Kyleena and Pain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2019

For Birth Control "I've only had the Kyleena for two weeks, and let me tell you, I'm LOVING IT. I had switched from the copper IUD to the Kyleena, and it's been improvements all around. With the copper IUD, my cramps were awful, right down into my thighs (you've read right!), and my flow was very heavy. I was even prescribed codeine for the pain. Now that I have the Kyleena, my flow is light, and there's barely any pain at all. I haven't experienced any other side effects. So far, so good!"

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2023

For Birth Control "I was so nervous when I went in to get my IUD after reading all the horror stories about how awful the pain is. Let me start by saying I am 25, have had 2 kids, I was 10 weeks postpartum at the time of insertion, and I have a retroverted uterus. I hardly felt anything getting my IUD inserted, and no pain whatsoever! My OB didn’t numb me or anything, but I did take 800 mg of ibuprofen 1 hour beforehand. I have a history of hormonal acne, but haven’t had any since getting pregnant with my 10-week-old, so fingers crossed it doesn’t come back! I also have irregular periods, so I’m hoping the Kyleena either regulates them or stops them altogether. I’ll update in a few months!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 22, 2021

For Birth Control "Infections, anxiety, acne, and pain in my extremities. Hair loss that has caused awful breakage. Super disappointing, especially since coming off the pill felt amazing. It was great at first, but I’m coming up on a year and thinking about getting it removed this week."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 29, 2021

For Birth Control "Insertion of Kyleena was the worst pain in my life. Unfortunately, I didn’t do my research before getting this IUD because it was an impulsive decision (I know I’m stupid). Then about a week in, was when horrendous acne started, and during the 2.5 months that I had it in, I had 2 yeast infections! I learned later on from my doctor that the yeast was able to accumulate because it thrives in wet environments (I was spotting for about 1.5 months while on the IUD). I don’t recommend this IUD. But then again, don’t knock it till you try it because everyone’s body is different."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 12, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve had Kyleena for about 1.5 years now, and I’m happy I got it. I’m someone who was constantly worried about missing my period but didn’t want to take oral contraceptives. I will say that the first 5 months after insertion, I spotted heavily. It was very inconvenient. I will say now that I no longer experience spotting, but my period is still irregular. For insertion, I would recommend (if your gyno doesn’t) asking for a medication to soften your cervix beforehand. I took it too late, and the insertion was one of the worst pains I’ve ever had. It’s also because I’ve never given birth. Overall, Kyleena serves its main purpose as birth control, and I would recommend it to others."

• bel...
• May 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I got my Kyleena IUD inserted in the very beginning of March. It was painful, but nothing excruciating! The next day, I woke up bloated as ever. I couldn’t even button my jeans without squeezing my stomach. I bled every day, some days heavier than others. Like getting my period every day. At least twice a week, I wake up to severe cramping (still, after almost 3 months). Actually, it’s 4 a.m. right now, and I can’t sleep because of cramps. The bleeding has definitely gotten lighter, I wear a tampon or a panty liner every day because I never know. My poor vagina is never free! Even when I don't bleed, I still get severe cramping. I’ve been able to have sex with my boyfriend a few times since insertion when the bleeding seems to be at bay, but working up a sex drive is a pain. I read good stories about this IUD and have coworkers tell me they love it, so I'll give it more time, but after the 5 month mark, if I’m still dealing with this, I’m done and never looking back!"

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2019

For Birth Control "I got my IUD inserted today, and overall the pain was manageable. My gynecologist prescribed me a pill to insert vaginally the night before insertion, and I took 4 ibuprofen one hour before my appointment. I had read multiple reviews about Kyleena insertion being extremely painful. This scared me because I have never had children, but in all honesty, I thought the pain was not too bad. I felt some sharp pinches, but it only took about 2 minutes until the IUD was fully inserted. I did experience some bleeding during the procedure, which is totally normal. The cramping afterward did start immediately, but 2 Midol and a heating pad made the cramping go away within an hour. So far, no complaints about Kyleena!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2019

