 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
I have been on this form of birth control for 3 months now. I got my first dose on the last day of my cycle. This is my first time ever on birth control. After the first dose my cycle went away. I got my second dose 2 weeks later than what I was supposed to, because my gynecologist rescheduled my appointment (because they’d be closed that day). I started bleeding a medium-light flow 7 days after i was Supposed to get my second dose. I have been bleeding for 28 days straight now. The flow is the lightest it has been so far today, but it’s annoying to deal with. I get my third dose of depo in 2 months, and I’m honestly thinking of quitting it.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th May 25
I’ve been on Depo for 4 years and I’m almost 2 months off of it and I’m actively trying for a baby and my body is definitely all out of wack trying to regulate I’ve spotted for a week I’ve had bad cramps and stomach aches and I still haven’t ovulated yet but hopefully I will soon !!! All I can say is coming off the shot take it easy and get rest because your body is trying to get everything back in order and it’s not entirely fun
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1st May 25
Started the shot as an easy way to get on BC. Didn't have to get another shot for another 3 months; however, it was the worst decision I made. I had spotting and sometimes even heavy bleeding for 18 consecutive days straight. Gained weight as well for the following 3 months.
Worse skin
1 more effect
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
I have been on this form of birth control for 3 months now. I got my first dose on the last day of my cycle. This is my first time ever on birth control. After the first dose my cycle went away. I got my second dose 2 weeks later than what I was supposed to, because my gynecologist rescheduled my appointment (because they’d be closed that day). I started bleeding a medium-light flow 7 days after i was Supposed to get my second dose. I have been bleeding for 28 days straight now. The flow is the lightest it has been so far today, but it’s annoying to deal with. I get my third dose of depo in 2 months, and I’m honestly thinking of quitting it.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th May 25
I’ve been on Depo for 4 years and I’m almost 2 months off of it and I’m actively trying for a baby and my body is definitely all out of wack trying to regulate I’ve spotted for a week I’ve had bad cramps and stomach aches and I still haven’t ovulated yet but hopefully I will soon !!! All I can say is coming off the shot take it easy and get rest because your body is trying to get everything back in order and it’s not entirely fun
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1st May 25
Started the shot as an easy way to get on BC. Didn't have to get another shot for another 3 months; however, it was the worst decision I made. I had spotting and sometimes even heavy bleeding for 18 consecutive days straight. Gained weight as well for the following 3 months.
Worse skin
1 more effect
11 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal IUD reviews
55 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve only been on it for going on 3 weeks now. The first week was cramping and low back pain. Week 2 was nausea and hunger pains. I’m starting week 3 now and I’m working with my hunger, tiredness, and possibly some mood swings. So far I really like it. I don’t feel it, it doesn’t hurt or nothing.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Apr 25
Top side effects not reported
10 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve only been on it for going on 3 weeks now. The first week was cramping and low back pain. Week 2 was nausea and hunger pains. I’m starting week 3 now and I’m working with my hunger, tiredness, and possibly some mood swings. So far I really like it. I don’t feel it, it doesn’t hurt or nothing.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Apr 25
Top side effects not reported
10 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Apr 25
I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label to me after suffering from ridiculously heavy periods in my teens. I used to bleed 200mls+ on some periods and even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been an absolute life-saver and my periods are so much lighter. I will admit I have experienced some side effects - I used to have clear skin 95% of the time, however since the IUD I permanently have 1 or 2 pimples around my jawline which can be quite annoying. My periods are often very long now (7-11 days) despite being light which also gets frustrating. Those are the two main side effects I’ve experienced, but overall it’s been a positive experience.
Worse skin
10 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Apr 25
I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label for my heavy menstrual bleeding. I used to bleed sometimes over 200ml per period, even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been a life saver - my periods are so much lighter. Overall it’s been a positive experience. I won’t pretend it doesn’t have other side effects though. My periods are now way longer than they used to be (7-11 days) although not heavy at all. I also had clear skin 95% of the time prior to the IUD but now I permanently have one or two pimples around my jawline which can be pretty annoying.
Worse skin
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Apr 25
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Apr 25
I’m pretty pleased for the most part. It’s my 2nd IUD, first hormonal one. My periods are pretty much gone and I love that. They were pretty bad before. The downside is that my scalp sweats PROFUSELY with very little physical exertion and my face is super oily. So much so that I have several pimples along and into my hairline. I’m very upset about that. I’m on month 7 and the pimples just started, but the sweating and oil started almost right away.
Worse skin
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Apr 25
Decreased sex drive
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 31st Mar 25
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
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