Kyleena and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Ada...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2019

For Birth Control "My experience with Kyleena has been absolutely AWFUL. I'm 20 years old, and I got my IUD in September of 2017. Sometimes my cramps are so bad that my legs go numb because I'm in so much pain. But the real kicker for me about Kyleena is that about 8 months after insertion, it has caused me to have UNBEARABLE anxiety and depression. I will jolt awake in the middle of the night not being able to breathe. It's caused me to have spiraling thoughts, fear about everything and completely not myself. This has continued to this day, and I still have crippling anxiety and cramps. I've been prescribed anxiety and depression medications to help, and I'm going to therapy and talking to my gynecologist, and I'm not getting any better or getting any help. I will wake up feeling so anxious, and then within an hour, I will start cramping so bad. They always coincide with each other. I am on the verge of getting it out. Has anyone else had this experience with Kyleena?"

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I got the Kyleena inserted in August of 2019 because I wanted to get off of the pill. My insertion process was really smooth and was definitely not as bad as everyone says. After I got Kyleena inserted, I started having severe anxiety which is something I had never experienced before. I was experiencing daily panic attacks, constant anxiety about nothing, and felt as if I was going crazy. I originally thought it was my hormones just leveling out, but it never went away. I had the IUD removed about 9 days ago and feel SO MUCH BETTER and almost back to my old self. Doctors say it isn't a side effect, but it seems to be more and more common. If you are experiencing the same thing, just know you aren't alone!"

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2019

For Birth Control "I got the Kyleena inserted in August of 2019 because I wanted to get off of the pill. My insertion process was really smooth and was definitely not as bad as everyone says. After I got Kyleena inserted, I started having severe anxiety which is something I had never experienced before. I was experiencing daily panic attacks, constant anxiety about nothing, and felt as if I was going crazy. I originally thought it was my hormones just leveling out, but it never went away. I had the IUD removed about 9 days ago and feel SO MUCH BETTER and almost back to my old self. Doctors say it isn't a side effect, but it seems to be more and more common. If you are experiencing the same thing, just know you aren't alone!"

• Mel...
• April 8, 2021

For Birth Control "I had my IUD for 1 year and 9 months. The good part is I did not get my period much, but of course I panic because I always think I’m pregnant lol. Anyways, while using Kyleena... my mood swings were crazy. I was super mean to my husband, I had severe depression and anxiety, and acne. I gained so much weight with it, and IT'S SO HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT WITH KYLEENA. Also, vaginal dryness was awful, I constantly had yeast infections, tears, lost so much hair... and my sex drive decreased. Overall, I did not like it, I got it removed today I just couldn’t handle it anymore."

• Mia...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2020

For Birth Control "Okay, I’ve never written a review, but I wanted to, so I could maybe help someone out. I was on the pill for 3 years before I got my IUD. It honestly just seemed easier to go on the IUD so I didn’t have to take a pill every day. I’ve had my IUD for 8 months, and it is the worst thing. I got such bad acne. It reminds me of when I was in high school. It was extremely painful acne as well. I have also gained SO MUCH weight for literally no reason. I have the exact same diet that I did before. I get such bad cramps now, and I never usually got cramps. I also have extreme back pain that is sometimes unbearable. I get moody and lightheaded all the time. It also amps my anxiety for sure. I’m getting it out in a week, and I’m so excited. I want to go back on the pill."

• bea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 3, 2021

For Birth Control "I had the Kyleena inserted 2.5 years ago, after taking birth control and suffering from hormonal mood swings. Like others have mentioned, I was told by my gyno that since the hormones were released into my uterus, this wouldn't be a worry. The insert wasn't too bad, honestly, but the rest hasn't been great. Best pro -- my period disappeared after about a month of spotting and never came back. That being said, I have always been a confident girl, etc., and I have had panic attacks and extreme anxiety for the first time in my life. Also, non-stop cystic acne along my chin and my forehead. I kept telling myself the non-period and protection was worth it, but after doing more research, I can't handle this anymore. I just regret the years I spent not being myself with this birth control. If you have any history of mood swings or acne with previous birth controls, I would seriously reconsider this investment. I'm having mine taken out in the next few days."

• Csm...
• March 10, 2020

For Birth Control "I have been on dozens of birth controls, pills/rings/patches, you name it. Whether it was depression, anxiety, an increase in aura migraines, or weight gain, I felt like Cinderella but having to search for my own damned glass slipper. Well, I got Kyleena about 1.5 years ago to help combat endo. The first month was unpleasant, but I stuck it out. Flash forward, I don't get a period (score!), hence my cramping has reduced substantially. It hasn't prevented the growth of some cysts, but without depression, anxiety, weight gain, or migraines? I'm a major winner. One downside is a little bit of acne around my jawline/chin occasionally. For 5 years of worry-free birth control? I’ll take it. Will it be the same for you looking for your glass slipper? Who's to say. Honestly, all our bodies are different, and what fits me is not a one-size-fits-all. I never write reviews, but I love this IUD. Do your research, but don’t let bad reviews discourage you. I almost did, and that would have been a big mistake."

• Ger...
• February 27, 2021

For Birth Control "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."

