Levonorgestrel and Acne: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• Lil...
• October 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I got my Kyleena IUD in Sept 2017 when I was 18. The insertion sucked, I did stay at the doctor's for nearly a half-hour because I was going to faint. I was menstruating when I got it inserted, I'm not sure if that made a difference. The periods for the first six months were regular, but heavy. Then, starting 6 months after I got the IUD, I experienced regular but light periods. With the IUD, I have had very little cramping when before my cramps would keep me home from school or work. After I had my IUD for about 2 years, my periods have completely gone away. I have been having unprotected sex (same partner) for two years, and I have never had a pregnancy scare. My boyfriend has felt the strings, but it doesn't bother him nor me. Since getting the IUD, I have gained weight, but I know it's not from Kyleena. I have the same acne as I did before I got it. I plan to have my IUD removed in July 2021, and I am dreading the removal."

• 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."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2020

For Birth Control "Soon after I had Mirena inserted, I began getting migraines and episodes of dizziness. I stuck it out since I was relieved to finally not have incredibly painful, heavy periods. Aside from developing some cystic acne and those occasional migraines/dizzy episodes, things were going relatively okay. Nine months later, I started to develop panic attacks and extreme anxiety. I have a dull headache every day. I am dizzy nearly all of the time, I have developed some facial hair, and my hair is falling out of my scalp. I have insomnia. This is incredibly frustrating to me as my GP keeps writing it off as 'general anxiety.' I did not have these issues before Mirena. I was previously incredibly active, adventurous, and enjoyed cycling, jogging, hiking. Now, I am afraid to do anything because of how dizzy I am and the intense anxiety I now experience. I just hope once I have this removed, I can return to my normal self. I haven't felt like 'me' in nearly a year, and it is getting really tough."

• Sum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2019

For Emergency Contraception "I am sharing my experience to possibly help someone else who is in a similar predicament. I had unprotected sex on the 19th of October, and there was confusion on whether I was still taking birth control or not. He did not attempt to pull out, and I was ovulating on that exact day or up to 2 days before, so we panicked. Two hours later, I took Plan B and waited for the following 3 weeks to pass by. During these weeks, I experienced slight moodiness, extreme fatigue, lower back pain, breast tenderness, vomiting, acne flare-ups, cramps, and cravings. I was so afraid that it didn't work. I took a pregnancy test when my period didn't start, but a week later it came. I learned to be more careful and actually keep track of my ovulation so this doesn't happen again. I was scouring websites looking for someone with a similar experience and couldn't find anything, so I felt the need to share. Stay strong, ladies, these pills work."

• Jay...
• November 2, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve had Liletta going on to a year, and it was the absolute biggest mistake I’ve ever made. As far as it “not getting me pregnant,” sure, it’s done its job, but the side effects are the absolute worst. I’ve never had acne in my life, and now I do. My periods seem to last forever. I never not have my period. I’m always spotting, it never fully goes away. MOST IMPORTANTLY, my mental health. I have experienced crucial mood swings, depression, and anxiety. I do not feel like myself AT ALL. One day I’m good, the next day I’m all over the place. One minute I’m fine, the next moment I’m crying or angry or upset over absolutely nothing. It feels like my body has been invaded, and I have zero control over how I feel. The mood swings are crucial, as well as the random depression and anxiety. I’d rather use condoms for the rest of my life than to feel how I feel."

• 239...
• July 27, 2016

For Emergency Contraception "Not going to lie, this pill can possibly make you go insane. But, like all the other reviews say - just be patient. Experience: Last period prior to the pill: June 11th. Incident: June 21st (possibly ovulating). Took the pill possibly within maybe 3 minutes after (super paranoid). Very light bleeding June 26th (for about 3 days). Symptoms (for a month after taking the pill): nausea, no appetite, cramps (on and off), some acne, lower back pain. Obviously, all symptoms of pregnancy. Took maybe 6 pregnancy tests and a blood test (all negative). Period came exactly one month after the light bleeding occurred. Please don't make yourself sick like I did. I lost like 10 pounds from freaking out alone. Patience is key."

• Jhr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 21, 2020

"This... omg, this has been enlightening. 1.) 30+ lbs. I have gained almost 50 lbs, but I lost almost 20 again. I have literally been working so hard to lose weight. 2.) Acne? Yes! Bad, bad cystic acne. 3.) Pain, tingling, weakness, and numbness on one side of my body. 4.) Infections. 5.) Mood swings/depression. 6.) Cramping/bloating. 7.) Stomach pain. 8.) Pain/cramping after sex. 9.) Low birth weight/premature birth of my daughter. 10.) I am honestly shocked, devastated, and determined to remove it after finding out this is all from Mirena. This is my 3rd Mirena, and I went from the 120s to the 170s and now am back to the 160-ish. I have been through so much with this, it’s unreal. Don’t do it."

• Anonymous
• February 22, 2010

For Birth Control "I had my Mirena inserted 1/4/10 and I love it! I know everyone is different, but it has been great for me. I'm 24, never had kids, and was on the pill for the past 6 years. Insertion was uncomfortable and painful, but not horrid (and I have a low pain tolerance). However, my doc did give me a local (lidocaine) which I'm sure made a huge difference, and I would not do it without. I felt dizzy and nauseous for the first hour after and relatively bad cramping for three hours. The next day I was a bit tender, and by day three, I was my normal self. Had some very light cramping for two weeks and now nothing, not even my period. I did have a little acne at first, but that may have had to do with going off the pill. I've even lost weight."

