Every from of hormonal birth control causes me to gain weight so I am terrified of weight gain on Skyla (professional dancer - so even a 5lbs gain can cause the director to call me in).
But I've heard of circumstances where people actually experienced weight loss with it or decrease in appetite?
Skyla - Did you experience weight gain or weight loss?
Question posted by TBHYA on 25 June 2016
Last updated on 1 February 2021 by fzulme
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
10 Answers
fzulme
1 Feb 2021
I have had skyla inserted on April 4 2019 I was 115lbs and health, run 5 miles a day and go to the gym everyday. I am now 150 lbs with no changes to my activities or diet, I hike and I am very active and I go to the gym and I keep gaining weight instead of losing. Before I had the implant and gain a lot of weight as well and my blood pressure went up, after I took that out I lost all the weight didn't do anything different. Now its all back on since the IUD I am having that removed because now I am over weight when I have never struggled with weight in my life even when I had children. Why am I gaining and not losing with even exercise.
Tiaranichole
10 Feb 2020
I was on the Depo shot and gained a 100 pounds in 9 months in 2010. I got off it it and still could never loose weight and tried other birth control pills. I got pregnant in 2017 after I had my daughter the weight was just falling off. So I got the skyla put in after I had my daughter. I was told it would make me gain any weight well within the first couple of months I went from 200 to 265 tried contacting my doctor and they told me the same thing I have never heard of it making you gain weight so it can’t be that. I’m here to tell you it makes you gain weight. I work out constantly and can not get down below 265 but I also don’t gain above that either. Has any one tried getting it taken out early? I have had it in for two years this month?
JCava
20 March 2019
I had a heavy period and major cramps, bad skin, I had never taken any birth control prior and I decided to get the Skyla, due to the small dose of hormones and the ability to almost eliminate my period. I get ocular migraines so large to medium doses of hormones can trigger these, so Skyla was my real only option.
The Skyla is for three years at a time. I had my first one for the full 3 years. I had awful cramps, strange random periods but I stuck it out. I was at a low weight when I got it put in and noticed weight gain but didn't really think too much about it from what I can remember. I moved to another state and had to switch out the Skyla as my three years were up and got it replaced with the same thing. (Also, if people say the removal and insert is not painful, they must have the pain tolerance of a god, I almost passed out).
After the second Skyla, this is when I progressively noticed a weight gain and having a bloated stomach, I was eating healthy always working out/running. I just thought it was due to sitting at a desk all day and getting older. I even went to a nutritionist which helped for a small time but fully gained back the 8 lbs I lost and couldn't get it back off. I was always puffy and felt like I was carrying around a lot of water weight. I was constantly hungry. I also noticed that I was having major mood swings around my period, I was so angry at small things and couldn't get over them. Crying at the smallest thing, like just a video of someone's dog. That was another reason I really wanted it out the anger was really something I needed to eliminate.
Finally, I was so sick of watching what I ate with no real lasting results and my mood swings that I started looking at getting my Skyla removed, reading up on it etc. I was coming to the end of my second three years anyway.
I found this blog and was in shock, this entire time I was bloated and steadily gaining weight could be a result of the IUD.
I got it out last Thursday. Immediately I noticed a change in my mood, happier, not snipping at people, mentally more relaxed. I am down three lbs from when I was weighed at the doctor. I am hoping the weight starts falling off like others have mentioned. I have been so, so much less hungry. No cravings at all.
My body is experiencing the "crash" that can happen, I immediately got a ocular migraine the next night and have had migraines since. I was extremely fatigued for three days and achy. I am hoping by next week this will go away as well. My body had never had any sort of steady birth control so I am hoping this is just the hormones working their way out of my system and readjusting. There wasn't major bleeding after the removal. I thought I was starting my period the other night but only lasted a day. My stomach is no longer protruding and bloated, my mood has changed and I literally feel lighter.
After this long post, which I wanted to do since I haven't read anyone who has had it put in twice. Hopefully it is helpful for someone. I don't think I will ever go back to any sort of birth control, the major effects it had on my body are not worth it.
alexandrabruce88
20 Jan 2019
Heavy weight gain as well as cramps so bad I thought my appendix was inflamed or I had burst an ovarian cyst. I didn’t experience any increase in appetite (I take vyvanse for my ADHD which is an appetite suppressant actually). HOWEVER, every body is different and reacts differently. For me, any form of hormonal birth control has come with serious weight gain on my 5’1” frame, but my roommate actually felt that her IUD helped her with her intense cramping. If you tend to gain weight with other types of hormonal birth control then even skyla is maybe not the best choice. Possibly consider the copper iud Paraguard.
coastieclaire
12 Oct 2018
I just got mine removed yesterday!!! I had instant relief! I got it put in a year and 2 months ago after my daughter's 2nd bday. I workout and eat super clean and healthy. No matter how strict I was with my diet and exercise, I could not drop the last 10lbs I was working towards. I too would have massive fluctuations of 5-6lbs daily! I also had a tremendous amount of problems while on it, 4 bacterial infections, 6 yeast infections, and 2 UTIs (which I have never had in my life). I have been on more antibiotics in my entire life than I have been in the past year, and I'll be 37 in a week! Like I said, it's only been 1 day since removal so I can't really comment on any weight loss yet, but if I do notice a considerable difference, I will definitely update! We women gotta stick together ;)
pennywenny
2 Oct 2018
Sadly, I gained 10 pounds over the last two years. I work out and I play soccer regularly. I'm 30, btw. Getting it removed next week. I had it placed in me to reduce menstrual pain and bleeding due to fibroids. It helped with the heavy bleeding. But I still experience excruciating pain every month. We'll see how my body adjusts once it's taken out.