• Lua...
• December 16, 2019

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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."

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

For Birth Control "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!"

• Anonymous
• November 26, 2020

"Get this thing out of me! I was told I would potentially have some spotting following the insertion of Kyleena... well, that spotting ended up lasting 4 months. Since then, it’s a crapshoot as to whether I’ll get my period or not. They’re irregular and impossible to track. I have never been prone to acne, but I now have relentless acne on my chin, and no matter how well I take care of my face, it keeps coming back. Also, I have never experienced any concerns regarding my mental health. Following my IUD insertion, I now find myself horribly irritable, on edge, emotional, anxiety-ridden (unwarranted panic attacks included), the list goes on. Again, these are all highly uncharacteristic of my personality, my nature, and are unrelated to COVID as they appeared prior to 2020. Finally, the last and the absolute worst. I get a persistent morning sickness sensation??? Sometimes it lasts throughout the day (disclaimer: I am not and have not been pregnant). Like painful/uncomfortable waves of nausea. All in all, 0/10."

• Abb...
• December 20, 2019

For Birth Control "The insertion was equivalent to two really big cramps that make you stop what you're doing and hunch over, but it wasn't unbearable. I cramped for the next day, along with the next 3 weeks. I also spotted for 3 weeks, but only needed a panty liner. I've been through 3 periods on this now and they last about 8 days, are fairly heavy, and I now get horrible cramps, as opposed to my 4-day light periods before this. Around the 2-month mark, my acne got awful, and my hormones turned me into a monster, and not just around the time of my period. I'm not an angry person normally, but this made me snappy, irritable, and angry, that would quickly turn into crying. My spotting came back and is now heavy enough to have to wear a tampon. Also, my panic attacks, which have been gone for years, returned. It also increased my anxiety dramatically. My sex drive also took a big hit. Going to continue it for a few more months, but it's not looking great. I hate to say that I wouldn't recommend this to anyone."

• jus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 2, 2022

For Birth Control "Please read. Insertion wasn’t bad, it was uncomfortable but not painful. Then I bled lightly for about 2 months, and once the two months were over, I didn’t have a period for 6-8 months. The first year of having it, I struggled so heavily with depression and anxiety. I felt, more often than not, that I was absolutely crazy. I would have intense mood swings and suicidal thoughts. It never occurred to me at the time that my Kyleena could have triggered it. I am 21 now, and I’m living the life I have always pictured in my head, yet I have major mood swings, and around the time that my period comes, I actually feel mentally insane. My thoughts race, they get very dark, and the moods I get in take a huge toll on my relationship. I am not someone who usually writes reviews, but if I can help some girl decide NOT to do this and save her the mental agony that comes along with Kyleena, then so be it. Currently planning to get it removed."

• Lai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2019

For Birth Control "Had Skyla IUD for 3 years, the insertion was an awful experience, and my strings got sucked up into my uterus, but overall no complaints on the side effects. When it came time to take out my Skyla, my GYN suggested Kyleena because it's 5 years. I got it in July 2019. Inserting it was very painful. I felt fine for the first few months until suddenly I started getting these awful migraines (never has been an issue for me before). They did a head CT, and I guess I have a pituitary microadenoma? I'm not sure if this was caused by the IUD or not, but it's one massive coincidence. Like others have mentioned, the emotional turmoil this IUD sends you through is not worth it. My depression and anxiety are the worst they've been in years. Mood swings are bad. Irregular bleeding and painful/crampy sex at times. I'm scheduling to get it removed, and I've only had this for a few months. Of note, I am very sensitive to medications, but I figured I'd share this."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2021

For Birth Control "I passed out when having it implanted, and it was all downhill from there. My anxiety has steadily been creeping up since having it placed. I'm at about a year now and am seriously considering having it removed, I'm getting to the point where I can go to the store without my heart rate skyrocketing and feeling like I'm going to pass out."

• kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I got Kyleena placed in January. The insertion wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected, for me, it felt like a big menstrual cramp on each side while being placed. I did not bleed afterwards, and I could not tell anything was different. My periods have increasingly become lighter, and I never have any spotting in between periods. While I enjoy Kyleena because I have no physical symptoms, my emotions have been all over the place. I feel like I am moody much of the time, my anxiety is through the roof, and I have lost much of my motivation to be active. I've always been slightly anxious, but it has significantly escalated. I am currently trying to decide if I want to try a medication to ease my anxiety or if I should just get it removed."

• kyl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2024

For Birth Control "So to start the review off. I actually just had mine removed today after almost having it for one year. I have been on every birth control you can think of since I was 16: the pill, the patch, the ring, now this IUD. I will say the IUD did help give me shorter periods and not as painful ones, but the mental side effects were horrible. Made me antisocial, gave me low self-esteem, anxiety and rumination of thoughts, brain fog, my memory became worse and worse, lack of motivation. Ladies, listen to your body. If you notice that you’re having these emotions or thoughts, know that it’s more than likely your IUD and you’re not crazy. Everybody’s experience is different, but when they say it’s localized, it’s not, you will more than likely over time still have the depression and anxiety. I was even on an SSRI prior, and it still didn’t help. Weight gain is pretty common, which is what I got. The moment I removed my IUD, the head tension I had immediately alleviated."