• KKS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2013

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the Mirena put in 9/4/13. It is 11/5/13, and I have not had a single day without bleeding! This is so effective at birth control because you can't possibly have sex with all the bleeding it causes. I am 38, of average weight, and had it inserted for birth control, not to treat any other symptom. For me, getting it inserted was mildly uncomfortable but was over quickly. I was able to go running that same day, so I wasn't uncomfortable at all. I did take 800mg of ibuprofen before the appointment. The first 2 weeks, I broke out with really nasty acne along my jawline. I think my hair has thinned. I have also experienced Migraine with aura. My Mirena is until Jan. If this hasn't fixed itself, it's coming out."

• Mou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2017

For Birth Control "I have had the Mirena for about a month. The insertion was easy, and it took my very experienced OB about 5 minutes. It honestly felt like a pap smear. I also have 3 kids and a retroverted uterus for what it's worth. Unfortunately, I have had spotting every day since. I hope it stops soon because I have no other side effects. No weight gain, acne, etc., and my sex drive has actually increased (weird, right?). So if you are considering having a Mirena inserted, my advice is to try it and see how it works with YOUR body. Yes, you can read the horror stories on this site and others. People are much more inclined to share a negative experience than a positive one. Talk to your doctor and look at actual peer-reviewed studies."

• 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."

• Cla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2020

For Birth Control "Best decision I’ve ever made! Please don’t let the horror stories scare you from trying the Skyla IUD. I let the negative reviews get into my head, and it caused me to put off getting my IUD for two years. Finally, 5 months ago, I got the Skyla inserted. The insertion didn’t hurt at all! Just a slight cramp that lasted maybe 5 seconds. I went home and used a heating pad, but never cramped. My first period was light, right off the bat. I still get monthly periods. However, they are so light I can get away with just wearing a panty liner. I love the freedom my IUD gives me. Not having to take a pill every day is wonderful. It’s sooo much better than a pill. I was in the rare percent of women who lost a lot of hair while using the pill (TriNessa). The IUD never caused any hair loss or weight gain. The first month I got a few more zits than normal, but now my skin is clear again. It’s worth a try, and remember you can always remove it."

• Kat...
• August 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the Kyleena IUD a year ago. I was taking the pills for years and wanted something different. Insertion was pretty painful, my doctor prescribed me a cervix softener to take before, and I took some Tylenol. There was a series of 3 painful cramps, but the overall process took 5 minutes. I was able to drive myself home after, and I had bad cramps the rest of the night, but I woke up completely fine. Everyone has different experiences and different levels of pain, each one of my friends had a different reaction. The next 6 months, I randomly got intense, painful cramps and sometimes pelvic pain. I also noticed breakouts, which I never had before. I went to the doctor a few times for check-ups, but everything was fine and in place. I just stuck it out, and eventually, it got better. I still sometimes get a random day of intense cramps, but overall my periods are barely there, and the breakouts stopped!"

• 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."

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

For Birth Control "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the Liletta IUD 3 months ago, and at first, it was awful. Cramps were awful upon insertion and almost unbearable for about a month afterward. I never bled at all, but the cramps were constant. Since then, I couldn't have been happier. I have lost weight (not necessarily related, but didn't gain any weight). I have seen a dramatic increase in sex drive. I have been on different birth control pills in the past that made me very depressed, so I was worried the IUD might have this effect. My mood has been great! The only negative thing is that I do have more acne now, but nothing that is too extreme and needs more than over-the-counter medicine. My period has also almost completely stopped, and it's only been 3 months, which is great!!"

• CRA...
• March 5, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Let me say, I had some light bleeding after the first month. Now I have had no periods. I'm 41 years old. I have had the worst periods since I was 16. My mood swings have stopped, and my skin is amazing. Look it up. It also helps with acne. I am so grateful. It really does work!"

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

For Birth Control "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!"

• vro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2014

For Emergency Contraception "I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend 5 days before I was supposed to get my period. I went to buy emergency contraception after 48 hours. Some symptoms I experienced were breast pains or tenderness, tiredness, and I did break out. Don't worry, I was paranoid too since I took it after 48 hours. I was researching all day if this pill does work. Well, it did for me. I did get my period 8 days late. But, I got it."

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

For Birth Control "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!"

• Bro...
• September 16, 2020

For Birth Control "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."

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2010

For Birth Control "I have had the Mirena in for almost a year! I was so tired of birth control pills, and my sister had it put in and loved it! So I thought this was finally my answer to contraception. Well... over the last 10 months, I have had acne (on my back, arms, face, everywhere), and I have never been one to get acne. I have had cramping off and on, weight gain, and my stomach has been bloated up like I am pregnant. Also, I have experienced anxiety and loss of energy. All I want to do is lay around. I am getting it taken out ASAP."

• Anonymous
• April 29, 2009

For Birth Control "I've seen so many negative reviews of Mirena online that I just wanted to share my positive experience. For the past 10 years of my life, I have had horrifying periods. I have stage 4 endometriosis and a blood clotting disorder that would leave me in bed for days in excruciating pain every month. Since getting Mirena, my life has changed incredibly. I do have some of the side effects such as mood swings, slight memory loss, and acne, but my period now lasts one day and barely hurts. I have had it for 3 months, and I will gladly deal with the side effects to continue benefiting from a life with significantly reduced pain. It's not perfect, but after years of experimental treatments with no success, I can honestly say that this works."