crazygirl66
7 July 2018
Any hormonal iud progesterone only. My doc has recommended it for me, first I’d try a progesterone only pill (mini pill), but this too is known for weight gain. I have depression already & have tried many combination birth control pills which made my depression worse. And I need a regular period! The combination pills I didn’t notice much weight gain, but with any hormones it is very common. Once the hormones are out of your body you’re losing water weight, you do not lose a few pounds of fat in a few days. My doc has had it for years & she is tiny... she’s one of the lucky ones, I’ve only heard of bad things about the iud unfortunately.
Kay40
7 July 2018
Wow, I’m a little nervous because I just got the Skyla inserted a few days ago , browsing and just seeing what I should watch out for. I weigh 136-141 as well, I will be running for a collegiate team knowing I’ll be super in shape. I’ve always had trouble losing weight. As of now I’ve had cramps and bloating since I got it inserted. I’m only one it because me and my partner don’t want kids right now.
ElGee
15 April 2017
I experienced stubborn weight gain that was very difficult to lose despite my persistent efforts to eat a low calorie, low carb, high protein diet and exercise 5 days a week for 1-2 hours. I am a nulligravida who weighed 130lbs prior to the insertion of Skyla. I got the Skyla inserted in November 2016. The side effects I experienced were gradual weight gain, constipation, constant fatigue despite sleeping 7-8 hours, and the sensation of feeling bloated all the time. My appetite was decreased post Skyla insertion and yet, I gained weight up to 139 lbs. I weighed myself everyday and I would fluctuate between 137 - 141 lbs, but no matter how much I limited my diet and increased my exercise, I could never get below 137lbs. This caused my pants to feel tighter and I just felt very uncomfortable in my clothes. Subsequently, my mood was affected and I felt down.
Yesterday (4/14/2017) I decided to have the IUD removed. I felt liberated once the small device was no longer inside me. I didn't expect a drastic weight change, but when I weighed myself the next day after a good workout, I was down to 136lbs. I also had multiple bowel movements and felt less bloated. My diet and exercise has remained the same. I was quite astonished by the fact that I lost 4lbs in one day.
I am a 3rd year medical student and during my ob-gyn rotation, one of my attendings informed me that IUD does not cause signficant weight change and any weight gain would probably be attributed to lifestyle factors. I was also taught that only a small percentage (up to 5%) of women experience weight changes. I can't speak for others, but from my experience, an average increase of 9lbs is pretty significant to me and my body was not having it with the Skyla. I thought about keeping it in for a couple more months for my body to "adjust" to Skyla, but 5.5 months was enough for me to make the decision to have it removed.
To other women out there who may be experiencing similar side effects and are not sure what to do, I suggest listening to your body and thinking about the pros and cons of keeping it, removing it and switching to another non-hormonal IUD or other methods of contraception.
abbeyeb
8 Oct 2017
I’ve had the same issues & weigh the same as you. I had Skyla inserted after my son was born. So it’s been in a little over a year. Waited about 3 1/2 months after he was born to get it put in & had already gotten back down to my pre-pregnancy weight of 128. Since having it in I’ve steadly gainined until I’ve reached 140. Also have the constipation more than I ever have & bloating with occasional nausea. I work out 5-6 days a week, eat a healthy low carb diet & chase after 2 young children.
My question is what did you change to as far as birth control after you had Skyla removed? I’m having mine removed on Monday & have considered the nuva ring & regular birth control pills but do not want the weight, constipation & bloating!!
Zou
10 June 2018
I feel compelled to comment because I had the exact same experience. I was on Skyla for 2.5 years, and finally last Wednesday I threw in the towel. I work out 5 days a week, eat fairly healthy, and no matter what I did I kept gaining weight!!! I went to my gyno with my concerns, and she tried to convince me it was because I’m getting older, not because of the IUD. I was almost convinced. But the fact that The bloating and cramping never fully went away really stuck with me. So I decided to take a chance and get it removed, thinking that I could always get a new one in if I didn’t see a change. Today is Saturday, so it’s been 3 days since I’ve gotten the IUD removed. And guess what — I weighed myself this morning and I’ve lost FIVE POUNDS!! I can’t explain the relief I feel, knowing this wasn’t all in my head or that my body simply stopped responding to exercise. I’ll never get an IUD again, that’s for sure!
Smoceri1189
31 Aug 2018
Hi i have the skyla iud it will be two years in october i have never been this heavy in my life, i just keep gaining! i asked my ob/gyn and my primary dr and both said oh no its not from the iud. i want it removed to see what happens ... i feel its weird that i dont have a period, not complaining but seems odd to me ..
Mfm12345
7 Aug 2016
I'm in the same spot as you also a professional dancer and extremely worried about my weight. I was on depo for a year and have gained 10 in a month and 20 over the whole year. Just switched to Skyla, it's been two weeks. So far no weight loss at all:( but I do have decreased appitite...
Related topics
weight loss (obesity/overweight), birth control, contraception, weight, skyla
Further information
- Skyla uses and safety info
- Skyla prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Skyla (detailed)
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