• shi...
• May 21, 2021

For Birth Control "Kyleena insertion was extremely painful for me (I screamed and swore). This BC was convenient in theory, that is, until you get the unpleasant side effects: random panic attacks, anxiety about everything and nothing at the same time, lol. The anxiety became more frequent and intense over time. It also felt like a dark cloud was looming over me, I didn't feel like my happy self. I also had vivid and sometimes frightening dreams. This all greatly interfered with my daily functioning. I finally requested removal after only 2 months because I couldn't tolerate the experience. I was not willing to wait a few more months to see if I felt better-'IF' being the operative word here, lol. Removal was far less painful. I am now 2.5 weeks post-removal, and my anxiety has been dissipating, and I am slowly but surely starting to feel like myself again and at peace. I think the IUD is a convenient method of birth control if it works for you. It just did not work out for me, and I am okay with that."

• Mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 9, 2021

For Birth Control "The insertion experience was painful, but nothing to be scared of. I have had the Kyleena IUD for 3 and a half years now. I have an appointment scheduled to have it removed. Once I hit the three-year mark is when I started to notice all of these side effects. I loved every minute of having this IUD until now. I have horrible mood swings, I feel so on edge with everything, I have never had anxiety until now, and it’s only getting worse, and also my sex drive is just gone. I feel awful for my boyfriend because I am so not myself."

• Bib...
• April 27, 2021

For Birth Control "Insertion hurt so bad I screamed. A month later (horrible cramps almost daily), I woke up in the middle of the night shaking uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop, and I wanted to go to the ER. I was able to sleep through it, but when I woke up in the morning, my heart felt wrong. I felt every single heartbeat, and it felt like my heart was working too hard. Went to urgent care, and they did nothing. A few days later, I got dizzy and felt like I was going to faint, so I went to the ER. They told me nothing was wrong and sent me home. My gyn said that there was NO WAY the IUD was causing my heart palpitations, anxiety, dizziness, chest tightness, and panic attacks for 6 months. My symptoms got under control for 1.5 years, then came back. 3 years 9 months later, I can barely function some days without taking Xanax. Before the IUD, I had mild anxiety (under control), but now it's horrible, and I still get heart palpitations. I was FINE BEFORE GETTING KYLEENA. Removing in a few days. Pros: no period or pregnancy."

• Mom...
• October 20, 2019

For Birth Control "I just wanted to share my experience with Kyleena. I had it placed around the last week of September, and I’ve scheduled an appointment to have it removed Monday 8/21. I wouldn’t say I’ve had this birth control long enough to see any positive results, and I hate to leave only negative, so I will say that placement was only slightly uncomfortable for me. Somehow, I got lucky and was on my period during placement. Now, I’ve developed awful acne and not simple acne. This is boils. All over my back, my neck, and some places on my face. I’ve never been one to have headaches, and now they’re daily. I also have developed dizziness and a “fog” brain. My breasts hurt on and off, my boyfriend said the string was sharp, so I checked myself, and yes! I’ve developed night sweats! And not to mention my anxiety, depression, and anger issues are out of this world. I snap so easily!! Thank goodness I’m having it removed in two days."

• Tor...
• May 16, 2019

For Birth Control "I was absolutely terrified to get Kyleena put in - I was having panic attacks and kept second guessing myself as to whether I should even get this. I knew this was my best option (I didn’t want anything to worsen my anxiety, and I didn’t want to gain weight). Anyway, I finally did it, and the insertion process of Kyleena was NOT BAD AT ALL!!!!! It literally felt like 2 period cramps and that was it. It took (and I kid you not) 2 minutes, and I was done. I’m so, so happy I did this, and I shouldn’t have been so scared to do it in the first place. IT’S REALLY NOT THAT BAD!!! Don’t listen to other people's horror stories!! All the good stories no one bothers to return here to write them, they are just off living their lives, not even thinking of their Kyleena."

• Nov...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 6, 2021

For Birth Control "DO YOUR RESEARCH! I have had Kyleena for 2 years now, and I'm having it removed in a week. I should have known my acne would become worse since I already had troubles with hormonal acne before, and I'm super sensitive to hormones because I've been on the pill before and had to go off because of the weight gain, which then I shed the weight I gained in a month. So with the Kyleena, the weight gain has been worse, I gained 14 lbs since I've been on it, and it's been affecting my overall confidence. Also, I have zero motivation to have sex now, and my anxiety has gotten worse to the point I can't function normally some days. Please do your research before getting this put inside your body!"

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 7, 2020

For Birth Control "Having my IUD inserted was the most painful experience of my life. The cramps the first three weeks after having it put in felt like I was having birth contractions. Like on the floor sobbing. However, once the cramping went away, about six weeks after having it put in, it has been fantastic. I haven’t had a period in over a year, I rarely think about it at all. I used to have a lot of anxiety over other forms of BC, wondering how effective they are, etc. But I never worry now. I am really anxious about getting it replaced in a few years, but overall, it’s been a fantastic experience."