For Birth Control "I got my first ever Kyleena inserted 03-20-19. The insertion process, for me, was pretty intense. They first measure your uterus, which was light cramping, and then insert the IUD, which was quite painful for me. I don't usually suffer from cramps at all during my periods, so I wasn't sure what to expect as far as the cramps that I would experience through this process. I would rate the pain 8/10, but it was literally over in less than a minute; I don't even remember today what that pain felt like. It was over so fast. After the insertion, I was a little uncomfortable, but by the end of the day, I was back at 100%. Honestly, I think it's worth less than a minute of pain for 5 years of peace of mind (no pills to remember to take every day. Don't need to worry about the prescriptions every month either). I'm extremely content with this product."

• Sar...
• June 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I just got the Kyleena IUD inserted today, so I cannot tell you about the experience of having it long-term yet. However, I will tell you about the insertion process. Be warned that it WILL be painful. It is painful to have the cervix opened by the instrument while the IUD is placed into the uterus, however, for me, it did not last any longer than two minutes. I would highly recommend taking 800 mg of ibuprofen beforehand and having someone to drive you home. I would also recommend taking the day off afterward to pamper yourself by snuggling with a heating pad or hot water bottle and napping. The cramping persisted for me at its worst for about 2 hours, and for the next 6, I experienced bad cramping, but it was manageable!"

• Can...
• October 5, 2018

For Birth Control "I've had my IUD for about 3 weeks now. I am quite shocked to see that some people passed out/vomited from the experience, as mine was flawless, I was in and out of the doctor's office in about 5 minutes. Sure, the insertion was painful, but not unbearable. I have also never given birth, and I took ibuprofen prior to the appointment. I wasn't given anything to loosen the cervix. It felt like a sharp, extreme period cramp during the uterus measurement and another similar sharp, extreme cramp for the insertion, which each lasted about 3 seconds. As soon as the insertion was done, the sharp pain changed to a dull pain, which probably lasted for about an hour. I had some bleeding that day and some mild spotting for about 2 more days, and that's it. I get cramping on and off occasionally, but VERY mild, less than a period cramp, and it usually only lasts a few minutes. So for those reading these reviews and freaking yourself out, it's possible your experience will go just as smoothly."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2018

For Birth Control "I've had my IUD for only about 4.5 weeks now. I'm 34, never had children, and had been on birth control pills for years. Both the fitting and the insertion were equally brutal. The intense pain subsided shortly after, but the first few days I was extremely sore and achy. Since then, I have had random cramping almost every day, with lower back and abdominal pain radiating down my thighs and legs, sometimes so intense I keel over and start crying. I've also had dizzy spells, bloating, constipation, and a few cystic pimples, but no full-on breakouts. I am due for my period this week but have not had ANY bleeding since insertion. I go for an ultrasound to check the positioning next week. If the cramping doesn't improve within the next few months, I might have it removed. The pill never gave me this much trouble, except for random spotting. Everyone is different, but based on the insertion process alone, I'm not sure I'd recommend it to others. I'll report back after some more time. Good luck, ladies!"

• Ani...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2018

For Birth Control "Today marks one full week since my insertion. I must say, I was terrified and expected the worst pain on the day of my appointment. DON'T LET THE COMMENTS PUT YOU OFF. My insertion process took less than 3 minutes, and I barely felt pain, just a 5-second cramp when the doctor was opening my cervix. I took 1000 mg Tylenol (extra strength) before going in, so I think that may have helped. I felt normal immediately after the procedure. There was some bleeding immediately after I stood up, but it stopped about 3 hours later. Since then, I have not had any bleeding/spotting/discharge since that day. I only have minimal cramping every other day. Don’t let reviews scare you off, like I almost was. Everyone’s body is different, and I just wanted to share my pleasant experience."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2018

For Birth Control "I got Kyleena inserted a week ago today, and so far I love it! My doctor prescribed me a medication that was supposed to soften my cervix. I also took Tylenol about an hour before my appointment. When my doctor came in, she put an ice pack on my stomach to ease the pain a little bit. The insertion process only took about 5 minutes, and it did hurt. It felt like the biggest period cramp of my life, and that’s saying something because I have always had bad cramps during my cycle. The biggest issue for me was relaxing. Once I was able to relax, the pain almost disappeared completely. The cramping lingered for about 4 hours after the procedure, and I’ve been completely fine ever since. I have been spotting pretty much every day since the procedure, but I heard that that’s normal and should go away shortly. The first two or three times I had sex afterward, it hurt pretty bad! I wasn’t expecting that, but it feels totally normal now. I love my Kyleena and would recommend it to anyone!"

