Levonorgestrel and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Keb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 8, 2023

For Birth Control "I have had Kyleena since 12/17/2020. During the insertion, my gynecologist was really nice, but when I tell you it was the worst pain I experienced. I am not lying. The whole way home, I could barely move because of the pain. Then once I got home, I didn’t move and slept for basically two days because of the pain. Now, over 2 years later, I have noticed how my body has changed. I gained a lot of weight, with no change to my diet. I have literally no energy for anything. My sex drive is non-existent when I genuinely used to enjoy it. Now, I could go weeks without it and not even care, which has affected my relationship some. I honestly just feel like my whole body is out of whack. Like my hormones have affected everything. I am breaking out worse than I did during my sophomore year in high school. I tried everything to fix it, but it’s hormonal, so nothing is fixing it. I am moody and always tired. And oh my, the cramps I get randomly are awful."

• Mom...
• October 27, 2019

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena put in because I had severe periods because of my endometriosis. It wasn’t fun to put in, but similar to a pap, I guess. Felt sick to my stomach and had cramping afterwards. Was happy to have my husband with me. After 6 months, I went for a follow-up and had a lot of the bad symptoms (severe depression, excessive weight gain, excessive water retention, cysts). The positive: had light periods, not very regular, but so much better than it was. The pain from my endo was so much better. But the negative side effects were nothing I could live with. It’s not been a year and a half, and I’m going to get it removed. I had to take time off my career (I’m self-employed) to focus on my mental health. I gained about 30 pounds and cannot get rid of it no matter how I try. I have a trainer, nutritionist, nothing helps! I now have trouble getting out of bed. Loss of all motivation and will. This is horrible for me! Will follow up with results!"

• Fay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2018

For Birth Control "I have had Liletta for the past 1 year and 7 months, and nothing seems normal anymore. I have gained 30 lbs despite eating clean and working out, absolutely no sex drive at all, sex is very uncomfortable, and the bleeding after sex is very scary. I get my periods anytime, sometimes twice a month, it’s very heavy and lasts anywhere from 6 to 12 days. I have become a different person, always very moody, angry, very depressed, and just don’t want to leave my bed. I’ve never felt this way in my 40 years! I’ve discussed this with my gynecologist, an ultrasound shows the IUD is displaced and needs to be pulled out ASAP! My fibroids have increased in growth and size, and my MD is quite concerned. I will have it pulled out on Monday 11/19. I'm hoping things will get better after this."

• Aus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2014

For Birth Control "I got Mirena as a birth control solution and a solution to my very heavy, 8 days - 10 days painful periods. I wasn't suggested it by a doctor, I pretty much came to the decision myself. I had been on the pill, which didn't affect me negatively at all (still got very heavy periods though). Before that, I was in the Depo shot, which made me bleed non-stop for three months. So I was very skeptical about Mirena. I've lost my periods altogether, and I've noticed that when I'm supposed to be on my period, I don't have any type of discharge or anything of the sort. What I do notice is when I have a very stressful situation, I get discharge for 24 hours, brownish discharge. No pain, no weight gain, brilliantly perfect!"

• hop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2022

For Birth Control "I’ve only had Mirena in for about 3 weeks, so things could change, but honestly this has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m 24, no children, and have been on birth control for 11 years. I’ve tried all sorts of different brand pills as well as the shot, and every single one was terrible and made me feel terrible. I gained an insane amount of weight, horrible mood swings, bloating, everything. So far, Mirena has been the opposite. I am so much less bloated, I never feel tired or lethargic anymore, my skin is in the best condition it’s ever been in, and my mood is stable. With that being said, insertion was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. I am covered in tattoos and piercings, and I screamed and cried during the procedure and sat on the bed trying to catch my breath for another 5 afterwards. The cramps were absolutely debilitating the first two days. But after that, hardly any spotting or cramps so far. I’m glad I got this despite the reviews!"

