Kyleena and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• 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."

• Coc...
• September 7, 2021

For Birth Control "I have seen a ton of 10-star reviews from girls who made the review a week after getting it inserted. Please give it more time until you leave a review because the side effects come in the long term. I had the Kyleena for 2 years, and at first, I convinced myself I loved it, but I was so wrong. The insertion was god-awful and inhumane. After insertion, I had my period for 90 days straight. A few months went by, and I loved the IUD, but then the real side effects started coming. I became extremely irritable, had terrible mood swings, and had suicidal thoughts. I became depressed, had horrible insomnia, had trouble concentrating, and really bad brain fog. I gained a lot of weight despite eating the same amount, and my boobs grew 2 sizes, and when I got the IUD, they deflated, and now look horrible. I got an ovarian cyst, had bacterial vaginosis, uterine spasms, and cramps so bad I would scream. The doctor cut my strings too short, so I had to pay $3000 out of pocket to get it surgically removed."

• MLP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I never write any reviews. I feel like I have to after 2 years of using Kyleena. The side effects are way too much for anyone to handle the pain. In the past, I have had gallstones, 17-hour labor, a 10-pound baby, and never had this much pain in my life. Also, the bleeding was out of control and spotting all month. No sex drive, depressed, an overwhelming sadness like life is not worth living, weight gain, acne, anger, thought I was pregnant, vomiting, breasts hurting, truly unstable. The doctors wanted to put me on antidepressants - no way! I should be happy: new wed, new home, new car. WHY DO I FEEL LIKE THIS??? I decided to remove Kyleena and put in a copper IUD. OMG, now life is great, periods are normal again, having amazing sex, no issues, feeling happy, feeling amazing. Everyone told me it was stress, and in my mind, NOPE... IT WAS MY KYLEENA IUD... no more hormone IUD ever again. Be careful, ladies."

• Ros...
• December 22, 2020

For Birth Control "Before Kyleena, I had four-day-long, heavy periods that came with cramps so painful I couldn't get off the floor and would have to leave school/work. The two different pills I was on over the course of two years also did not work for me (mood swings, cramps, heavy periods). I got Kyleena inserted in June of 2019. The most uncomfortable part for me was all of the measuring before placement (which was never more than a slight pinch), and then it was over too fast for me to react, but I have a pretty high pain tolerance. I drove myself to and from the appointment and then had mild cramps the rest of the day. My previously heavy and four-day-long period was so light on days two and three that I couldn't wear a tampon, and then my period never came again. I went back to my doctor in July of 2019, and the nurse told me it was normal to never get my period. I also lost about 15-20 pounds in the first two months after the insertion. I still have not gotten my period in over a year and rarely ever cramp."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2020

For Birth Control "The insertion didn’t hurt much, just a few cramps that my gyno warned me about in advance. However, my body went into shock afterwards and passed out and wasn’t even able to drive myself home. It’s been 3 months since I started Kyleena, and I have already gained 10 lbs with no change in my diet. I have extreme mood swings and get a very short temper most days when I have always been a very forgiving person. My bloating is constant, and I’m always uncomfortable. I’ve never had a problem with acne before this, but now I constantly break out around my chin. My sex drive is lower than when on the pill, which could be from my self-consciousness because of the weight gain and bloating. I don’t recommend this to anyone, and I’m counting down the days to get this removed."

• Pri...
• March 7, 2021

For Birth Control "PLEASE DO RESEARCH BEFORE GETTING THE KYLEENA IUD :( Getting this thing in is one of my biggest regrets! First off, it hurt SO BAD to get in... After insertion, I bled for almost 60 days straight!!!!! It was medium to light spotting EVERY SINGLE DAY! If that was not enough... I developed an ovarian cyst! Sometimes the pain would be so bad I would just cry... THEN I started going through - and still am going through till I get it removed - major insomnia, mood swings, and even depression. Oh, also not to mention I get constant yeast infections because of the IUD, and it constantly smells like fish (BV). Don’t forget the cystic acne either! Oh, and one more thing... the strings were cut too short, so they went back into my uterus, and now I have to get surgery to get it removed :) So thank you, Kyleena, for giving me depression, mood swings, cystic acne, an ovarian cyst, insomnia, constant bleeding for 60 days, and lost strings that now have to be surgically removed."

• Lei...
• April 6, 2021

For Birth Control "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."

• 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."

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

For Birth Control "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

For Birth Control "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!"

• GGa...
• December 31, 2020

For Birth Control "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
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2021

For Birth Control "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."

• 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."

• win...
• February 5, 2020

For Birth Control "I've had Kyleena for 1.5 years, and I LOVE it. Insertion was uncomfortable, and I definitely cramped for a day or two after; nothing that Advil couldn't handle. For anyone who's had a PAP/period cramps, the pain should be familiar and tolerable. My periods have been shorter and lighter since month one (light/moderate for 3-4 days), and now, more than a year in, I frequently miss periods! As far as side effects, maybe it has affected my mood, but I've had a harder year, so it would be difficult to say either way. I have also experienced some vaginal dryness with intercourse, but this is easily resolved with lube, which I previously used, just more frequently now. My sex drive, which has always been high, is the same. My experience has been positive, and while I know it is not the same for everyone, I wanted to share to help balance off the bad experiences people tend to share; nothing wrong with that. I just think it is nice for women to know that some women can and do have good experiences with IUDs."

