Skyla and Pain: What Users Say

• Lov...
• January 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I received Skyla 24 hours ago. I was super anxious about the pain because of how badly my experience was with the Copper IUD. I must tell you, DO NOT read dozens of reviews and allow them to implant fear into you. We are women, we are designed to withstand pain. You CAN do it! It's literally 30 seconds of OH CRAP, then done. I'm not downplaying anyone else's experience by any means. However, if you go in strong-minded and you are sure it's what you want, you will be fine. I do recommend taking Tylenol at least 20 minutes before insertion (it will help). B.C. pills were terrible on my mind and body, so I'm glad I chose to go back to the IUD. Remember, if you don't end up liking it, it can always be removed. You got this!"

• Edi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2015

For Birth Control "If you are here to gauge how painful an IUD insertion is, I beg you not to read any reviews on it. Pain is subjective. It really varies from person to person. I say this because I was on here the week before my appointment reading every bit of information. This made my process a thousand times worse. I was so nervous when I went in because reviews said it would be the worst pain I would ever experience. So far from the truth. The doctor will tell you everything you're about to feel; take their word for it. They won't deceive you. I cried a ton because I was so nervous. Relax. Take deep breaths, you'll feel a pinch, it'll hurt some, but not a lot. You'll feel a sudden cramp. It'll hurt because it's sharp, but that's it. Quick and easy! :)"

• col...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I tried pill after pill for 6 years, hated them all, whether it was bad skin or mood swings. Decided that I wanted to go as hormone-free as possible. As a 21-year-old, my doctor said that Skyla tended to have the best reviews from women my age. After reading all of the reviews, I was spooked, so I took a painkiller before. The doctor did not give me anything for anxiety or the pain. I ended up passing out twice during the insertion, and the next two days afterward were agonizing cramps. Thankful I had my boyfriend to take care of me. The rest of the first week was occasional sharp cramping. 6 weeks in, couldn't be happier! Appetite is smaller, skin is clearer, zero mood swings, high sex drive, normal periods. Well worth the initial pain."

• Its...
• March 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I was very skeptical of the IUD. I have heard horror stories and read many negative reviews. My advice is, do not listen to all the negative comments, everyone is different, and our bodies adjust differently. I spoke to my doctor about getting an IUD because I battled with the pill for too long. Between weight gain and an emotional roller coaster, I was just fed up, so we went with the Skyla. The procedure was painful, but the pain lasted for maybe 5 minutes. I did take ibuprofen an hour before, which I am sure helped. They said I would bleed for about 1 - 2 weeks, but my bleeding stopped the next day. It's been a week, and I am satisfied. I do feel bloated, but that is my only side effect. I will post a month follow-up, I hope this is helpful."

• Emm...
• June 17, 2015

For Birth Control "Skyla was the best birth control decision I have ever made. I've been on it for three months now and absolutely love it. There was certainly a fair amount of pain on insertion and the week after; I will admit that, but it has improved my sex life, hasn't tampered with my systemic hormones, weight gain, etc., makes me feel comfortable and safe, and my partner can hardly ever feel it. 10/10 would recommend!"

• Tay...
• January 11, 2016

For Birth Control "18 yrs old. Getting the IUD inserted was EXTREMELY painful but worth it. The 1st month or so was nothing but pain, but it was from spotting and cramps from getting used to something foreign in your body. Day 4 was the most painful, but I LOVE my IUD! I don't have scares, and I don't worry about taking a pill every day, and I don't worry about getting pregnant. This is the best choice I've made for my birth control. I've lost weight, acne cleared up, and most importantly, I'm not moody all the time! :) My boyfriend says he can feel it rarely during intercourse, but it doesn't hurt nor bother him. I've been on this since November, and I'm extremely happy I made this choice. Take ibuprofen before and after, and rest with a heating pad. Hope this review helps!"