• Ele...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 24, 2018

For Birth Control "I got my Kyleena on 23rd April 2018, so almost exactly 6 months ago. The pill for me: depression, weight gain, migraines made worse, low sex drive, emotional, paranoid, anxious. The Kyleena first 5 months all becoming less frequent with time: cramps, headaches, emotional, bad skin for about 2 weeks. Now: occasional cramping, possibly period related. Period is just very light spotting now. Mood, weight, and sex drive have been unaffected. The Kyleena IUD is quite an investment, but so far it's been worth it. I had a few months of mild discomfort and now don't have to worry about contraception for 4 and a half more years! I'd recommend anyone who has it to wait 6 or 7 months for symptoms to calm down."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2021

For Birth Control "Took birth control pills for 13 years and was tired of it... just wanted something I didn’t have to think about. The insertion was painful, maybe 5/10 on the pain scale. Had bad cramps for the first 12-24 hours, but they were manageable with ibuprofen, Tylenol, and a heating pad. Had a few days of slight cramping. No bleeding yet. Every once in a while, slight spotting with wiping, but nothing that requires tampons or pads. Highly recommend!"

• Anonymous
• June 7, 2018

For Birth Control "I got it about two months ago. The insertion does hurt, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary, and the moment where I felt pain lasted less than a minute, it felt more like a sharp pain than a severe cramp. My first period after the insertion lasted for 11 days (usually it’s like 5), and I have been a bit more hormonal and tired than normal, but I guess it’s just my body accommodating. Two weeks after the insertion, I saw my doctor for a check-up, and she said my IUD had moved farther up than where she placed it. I don’t know why, but apparently it’s nothing to worry about. I did feel pretty odd in the beginning, but now I feel completely normal and I don’t have to worry about taking a pill every day and feel confident about its effectiveness. You can have a rough couple of days, but it’s worth it, and if you’re scared, remind yourself that all those bad things happen very, very rarely, and that usually, people who had a good experience don’t take the time to write up reviews."

• Cam...
• October 8, 2018

For Birth Control "Update on my review from 2018-09-18. It has been a month now. I want to get it removed. I am having random strong cramps during the day or night, it's to the point where I'm crying and almost vomiting. Having migraines also. The spotting is there, but I don't think it's that bad. I have experienced acne, previously, I have NEVER had acne. Most of the time, I feel dizzy and light-headed. I don't want to get out of my bed anymore. I have never been this tired. After work, I'm shaky, I almost can't walk. I have terrible back pain and leg pain, as if I was constantly in my period. In the morning, I have difficulty eating because I always feel like puking until 9 a.m., and that is since the day of the insertion. I just do not think the IUD is for me."

• Sve...
• July 31, 2017

For Birth Control "Kyleena inserted: Mon, July 31st, 2017. I had the Kyleena inserted today after the doctor removed my Mirena. I had my Mirena for the full five years, and I wanted it again! However, my family doctor recommended the Kyleena since it is smaller in diameter and provides the same function as the Mirena. I originally got the Mirena in order to lighten my period and to resolve the severe cramps associated with getting my monthly cycle. It worked amazingly! The Kyleena insertion was not as painful as the Mirena, but by no means was it comfortable. The pain was probably a 5/10. My tattoos were a 6/10. I do understand that the dose of the hormone in the Kyleena is less than that in the Mirena, but I am hopeful that it will provide the same relief."

• NNI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2019

For Birth Control "Kyleena has been extremely helpful to me. Insertion was very painful, but it went away soon after. I took birth control for a year beforehand and found it to be a hassle to take a pill every day. After the insertion, I experienced extreme temperature fluctuations, nausea, and fatigue, but it went away after the first day. I bled for a week after. Be prepared to not be very active after insertion."