• Hon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 10, 2023

For Birth Control "So I have had 3 IUDs in my life-no kids. This was my first time on the Kyleena. Insertion was fine, no issues. I had a period my entire time on the Kyleena. My periods have always been somewhat irregular, and Kyleena sorta regulated them a bit, but the side effects that came along long-term were not worth it in my opinion. Probably after a year or so of having it, my mood swings were insane. Every emotion I felt was intensified. It caused me to become depressed. I would have suicidal thoughts ONLY ON MY PERIOD. My period cramps got really bad, I had multiple UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections. At one point, I had BV and a UTI at once, and the back-to-back antibiotics caused me to get hemorrhoids. My eyelashes started falling out a lot, the vaginal dryness I experienced was horrible. Like I said, I've had 3 IUDs and never experienced these symptoms before. At first, I didn't connect them all to Kyleena, but after doing some research, I figured it out. Please do your research."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2021

For Birth Control "Overall, this has been amazing!! I had so many negative side effects from birth control, such as mood swings, no sex drive at all. I went from being a very sexual person to never wanting to have sex, insomnia, and I would uncontrollably cry before my periods. Since switching to the Kyleena, I have returned to normal and feel like myself again finally! I have had no negative effects besides some random mild cramping...truly just feels like period cramps! The insertion was not horribly painful, and I have a low pain tolerance. It was 3 minutes of pain for 5 years, definitely worth it in my mind! If you're considering switching to a Kyleena IUD, don't let other people's experiences on here discourage you, it works differently for everyone and was the best decision I ever made for me!"

• Je3...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 7, 2020

For Birth Control "I’m not one to do reviews, but Kyleena changed my life so much, for the better! I’ve tried four different contraceptive pills in the past, a mix of combined and POP, and they were all disastrous (heavy bleeding, constant periods, migraine, mood swings), which made me completely against hormonal contraception, and I only used barrier methods for two and a half years. I then read about IUDs and decided to try Kyleena and have had it for a year and a half. My periods have stopped completely, my boobs grew (a bonus for me!), and I no longer have insane hormonal mood swings. I feel completely balanced and normal all the time! It’s a dream to never have periods and to finally feel like a normal human being. I haven’t noticed any changes to my skin or sex drive either, which is amazing. I would recommend it to everyone!"

• 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."

• Bum...
• August 19, 2020

"I had Kyleena inserted in 2017, had it removed this year. Insertion was painful, but I knew it would be going in. First year was great. Painful cramps, but zero period. Did have acne flare-ups, which are unusual for me, but nothing crazy. Over the last 18 months, everything changed. Horrible, awful cramping, terrible bloating to the point where I literally was asked if I was pregnant - I am an extremely active person, currently training for a marathon, and even with training, running upwards of 20 miles a week, I was gaining weight. I developed mood swings - I am not a crier, but I could barely make it through a Hallmark commercial. And, oh god, libido was gone. Had it removed Monday, and already the bloating is completely gone, dropped 4 pounds, and my face is clear as can be. Was Kyleena effective? Yes. Was it convenient? Yes. But for me, not at all worth the plethora of symptoms I experienced. I've transitioned back onto the pill and am much happier for it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2021

For Birth Control "Been on the Kyleena for 1.5 years now, and I absolutely don't want to have it anymore. Insertion was okay, it hurt bad for about a week or so, but was happy I had it as it is low maintenance. Although it caused so many mood swings that were unbearable. Still have my period, and they are irregular. Occasional acne will appear as usual before my period. The thing I can’t deal with the most is the mood change though. If you have a history of depression or anything mood-altering, then don’t try this unless you are prepared to feel depressed for the duration of it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2021

For Birth Control "Been on the Kyleena for 1.5 years now, and I absolutely don't want to have it anymore. Insertion was okay, it hurt bad for about a week or so, but was happy I had it as it is low maintenance. Although it caused so many mood swings that were unbearable. Still have my period, and they are irregular. Occasional acne will appear as usual before my period. The thing I can’t deal with the most is the mood change though. If you have a history of depression or anything mood-altering, then don’t try this unless you are prepared to feel depressed for the duration of it."

• 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."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2021

For Birth Control "The only good thing about Kyleena is that it prevents pregnancy. The insertion is bad, but that was to be expected. A week or two into having the IUD, I did not notice any side effects, but after about a month, I started to have very noticeable side effects. I had the worst cramps of my life (literally to the point where I thought I might have to go to the ER) and also horrible recurring back pains. I told my nurse on-call at my gyno about my symptoms, and she claimed it was normal to experience this following the insertion, so I just stuck it out. Not only did the horrible cramps and back pain never subside, but I also ended up getting the worst acne of my life. Additionally, I think Kyleena has affected my mood: I have many more mood swings and am a lot more depressed. Some of my friends also have Kyleena but have never experienced this, so I guess everyone is different; I just wanted to share the side effects I experienced. I am getting it removed tomorrow... thank god :))"