Skyla and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 5, 2017

For Birth Control "The insertion process hurt so bad. I’ve never had a kid, but when they clinch my uterus, I think it feels something like that. That first day I had cramping, which you have to expect because it’s a foreign object in your body. The first month with a period hurt, the cramps were a little more intense. But as birth control goes, this birth control hasn’t failed me. No change in weight or acne, and my boyfriend has finished inside of me, and I’m not pregnant. This birth control is great, I recommend it to everybody. With my insurance, I only paid 20%, which for me was $200 and something."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 14, 2016

For Birth Control "Got put in a year ago (9/2015), and a year later, it is still great! Getting in did hurt, but I had an ovarian cyst a couple of months ago, and it wasn't as bad as that (also never had children). More like a pressure, then it was pretty bad cramps for the next 24/48 hours (I threw up, but again, not worse than the cyst), so after that, fine. I've gotten my period like 3 times since? I'll get some cramps but no period. Also, re: acne, I've noticed my face is more sensitive to acne than it used to be, but if I drink more water, wear less makeup, etc., it's fine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2015

For Birth Control "I started off with the pill, but like most teens, couldn't remember to take it. I went to the doctor, and she told me about Skyla. Getting it was probably the most painful thing ever. My cervix wouldn't soften, so I had to get the medicine to make it soften. I had really bad cramps for about 2 days and even missed a little bit of school, but I hate pain and cannot stand it. But I don't regret getting it because I really do love it. I still do get periods every month, but my doctor said it was normal for Skyla. I love not having to worry about taking a pill or having to worry if something accidentally happens. I totally recommend this to everybody, especially teens!"

• M63...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 24 years old, have never been pregnant, and I had Skyla inserted over a month ago. So far, I have no complaints. Insertion was uncomfortable, but it was quick. I got it inserted while on my period because my gynecologist informed me that was the best time, and she has inserted many in the past. I did feel warm afterward, and I had cramping. I decided to take the day off work; however, after taking Aleve, my cramps went away. I had mild cramping the day after insertion, but after that, no more cramping. My period was lighter, but it lasted for about two weeks. Since then, my period has been lighter, and I haven't had intermittent spotting. I would recommend this IUD; it has been effective and a positive experience thus far."

• M63...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 24 years old, have never been pregnant, and I had Skyla inserted over a month ago. So far, I have no complaints. Insertion was uncomfortable, but it was quick. I got it inserted while on my period because my gynecologist informed me that was the best time, and she has inserted many in the past. I did feel warm afterward, and I had cramping. I decided to take the day off work; however, after taking Aleve, my cramps went away. I had mild cramping the day after insertion, but after that, no more cramping. My period was lighter, but it lasted for about two weeks. Since then, my period has been lighter, and I haven't had intermittent spotting. I would recommend this IUD; it has been effective and a positive experience thus far."

• Roc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I got Skyla inserted 6 months ago, and it's been a nightmare since then. I'm 25 with no kids. My friend got Mirena when she was 21 and said it was amazing, so I figured I'd try it. Insertion was pretty painful, and I had cramps for a week. I went back and got an ultrasound to check the placement and was informed I had an irritated cyst and that it would go away. Here I am, 6 months later, every 2 weeks I get insane cramping and a week-long period. Before Skyla, 3-4 day long periods and no cramps. I told myself if, after 6 months, I'm still in pain, I'm getting it out. Obviously, my body is not going to adjust, and it's not worth the pain! I've also gained 20 lbs in the first 4 months and noticed more zits, anxiety, and my hormones are crazy."

• Chr...
• July 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm 29 years old, and I've been on birth control for 14 years. I have been on NuvaRing for maybe 12 years. I was very nervous to mess with my hormones. Reading other people's experiences with IUDs made me very nervous to make the change. I decided on Skyla because it is the smallest of the IUDs, and it was covered by my insurance. I had Skyla placed on July 5th, and since then it has been the best decision I've made. My doctor did prescribe me a medication to take 3 hours prior to the appointment that softened my cervix, which I am sure helped. I also took Advil 30 minutes before my appointment. The worst part of the insertion process was just the feeling of the metal clamp thing that they always use at every check-up visit. The first day was like I had my period: bleeding and cramping. I rested for a while in bed with a heating pad. Some light bleeding and mild cramping here and there for about 5 days after, and then things went back to normal."

• Chr...
• July 19, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm 29 years old, and I've been on birth control for 14 years. I have been on NuvaRing for maybe 12 years. I was very nervous to mess with my hormones. Reading other people's experiences with IUDs made me very nervous to make the change. I decided on Skyla because it is the smallest of the IUDs, and it was covered by my insurance. I had Skyla placed on July 5th, and since then it has been the best decision I've made. My doctor did prescribe me a medication to take 3 hours prior to the appointment that softened my cervix, which I am sure helped. I also took Advil 30 minutes before my appointment. The worst part of the insertion process was just the feeling of the metal clamp thing that they always use at every check-up visit. The first day was like I had my period: bleeding and cramping. I rested for a while in bed with a heating pad. Some light bleeding and mild cramping here and there for about 5 days after, and then things went back to normal."