• tra...
• January 25, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had almost a constant headache when I first had it in. I gained 12 lbs in 2 weeks (thought it was water, but it stayed). Not sure if I got depression or I just didn't feel right. Got it out yesterday...no more constant headache!"

• har...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2014

For Birth Control "I love Mirena more than any other birth control method. Had it put in 3 months after my daughter was born. There was slight pain with insertion, but my cervix had fully closed by that time. I had light spotting that day and nothing since. I am also breastfeeding, so that might be why I am not bleeding like others. I have had no mood swings, acne, or weight gain. I do have a master's in pharmacology, and from an education background, I can say most of those side effects people complain about are from your body adjusting from having a baby in you and then out of you. The amount of hormone transfer from the uterus site to outside the body is minimal, that is why it is safe for breastfeeding mothers."

• jen...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 27, 2014

For Birth Control "Overall, this was very effective, with no issues to note other than those described as common side effects. I had no weight gain, no mood changes, no spotting, was regular like clockwork after the initial few weeks after insertion. Granted, it isn't pleasant to have fitted, but it is much less uncomfortable to have removed (like removing a tampon really). In the UK (I am English), the cost of birth control and follow-up care is free on the NHS. I had the Mirena for the full five years and only experienced a premenstrual facial spot and three days of mild tummy bloating prior to each predictable and very light two-day bleed. This is my full and honest experience."

• Bec...
• November 4, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I do not recommend Mirena. Terrible acne, severe weight gain, continued cramping, random 2-week-long periods, terrible discharge, and cause of infection after insertion. Overall, an awful year, had to go back onto the pill anyway. It was recommended by every health professional I have come into contact with as a resolution for my endometriosis but has done nothing but reduce my quality of life."

• Tyg...
• July 30, 2013

For Birth Control "I switched to this because I was tired of forgetting to take the pill and had horrific side effects from the ring. I've used it for a couple of years now. Pros: Most convenient method of birth control I've tried, since you don't have to remember anything. My periods immediately became lighter and stopped after about 6 months, very few emotional or sexual side effects that I've noticed. Cons: a little cramping and nausea in the first few months, a little weight gain in the beginning, but I lost it easily, painful when first inserted. Overall, I am glad I chose this method."

• lee...
• March 11, 2009

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the Mirena inserted in April '08 to control heavy bleeding from adenomyosis. My doctor had recommended it 2 years prior, and I balked at getting it because of 'horror' stories I read. Now I wish I had given it a try when she first recommended it. It has been great. I had some light spotting the first 2 months, then no period for a couple of months. I had a very light period in February. It has changed my life. I have put on some additional weight, approximately 8 pounds since I had it put in, but I already was struggling with weight, so I don't know if it is from that or from middle age. Working on that now with exercise and diet. I am very happy with it. I have my life back each month instead of being afraid to leave the house because of heavy bleeding."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 4, 2022

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Mirena did reduce my excessive bleeding and over a period of 6 months almost destroyed my life; debilitating migraines, weight gain; vulvovaginitis, and the worst depression of my life; I wonder how many women end up with antidepressants on top of it, while the cause is actually Mirena."

• JKH...
• July 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I bled and cramped for a solid month. Then the headaches, acne, and breast tenderness started. I've gained 10 lbs in four months with this thing. The inches are all going to my waist. And now to add to the cramping, I have extreme bloating. It's so bad it distracts me from my job because it's painful to sit. I've not been on a hormonal birth control in five years, so there's no other explanation for these changes. I'm getting it removed."