• Lex...
• February 19, 2020

For Birth Control "Had it in for 10 months. Spotting every month, but also infection after infection. 5 rounds of antibiotics. It was a disgusting smell, I couldn’t keep it in. My skin was amazing. It did minimize the blood and pain, but no sex drive, and when we did, the aftermath was always an infection. I shower before and after sex because I’m a little OCD, but this was out of control-4 showers a day. I was done."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I wanted to love this IUD, but I’ve had it for 3 months now, and I think I am going to need to have it out. The pain was unbearable within the first month, but eventually has subsided a bit. But the main issues I have experienced are terrible depression in the two weeks leading up to my period. I feel so incredibly in such a dark and depressed state, and I’m concerned that if I do not have it out, I will do something I will regret. I have always had a somewhat low mood before my period, but nothing even close to this before! I am also already on antidepressants, and I am still experiencing this effect. I know everyone has a different experience, but this was something I was very worried about getting this IUD, and maybe if you already have mood problems, this is not the birth control for you. I was also only able to have sex once because I've felt so sad or in pain most of the time I’ve had it."

• Dan...
• December 26, 2019

For Birth Control "The insertion of Kyleena for me personally was the most painful thing I have ever experienced. I cried in the office and could not move my entire body for a while and calmed myself to prevent a panic attack. After about a half hour, I was slowly able to move to get dressed and leave the doctor's office. The cramps were horrendous after that. The pain didn't subside till after a month. Now every month my cramps still get pretty gnarly. If you're acne-prone, this may not be the IUD for you. I had no idea how much this was going to affect my skin. It's been four months since my IUD insertion, and my acne has calmed down, but I do miss the days when acne wasn't such a big concern except for the one blemish I would get during PMS. I have gained around 35 pounds over four months. I don't want to say that it's all related to the IUD hormones, but I definitely believe it is a factor. For good measure, I'm going to be more strict with my diet to see if I see any positive results."

• JRC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2017

For Birth Control "I've had Kyleena for a week and a half. I LOVE it. Ibuprofen (800 mg) an hour before, insert was 4/10 on the pain scale (lasted less than 1 minute), uncomfortable for an hour after, but functioning to drive home and run to the market. Took it easy the rest of the night. I've had zero cramps, zero spotting, I feel perfectly normal. I had sex 24 hours after being inserted. I did use condoms (my doc said I didn't have to, but wanted to be safe). There are good and bad reviews, I encourage you to get it for yourself. If you don't like it, removal is supposed to be easier than inserting. I love this and knowing I'm protected for 5 years against unwanted pregnancy. Good luck!"

• Sic...
• August 31, 2017

For Birth Control "I got Kyleena 8 mo ago after a failed insertion of Mirena. I've never had kids, and I apparently had a non-common shaped uterus, so the insertion lasted 20 min and was incredibly painful. I bled the entire first month and had cramps so bad I had to sit down. This lasted until month four. Now I have irregular periods that show up a week before they're supposed to. I've also had an increase in UTIs/YIs. I've been with my other half for over a year now, so it's frustrating that every time I have a period, I immediately get a YI and have to be on antibiotics for a week. I've noticed a plummet in my sex drive, but an improvement in my acne. I was on the pill for 13 yrs with no problems, and this sucks. Getting it out in a month."

• Fel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2022

For Birth Control "I had it inserted early December 2021. I basically had to sing because while I was on two pain medications, it wasn't enough and felt like I was getting stabbed down there during the insertion and nearly passed out. For the next 5 weeks, I was bleeding heavily and cramping, my hips and back were hurting all the time, including a comfortable sleeping position, so I go to sleep in pain. My libido just disappeared, and I went into a heavy severe depression with horrible mood swings and suicidal thoughts for no reason. My gyno dismissed this as 'It's just the hormones, this just takes time,' and he canceled my last appointment to see if there's anything wrong with the IUD. I just wanted to stop my heavy periods and PMDD. I didn't know it was going to be like this."