Kyleena for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 2)

• hin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 1, 2020

"I was on the pill for 2 years and LOVED IT. I never ever missed a pill but decided, why not try the IUD since it’ll be stress-free. The worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life, I seriously almost cried, followed by a whole day of bad cramps. The doctor made it clear that irregular bleeding and spotting is very common up to at least 3-6 months. It’s been 9 months now, and this was my biggest regret. Some months I get spotting and discharge for weeks straight. The past few months I’ve had 2 periods in one month. My MAIN complaint is that if I’m not bleeding, I’m spotting or discharging, I rarely get a break. I was thinking about waiting until the one-year mark since I’ve heard so many rave about the IUD, but... don’t think my patience can take any longer. Having to wear a pantyliner every single day for nearly a year is awful. I miss my pills :("

• Lei...
• April 6, 2021

"PLEASE READ THIS! I was so hopeful to get the Kyleena since I had a bad reaction to birth control pills! I originally wanted the Paragard, but my old doctor talked me into the Kyleena. Soon after it was inserted, I started getting side effects (mood swings, acne, hair loss, depression, insomnia, loss of appetite, but still being constantly bloated, etc.). I found a new doctor who is double board certified and extremely knowledgeable, and she explained that synthetic hormones (specifically BC pills) compromise the gut microbiome, which is responsible for almost our entire body’s function. As doctors say, “the gut is the second brain.” Unfortunately, medical findings take 10 years to hit medical school, so that is why only doctors who are constantly researching know modern info. The vagina actually has its own microbiome too! Since the synthetic hormones leak into the gut and bloodstream, this is why I had so many side effects."

• T G...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2020

"Had my Kyleena inserted a year and 2 months ago. Was it painful to insert? Honestly, yes. I had bad cramps for 48 hours after, but my doctor was great and filled a very small T3 prescription for me, which was great! I had on-and-off spotting for the first 3 months and then no period for 10 months. I just had my period and no cramps at all. I got Kyleena because I used to have 9-day, heavy bleeding periods, so this has been amazing for me. 10/10 worth the pain during the insertion and adjustment period. I did have 2 months of pretty bad hormonal acne around my jaw, which was new for me, but I was also having a rough time then (lol thanks COVID). Overall, I highly recommend it and have had zero pregnancy scares even though my partner and I have unprotected sex every time."

• nax...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2020

"Day 1 of Kyleena, had it inserted yesterday. Just wanted to share my insertion experience since some of these reviews are terrifying. I'm not going to sugarcoat it - insertion was not fun. I experienced a minor cramp when they stabilized my cervix and three major cramps when they measured my uterus, pushed in the inserter, and released the IUD. To me, the pain felt very similar to menstrual cramps, but deeper and more internal. I did end up having a vasovagal response and passed out, but took time to restabilize and was able to walk out 15 minutes after insertion. I have never had children and took 800 mg of ibuprofen beforehand. So insertion was not a fun time. I'm not going to sugarcoat or avoid that. It hurts. However, was it the worst pain I've ever felt in my life? No. Did it feel like my body was being sawed in half? No. If you're on the fence about it, I recommend trying it. It's not an absolute horror show for everybody. You can do it! I believe in you!"

• Ste...
• August 25, 2020

"I’ve had constant side effects since I first went on it. The first 6 months I was going to tough it out as doctors told me it would go away, but it did not. I had insane cramping (like contractions) on the daily or at random, causing me to constantly need to bring Advil everywhere I go. I had extreme fatigue (naturally I’m very energetic), I had a hard time working out as I would get really sore quick/not have the energy. I would get dizzy spells, headaches/migraines, sweats as well, plus insane PMS that was uncontrollable and hard to predict. What was the most striking was how much weight I gained that I couldn’t lose when I was on a strict diet + working out daily, which was extremely discouraging. This has been reoccurring for the time I’ve been on it. Also, I had uncomfortable intercourse, I would either bleed or get cramping after. I’ve been on the pill, and this experience was 50 times worse. You just don't know who is going to suit the IUD, 3/4 of my friends who have it had a horrible experience."