• Uni...
• March 5, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the Mirena inserted in January 2015 (I was 35) for endometriosis. POSITIVES: No unexpected pregnancies, my period stopped completely within 6 months, and cramping from my endometriosis virtually ceased to exist. *AMAZING!!* NEGATIVES: 1) Complete and utter exhaustion (bed by 9 pm and by 6 am, I literally drag myself to the shower because I'm still tired). 2) Depression. 3) Mood swings. 4) Sjogren's Syndrome diagnosis. 5) Significant joint pain. 6) Constant headaches. 7) Constant bloating. 8) Autoimmune disorder. 9) Weight gain! I've always been an obsessively health-conscious individual. Spinning, lifting daily because I'm vain, let's be honest. At the time I had my IUD inserted, I had visible abs... Now, I have a pot belly, 'thick thighs,' some back fat, and my calves have gotten bigger (WTF?!). My routines have not changed, and I've weighed my food since I was 25, eating the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The ONLY change that's occurred since is the Mirena!"

• Bea...
• July 29, 2018

For Emergency Contraception "Alright, so let me first start off by saying. I was just like every single female here, panicking, freaking out that it wouldn’t work. Let me tell you my story. My boyfriend and I had protected sex on June 9. The condom had broken (all the way), and he wasn’t sure if he had gone already or not. I ended up taking it about 12 hours later. The pill I took was the Take Action pill (which is literally the same thing as Plan B, just cheaper). I took the pill, and about 4 days later, had a very light period. I bled for about 4-5 days (as per usual with my period). I started getting cramps, nausea, and bloating. I also started gaining a lot of weight and had horrible mood swings. After my period did not come, I really started to panic. I ended up getting my period literally 24 days later. Those 24 days were literally driving me crazy. I was so worried about being pregnant and had the absolutely worst side effects. Ladies, please be very considerate of the side effects of this pill."

• 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."

• nat...
• January 6, 2017

For Birth Control "After trying the pill and realizing that it wasn't for me, I decided to give Mirena a try. My experience with this method of birth control has been nearly perfect. Here are my pros: - I no longer have a period. As someone who used to suffer from crippling cramps and extremely heavy flow, this is a blessing. - I haven't had any symptoms that I experienced with the pill (weight gain, acne, mood swings, hair loss). - Childless and proud. Cons: - The day of the insertion, I was slightly crampy afterwards. However, I recovered quickly. Overall, this is the best form of birth control. 10/10 - would highly recommend."

• iud...
• December 28, 2020

For Birth Control "Overview: Got Kyleena in June of 2019. Kyleena insertion was horrendous. The 5 seconds that your OB is in your cervix, it's an utter nightmare. I fainted on the table and had to Uber home. Cramps for me lasted about 2-3 days after, and I didn't have any odd bleeding/spotting. PROS - light bleeding/spotting for period - low maintenance, never have to remember to take anything. CONS - lowered my libido IMMENSELY - intense cramps during periods - cramps/pain during sex if inserted deep enough - unbelievable depression, horrible - concentrated acne on my cheeks - 8-10 pounds of weight gain. After 1.5 years of giving the benefit of the doubt to this IUD... I'm getting it removed tomorrow. Everyone's bodies are different, but if you've ever had an inkling of acne or depression in your past, do not take this. Excited as anything to get this removed tomorrow."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 24, 2023

For Birth Control "I had the Mirena placed about 4 years ago. From day 1, it has been complete misery. It is painful, it is disrupting my hormones, I have gained 30 lbs, I have brain fog, fatigue, severe myalgia. It worked its main purpose of ensuring no unwanted pregnancies, but in my opinion, it was a high price to pay. My quality of life was affected, and I would not recommend it to anyone, ever."

• Im...
• September 25, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have issues with heavy bleeding as a result of Mirena IUD being inserted 18 months ago. My bleeding issue has completely been gone. I get a very light period every month and am very happy with that. Since my bleeding was so heavy, my other option would be a hysterectomy. My frustration is the weight gain, I've gained 15 pounds since this was placed. I'm only 5-2, and I work out every single day and watch my carbs and take a very low-calorie diet. In spite of this, I still continue to gain weight. I have constant bloating and terrible water retention. All my weight is in my stomach and thighs. I have an appointment this week to get it removed, however, I'm scared of having the heavy bleeding again."