• amr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I am a type 1 diabetic, so finding a birth control that wouldn't give me terrible side effects was necessary. I have previously been on 4 different BC pills, and each time ended up terrible. So I went to my gyno, and we discussed the IUD. I even discussed it with my endo (diabetes doctor), and both recommended I try this. I LOVE IT! I have only had it for a week, but it's enough time to see how my blood sugar levels are doing. My 'procedure' didn't hurt AT ALL (I have a high pain tolerance). I talked the entire time I was getting it done. There were mild cramps afterwards, but it felt like regular period cramps. I haven't had any spotting, which I was nervous about. Overall, don't let people's negative reviews stop you from trying different methods. Some do well, and others don't, but you will never know until you try it out."

• Tin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 24 and have no kids. I have had Skyla in for 4 months now. I took an Aleve an hour before the IUD was inserted and had some pain right after the insertion for 5 seconds. Afterwards, I had two days of cramps and spotting, but nothing unbearable. Since that day, I have had no issues. I have more intense cramps around the time of my period, but my period lasts less than 3 days. The second month, I missed my period altogether, which made me nervous, but my doctor said it was normal, and I had my period the following month. I have no spotting between periods. I also do not have any mood swings, depression, or weight gain, which were side effects for me with oral birth control pills and the NuvaRing. I would definitely recommend Skyla."

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 23. I have had the Skyla now for the 2nd time. Every birth control is different for everyone, but my experience was amazing. Yes, the first 6 weeks you cramp like a regular period, and getting it put in sucks. All in all, though, it's not going to end your life like some people are posting that they passed out. That's probably from overwhelming yourself. I would recommend this birth control to anyone that doesn't want to take the pill every day, has bad periods, mood swings, a bad ache, and doesn't want to have children. It stays local, so you don't have the crazy hormone change like the pill and the arm insert gives you since it has to go through your whole body. The Skyla is right there, ready to fight!"

• Jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 23. I have had the Skyla now for the 2nd time. Every birth control is different for everyone, but my experience was amazing. Yes, the first 6 weeks you cramp like a regular period, and getting it put in sucks. All in all, though, it's not going to end your life like some people are posting that they passed out. That's probably from overwhelming yourself. I would recommend this birth control to anyone that doesn't want to take the pill every day, has bad periods, mood swings, a bad ache, and doesn't want to have children. It stays local, so you don't have the crazy hormone change like the pill and the arm insert gives you since it has to go through your whole body. The Skyla is right there, ready to fight!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm writing this review for all of the women skeptical of IUDs (since I was one of them). I became pregnant in November of 2015 after a condom failed for my boyfriend and me. We were not in a place to have a child and terminated the pregnancy (which was something I NEVER thought I would do, so please don't judge). We decided we needed a better form of birth control (had been on the pill with bad side effects) and chose Skyla. The insertion happened the first day of my period and was a BREEZE. A slight pinch and that was it! I've had period cramps that were worse! Slight cramps the first two days, but ibuprofen took them away. It's been great since! PLEASE don't let reviews scare you away! They almost did for me, but I'm glad they didn't!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2019

For Birth Control "I had Skyla inserted on March 6, 2019, and this is a follow-up post. My cramps have subsided, and I have had my first period with Skyla. My period was definitely lighter than ever, and I barely had any cramps, it was amazing! I only had to use a panty liner. I have been spotting every day since insertion, but it seems to have slowed down now. I do not feel any of the hormones messing with me. I have PCOS, and I am also on metformin to help with my PCOS, and I am still losing weight. I did not do well with the pill in the past. I’m 27, and I have never been pregnant before, so insertion was very painful. I also have a high pain tolerance. My obgyn even said that my body did not like that at all, and I did have pretty decent cramps for a month after. So far, I am happy with the device, especially since I do not have to worry about birth control now. Make sure you have a good doctor who has done a lot of insertions if you choose to get one. I would never trust my old doctor to put one in."

• Ivy...
• April 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I got my Skyla inserted last Thursday, April 23, 2015. Today, it's been a week after insertion. Placing the Skyla was intense pain for me. Lots of cramping and pressure, which was very uncomfortable. After the insertion, I had cramps-very mild, but cramps-for the first few days. Three days after insertion, I had really bad cramps, and I had to take medication to relieve the pain. Today marks a week I've been spotting nonstop, which is annoying, but w/e that's a common side effect. The only thing I can say is that as soon as they inserted Skyla, I've lost my appetite completely. I spend hours without eating, and I don't get nauseous or dizzy, which is very uncharacteristic for me. I force myself to eat because I know I have to."

• mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I got my Skyla first 3 years ago, and I just got it replaced because I liked it so much. My boyfriend and I have been having unprotected sex for years, and I haven’t had one problem or pregnancy scare. I also stopped getting my period, which was awesome! The replacement was super easy and took less than 5 minutes. I will say, getting the IUD is the worst part, it definitely hurts: lots of pressure and uncomfortable cramping, but it only lasts for 2 minutes and then cramping a few days following the “procedure.” Other than getting it out, I have no other complaints."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I was a little skeptical at first, given the fact that I went in for a regular Pap smear and walked out with an IUD. Overall, the insertion was painful, but tolerable. It was really fast. I never cramped before Skyla, so the cramps are my only complaint; but nothing Tylenol can't fix. After the insertion, I cramped for a good 12 hours. I got it a week before my period, so I got my period a week later; everything was normal except the bad cramps for about 10 minutes the day I started my period. After that, everything was normal. No spotting, no emotional moods, no weight gain. It is as if I am not on anything. No babies! Which is the ultimate goal. So far, I am happy. Periods are lighter, and sex drive is through the roof."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I was a little skeptical at first, given the fact that I went in for a regular Pap smear and walked out with an IUD. Overall, the insertion was painful, but tolerable. It was really fast. I never cramped before Skyla, so the cramps are my only complaint; but nothing Tylenol can't fix. After the insertion, I cramped for a good 12 hours. I got it a week before my period, so I got my period a week later; everything was normal except the bad cramps for about 10 minutes the day I started my period. After that, everything was normal. No spotting, no emotional moods, no weight gain. It is as if I am not on anything. No babies! Which is the ultimate goal. So far, I am happy. Periods are lighter, and sex drive is through the roof."

• Ang...
• October 4, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm a 23-year-old female with no children. So far, I had my Skyla for 6 weeks. One of the best decisions of my life! The insertion was painless during my period, and I have a low tolerance for pain, but I did take ibuprofen and Tylenol at least 30 minutes before the procedure. I did experience deep cramps for an hour, and my period vanished. I do spot on occasion, nothing a thin panty liner can't take care of...but I did notice I was very emotional this week than usual...I'm not a crier, but I found myself shedding tears 4 out of 7 days this week, and my sex drive is through the roof sometimes, and sometimes it's very low (I've always had a low sex drive), plus I've been sleeping a lot this week. I have my 6-week check-up this week, so wish me luck!"

• Ame...
• April 21, 2015

For Birth Control "Overall, I've had an amazing experience with this so far. It's been effective, and I haven't experienced any body changes like I did with the pill. Insertion was uncomfortable, and the cramping lasted for the rest of that day (worst cramps I've ever had). Bled a lot in the first 3 weeks, now I just occasionally spot throughout the month (I've had it in for 2 months now). I highly recommend."

• how...
• September 5, 2016

For Birth Control "Before my procedure, I had researched IUDs extensively. Basically, all I was seeing was negative reviews. If you're the same, seeing if this is for you, this is a positive review for you to read! First off, the insertion. The worst part, by far, is when they clamp your cervix. I screamed Bloody Mary and cursed. The pain stopped once it was inserted. However, I did almost pass out after the procedure. I got VERY hot during the insertion and started sweating like a whore in church. After laying down for a while, I was alright to drive myself home. Two days post insertion, I've had little to few cramps and only some spotting. If you can get your head past the insertion, GO FOR IT! So far, I love it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2017

For Birth Control "The day I got Skyla was horrible, my doctor asked if I had taken any pain meds beforehand, and I told her no. Her response was, 'You should go take some, you're going to need it.' That whole day I laid in bed and cried because the cramps were so bad. That lasted for about two days. Then when I was getting ready to have my period, the cramps were still unbearable, nothing helped. I've been to the ER seven times for the pain and cysts, which they told me they can do nothing about. I've kept it for a year hoping it would get better, but it hasn't, so I'm getting it taken out 'cause it's not worth it to me."

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2017

For Birth Control "After looking at almost every horror review of IUDs, I thought I would share mine! I'm very petite and have always been VERY sensitive to hormones. I have NEVER been able to take any birth control without awful side effects and terrible GI ones. I ended up having surgery to remove endometriosis and had to choose a hormonal treatment to keep it from growing back. I chose Skyla due to it having the least amount of hormones. I did have pretty bad cramping up until my first cycle, but it helped with my PMS (had A LOT of bad symptoms) and could function with my cycles (endo made them debilitating). I didn't have any issues besides the cramps! You just really need to stick it out through some cycles. Hope this helps someone!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2017

For Birth Control "I just had the Skyla IUD inserted a little over an hour ago. It was not as awful as I was expecting. The whole process took about 5 minutes, the actual insertion takes about 30 seconds. When the IUD is being inserted, it feels like a sharp period cramp for a whole 30 seconds, and then it's over with. I have not gotten any cramps since or bleeding. I was very scared going into the process and actually canceled my appointment twice due to horror stories I was reading online, but I am very glad that I went through with it because it was not half as bad as people were making it out to be."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2015

For Birth Control "So I decided Skyla was the option for me because I recently got diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder, and the hormones from birth control pills were too much to handle. I'm 21, and I've never had kids before, so I didn't want to do Paragard or Mirena due to the size. The insertion process was not the best, but it was not the worst it could have been. I definitely psyched myself out thinking the absolute worst was going to happen due to all the reviews I read on here. As long as you take 800 mg of Advil or ibuprofen about a half an hour before the procedure, you will be fine. I can describe it as poking in places I've never been poked before, a little bit of lightheadedness, and you're done. Had some cramps, but I'm happy with my decision."