• pre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2020

"I had my Kyleena inserted in June 2019 (previously on oral birth control), and it did NOT feel good. The insertion was quite painful, definitely worse than any period cramps I've ever had, but I only had cramps for the rest of the afternoon and evening that day and have felt nothing since! My periods stopped completely (so far), and I'm not pregnant, so those are perks! My acne has flared terribly, though. I'm 28 and experiencing hormonal acne around my jaw area that I can't get rid of. I'm also pretty sure that I am having a hard time losing weight because of the IUD. I have been working out at least 5 days a week (training for a half-marathon) and eating very clean/healthy for two months consistently and have not managed to lose any weight. I'm now down a wormhole reading these forums and debating getting it removed!"

• Ala...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2020

"3rd check-in - 3.5 years with Kyleena! Yes, there have been side effects - specifically hormonal acne and some intense cramping once every 2-3 months, but I honestly am very happy with my decision. I will keep the Kyleena in until the 5-year mark. Everyone is different, but after bad aura migraines on the pill, awful systemic effects with the Nexplanon matchstick arm implant, I am relieved I found something that worked. Something to know: my OBGYN said today that spotting may become a little irregular as you round out your last year of the IUD. I can attest to this. Had virtually no bleeding of any type the first 2-3 years with this, now I spot every month or so. Still nothing bad. Hope this helps!"

• Ger...
• February 27, 2021

"I had the Kyleena for 2 years, this is my experience. I am a fit, healthy 25-year-old woman with a background in healthcare and no existing medical conditions or symptoms before Kyleena. The procedure for insertion I found to be okay. After, I had unbearable cramping for about 3 months and irregular bleeding. For the past 2 years, I have experienced increasing anxiety and depression. Uterine pain during sports such as rock climbing, skiing, kayaking, running, etc., that didn’t used to be painful. Additionally, I experienced decreased libido, pain during sex, recurrent yeast infections, vaginal dryness, nausea, headaches, back pain, insomnia, and my period stopped altogether. Two months ago, I got the Kyleena removed, I am aware of the placebo effect, etc. The removal was painless. The first 3 days after removal, I experienced extreme mood swings and heavy bleeding. But ever since then, I am happy to say I have had none of these side effects anymore and feel like myself."

• Bro...
• September 16, 2020

"It was the most pain I have ever felt when I got it put in. I just laid on the table after the insertion because I wasn't sure if I was going to pass out or not. I bled for 4 months straight after getting it put in. I feel like I woke up one day and gained 20 lbs. I am an active person and stay on a healthy diet, but it didn't matter because I still gained weight. I just feel bloated ALL THE TIME. I also got put on prescription acne medicine because I break out around my mouth constantly. My periods are super irregular. Sometimes I don't have a period for a couple of months and then I have a period twice a month. I will say that my periods are significantly lighter! The cramping is one of the main reasons I am going to get it taken out because they are AWFUL. I know that the IUD works for some people, it just did not work for me. The only good thing about it is not having to worry about getting pregnant, but I don't think it is worth it."

• ty4...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 31, 2020

"I had the Kyleena IUD inserted nearly 7 months ago. The insertion process was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I nearly passed out and threw up. Thankfully, it has done the bare minimum of preventing pregnancy (thus far). Other than that, the only other pro is not having to remember to take the pill daily and the added stress that comes along with that. As for the pain... I don't know where to start. Absolutely unbearable. I double over in pain for the first few days of my period every month. Oftentimes it is so painful that I get nauseous and lightheaded. I have seen a decrease in my flow, but I would say double or triple the amount of pain (cramps) I had prior to the IUD. I don't typically have super acne-prone skin. I haven't seen an increase or decrease in this. My boobs have shrunk from a D to a B cup and I have lost about 20 lbs. I get constant yeast infections... haven't seen much written about this. Does anyone else know anything about this? Overall, do not recommend."

• Lua...
• December 16, 2019

"I've had this fitted 11 days ago. Nobody tells you this, but we're not lab rats. Without a proper hormonal screening, this should not be inserted. It's absolutely bad having it fixed. Side effects: painful acne all over my neck, back, and face. Thrush that won't go away. Cramps. I haven't even had the courage to have sex, my drive went from horny rabbit to absolutely gone. I feel like I'm losing my mind - crying 5 times a day at least. Migraines, headaches, anxiety over the roof. Not being able to be myself though, having terrible mood swings and feeling depressed to the point where I isolate myself from everyone and feel like I'm a stupid experiment due to this product. I'm having it removed and will probably use non-hormonal contraception. This has been the worst thing I've done to myself in 30 years."