• Nya...
• May 25, 2018

For Birth Control "Okay, I’ve had my Liletta for a year before I got it taken out (today). For the first three months, I bled nonstop. After that, I felt fine. Then the side effects slowly but surely hit me one by one. After the nonstop bleeding for three months, I then started to get recurring yeast infections/bacterial infections every month. I also gained 50 pounds, had horrible hot flashes, blurred vision, brain fog (terribly), literally every symptom you can think of. I had it real bad, and it's like every month that goes past, the side effects got worse and worse. My moodiness, no sex drive, and low energy (very low) almost cost me my relationship and job. I literally didn’t feel like myself anymore. At first, I did like it, but then I started to get alarmed I didn’t feel like myself, but the crazy part of it is, what really drove me to get it out is the horrible smell I was getting in my vagina. It smelled like something crawled in and died, I couldn’t bear it anymore. I felt like people could smell it through my clothes."

• She...
• December 18, 2016

For Birth Control "Wasn't too bad to insert. First 3 months I had continuous spotting. Period stopped after 3 months. At first, it felt fine. Developed GAD and anxiety disorders half a year in and started crying for no reason at everything and had to see a therapist twice. I thought it was just me going crazy until a year passed and I got my period all of a sudden. My monthly periods then would last 10-12 days and hurt like hell. Cramping was UNBEARABLE. I never cramped on BC pills or off BC pills, but all the time on Mirena. I was depressed, tired, gained 10 lb, and was always hungry, anxious 24/7, and sensitive to every little thing. Removed my IUD after a year and a half of use and switched back to BC. VERY disappointed with this-I had such high hopes."

• Eri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 4, 2020

For Birth Control "I really wanted to like the Skyla, but I had a horrible experience. Getting an IUD was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made. My best friend loves her Skyla, has no side effects, and got another placed after 3 years, so take my comments with a grain of salt. First, insertion was the worst pain I’ve ever felt (and I’ve fractured my back in 2 places). I threw up immediately after. Second, this gave me cystic acne. I had panic attacks before leaving my house because I was so disgusted with my face. Third, I had ovarian cysts and severe cramps. The kind of cramps that make you black out upon standing up and throw up. Fourth, I could hardly stand to have sex. If my boyfriend hit the IUD, the pain was paralyzing. One pro is its efficacy. Knowing that I was virtually protected from pregnancy was empowering. It did not inherently decrease my libido, but the fear of pain and low self-esteem due to my skin made me too anxious to have sex. I did not gain weight."

• Lca...
• July 25, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had Mirena placed December 26th, 2018. I have fibroids and the world's heaviest period. I was told this was going to help lighten, if not make my period go away, and shrink my fibroids naturally. In the last 7 months, I have had my period almost completely straight through the 7 months. It’s still very painful, the bleeding is lighter, yes, but it is NOT worth it if I am continually bleeding for months. The time when I would normally not be on it, I am spotting thick brown discharge. I’ve been told this is normal. As for the fibroids, they are still the same size. Just to add onto this, I have gained a ton of weight (I workout with a trainer every day), so this is very frustrating, and I have small acne hormonal bumps around my chin. I can’t wait to have this thing removed. This is a complete nightmare, I don’t recommend this to anyone."

• SoR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2017

For Emergency Contraception "We had unprotected sex, and he straight up ejaculated in me between 12/16 and 12/17 at midnight. No condom. This was one day before ovulation, so I was very fertile, and I wasn't even sure if I had ovulated or not. He didn't tell me until an hour later, so I freaked out and drove to my nearest 24-hour pharmacy and took Plan B within two hours. I didn't have any side effects besides a 5 lb weight gain, so I was scared it didn't work. I spent two long weeks worrying. The only thing that gave me solace was reading reviews. But on 2/2, my period came just on time! Not sure if it was the pill, as my chances of pregnancy would still be 30% without it, but I'm leaving this for you ladies hoping it'll give you some sanity."