• AKa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2021

"I highly recommend not getting this IUD, as I have had an incredibly horrible experience. I took 2 Advil prior to the insertion, and the pain was bearable. I bled for about a month straight after, which is what I expected. Exactly one month after getting my IUD was when everything went downhill. One month in, I developed severe anxiety and depression. I couldn’t go a day without having an anxiety or panic attack. It got so bad to the point that I couldn’t drive my car or go out to eat. Not only was I struggling with anxiety, but I didn’t feel myself. I had horrible brain fog and felt mentally off. I am convinced that my IUD caused this. I got it removed about 2 months ago after having it in for only 4 months. I am finally starting to feel more and more like myself. Please, please do your research before getting this put in your body."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 1, 2020

"It’s been 11 months. Two nights ago, I couldn’t move for an hour, my fiancée holding me, because of the severe pain in my uterus. Utter torture. I had ridden my bike for an hour that day and was paying the price. I could never have imagined this pain I have put up with for the past year. I put up with it, thinking the “symptoms” would go away. For 5 months, I had excruciating attacks in my uterus, multiple times a day—doubled over and paralyzed, many times in public. I’ve been depressed and unmotivated. My skin had developed cystic acne. My sex drive has gone down. But most of all... the pain. The debilitating pain. No woman should have to go through this. It’s been long enough, and I plan to free myself as soon as I can. Freedom is calling. And Kyleena, you're gone."

• aba...
• March 7, 2020

"Today is day 3 after IUD insertion. So far - LOVING IT. Day of insertion: did not take any pain medication before the appointment, had a light meal and lots of water. The appointment was fast and smooth, and the worst of the pain was about an 8/10. But it only lasted for about 10 seconds. Afterward, I had a little bit of spotting, nothing a panty liner couldn’t handle. About 2 hours later, I had a bit heavier spotting, but still, the panty liner did the trick. At that 2 hours post-procedure mark, I had a bit of cramping. It was like my regular period cramps that ceased with a naproxen. Day 2: no cramping whatsoever, a little bit of light brown spotting. Loving it. Day 3: no cramping or spotting at all! So glad I made the decision to get the Kyleena - and very glad I didn’t let all the scary reviews stop me from testing it out. To the people with Kyleena that have had good experiences - SHARE YOUR STORY."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2020

"I have had Kyleena for 6 months now. At first, I thought it was great aside from the terrible pain at insertion. The pain was breathtaking, and I thought I might faint. The severe pain lasted a few minutes, with minor cramping for days after. I decided to get Kyleena due to heavy periods and terrible cramps. My iron levels stayed low, and I would feel very faint at times. Kyleena has really helped the pain and bleeding. My periods are very light, with mild cramps. I plan to have Kyleena removed due to mood swings, weight gain, and vaginal infections, which I've never had before. I feel depressed and angry most days, which is not normal for me at all. The Kyleena IUD might be great for some women, but it's just not working out for me. I hope this helps someone."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2021

"This IUD changed my life. I've had it for about 5 months already, and it has completely changed my life. I was on birth control pills for a year and a half due to painful periods and wanted a safe method of birth control to have sex with my long-term boyfriend. The main reason I chose the IUD is because I have very intense mood swings and what feels like terrible depression. My mental health was terrible. The insertion pain was about an 8 out of 10 but lasted only one minute. Not even two months after getting it inserted, my mental health improved drastically and made me very happy, into the person I am today. I am so happy with the Kyleena IUD, and I am very, very happy with it. If you're hesitating about getting the IUD because of the pain, it's SO INCREDIBLY WORTH IT. I get bad period cramps for one day during my period and then no more pain for the rest of my period. It DOES WONDERS for mental health!"

• RNP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2020

"I got Kyleena 2.5 weeks ago to help with period pain. I don't do well on the pill/ring due to the estrogen. This being progesterone only appealed to me. The insertion was extremely painful (I yelled in the office 2x, but the intense pain was 15 seconds or less and bearable). I had significant cramping for the rest of the day, some of which doubled me over with severity. I took 3 Tylenol prior to the appointment, another 2 that evening. I was still able to complete a 4-hour drive the day of. The second day was rocky, but by the 7-day mark, I was feeling much better. I've had sex a few times without incident or pain, am not having any more cramping. Still have light spotting but am not bothered by it. Love that pregnancy is NOT A WORRY, and I'm hopeful it will stop my period pain and allow me more productive days every month. So far, I love it! Just wanted to share a POSITIVE experience for those afraid!"

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 10, 2020

"Ruined my body. I've had Kyleena for a little over 2 years now, and I am so traumatized from the horrific pain of it being inserted that I'm too afraid to remove it despite it destroying my body: ovarian cysts every month, horrible untreatable cystic hormonal acne, abdominal pain so bad that I double over in public constantly. This was the worst thing I did to my body. I feel so trapped."

• Med...
• November 18, 2019

"In med school, I learned IUDs were so great-reliable, easy, can't be felt once it's in, covered by insurance, and 'locally acting.' I switched roles and got to be the patient. It has been the worst medical experience of my life. In just 10 days of having Kyleena, I was in the deepest depression of my life with extreme tearfulness that was interrupting work. I have lost at least 25% of my hair. I have gained 10 pounds, bled every day, have extreme cramping, bloating, back pain, and breast pain. This device needs to be recalled and taken off the market. It is obviously not locally acting to have all these side effects. After 7 days, I told my doctor the symptoms. She recommended I start anti-depressants, which is bad practice to mask all the symptoms with more drugs with their own side effects. I would also need pain meds, muscle relaxers, diuretics (for bloating), hair growth medication, acne medication. My advice to every patient is not to get this implanted!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 9, 2020

"Had Kyleena inserted a year ago, and it was incredibly painful. Even a week after, still got cramps as bad as when it was first inserted. The cramps were horrible. No pain medication or heating pad could help. I was moody, getting acne, constant cramps, discharge, and spotting. I had it removed yesterday, and as soon as it was removed, I instantly felt better. My boyfriend even said I instantly seemed like my regular self prior to getting the coil. I can't take the pill because it reacts badly with my epilepsy medication, so thought this was a better choice, but honestly, it was not worth it at all!"

• GGa...
• December 31, 2020

"Had the IUD inserted in March 2018. It wasn’t terribly painful. Even though my cervix had a crazy pinching sensation, I didn’t experience the wooziness or the fainting, which is ironic because I have POTS disease. I had level 8 cramps for a few weeks and was spotting and having irregular heavy flows on and off for the first 6 months. I sort of stopped spotting, but my irregular periods just lasted longer (2-3 weeks) and went 2-3 weeks waiting for my next irregular period. I gained weight, had hair loss, got acne on my face, scalp, neck, shoulders, back, chest, and randomly on my stomach. Went to a dermatologist, cycled through many products, stopped using scented anything and oil-based products. Nothing helps. My libido slowly decreased to zero. Mood swings. I am unmotivated to do anything; sports, exercise, cook (yet increased appetite), etc. I can no longer say this is worth it. I’m hoping my body can get some relief from all these side effects once I do."

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2020

"Worst IUD out there. My period symptoms skyrocketed, I had 6 UTIs and a BV infection the first 4 months I had it. Ever since, I have had no idea when I am going to get my period. Once, I didn't get it for 4 months, and then bam, out of nowhere, I got two period cycles back to back. WORST thing in the world. Do not recommend."

• Ano...
• June 24, 2019

"I am only sharing my experience on insertion! I just got my IUD placed today, and I made the mistake of reading all the reviews on here beforehand. I was terrified. I actually was crying before the procedure even started. My gyno began talking to me about my weekend, and I felt a quick, sharp pinch and boom, done. It seriously was no big deal whatso­ever. It felt like a slightly more uncomfortable Pap smear! I just want to leave this here because I truthfully feel like reviews are only written by those who had a miserable experience, but mine was so smooth I wish I never researched a single thing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2021

"Horrible, horrible, horrible experience! Worse was only Mirena! I’ve been on it for over a year…still everyday spotting, still awful cramps…mood swings, acne (which I have never had before). Protects - yes, for pregnancy it is 100% - no issues with that, but be prepared for the nightmare of its side effects."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2019

"Getting the Kyleena was the worst decision of my life. I thought it would be great because my friend got it and it's been amazing for her. Not the case for me. About 3 months after having it inserted, I have gone completely off the rails with anxiety. I've NEVER had anxiety this bad before, where I can hardly function. I'm crying all of the time for no reason, I feel totally crazy, and having constant panic attacks. My stomach is always in knots and my heart is always racing. My doctor had to put me on an anti-anxiety med that hardly works just to get me to function. I've had it removed for a week now and I'm still having anxiety. For the entire three months I had it in, I never stopped bleeding and when I had sex, I felt an uncomfortable pressure. If this is happening to you, get it removed right away!"