• lil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2020

For Birth Control "This Skyla is the worst thing to ever happen to me. I’ve had it in for almost 7 months now. Insertion was the absolute worst pain I’ve ever gone through. I was in pain for weeks. I’m not the type to cry, but I was crying every day. Couldn’t get out of bed. Throwing up and passing out from the pain. After about a month and a half, it seemed to be getting better, but I was wrong. For the past 4 months, I’ve been cramping every day. It has not moved. I’m not pregnant, but the cramps I get on a daily basis are excruciating. I have scheduled an appointment to get it out. I can’t wait. I was on the pill, and I used the ring as well, neither of them worked correctly for me as they were messing with my hormones like crazy, but I would 110% prefer those options over the Skyla. Do not recommend. At all."

• luc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 6, 2023

For Birth Control "Well... 2.5 years later after insertion, my Skyla failed. The best part? The IUD was perfectly in place, but I ended up 6 weeks pregnant with an ectopic pregnancy. This led me to have a laparoscopic salpingectomy with D&C. 23 years old, and never been pregnant other than this, now I have only one fallopian tube and a much higher risk of having another ectopic. I'm scared to death of getting pregnant again and losing my other tube. The whole 2.5 years I had the IUD was painful. I have a very small frame (hardly 5' tall), so maybe that is why I had so much pain, but who knows? I had intense cramps all throughout as well as irregular periods (never irregular before Skyla). Not to mention the indescribable pain that came with insertion. Please do extensive research and discuss IUDs in great detail with your physician before considering this birth control method. Wish I could leave a zero, but a 1 will have to do since I still got pregnant."

• Tb0...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 16, 2017

For Birth Control "I had my Skyla put in May 2015. I have had it almost two years and can say that it was the best choice I could have made. When I first got it, I did experience a lot of pain, for at least a month, I had very bad cramps and mood swings. Two years later, I don't even know it's there. I would very strongly recommend!"

• liv...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 28, 2015

For Birth Control "I had my Skyla inserted in May of 2014. I have a condition that I have to take medication, which limited me from the use of other birth controls. Skyla gives me a lot more comfort because it is more effective than other methods of birth control. I do get cysts that grow on my uterus and rupture, mostly before my cycle, which is very painful, but the pain is worth the results! I highly recommend this birth control."

• Kri...
• May 11, 2016

For Birth Control "If you are reading this the night before you are going to get Skyla put in, STOP READING NOW. Every woman is different, so how you react will more than likely not be the same as these horror stories you see on here. I made the mistake of reading these, and I was so nervous for my appointment. I'll admit, the insertion was extremely painful but only lasted less than a minute. I was lightheaded, and my legs were numb for about 5 minutes, but I was able to drive myself home. I had some cramping afterwards, but nothing too severe. Some ibuprofen every 4 hours made them go away. I got mine put in 2 days ago, and my cramps have completely gone away. I'm looking forward to seeing how this works for me! Don't let the negative comments steer you away."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2016

For Birth Control "I previously wrote a review but need to update. My Skyla ended up dropping into my cervix, where I could feel it. I didn't have pain or bleeding, but I could feel it on my self-examinations at home. I got it replaced today and took Cytotec to soften my cervix 2 hours before. Last time, it was tolerable pain. This time, it was SO painful! I got shaky, hot, dizzy, and felt like throwing up. The pain made me jerk away from the doctor and clench every muscle in my body. Removal of my first one just felt weird and non-painful. Mild cramping. They had me take 800 mg of ibuprofen before I left. Thankfully, it only needs to be done every 3 years!"

• Mia...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 10, 2017

For Birth Control "I've had Skyla since September 30, 2016. The insertion process was quick and very painful for me. I almost blacked out. My period came around the same time each month, normally lasts a week. Which was dreadful because without birth control I'm only on for 3 days and it's light, lol. But here's why I am getting it removed next Thursday: these early labor contraction-like cramps are horrible! The pain is so bad it makes me feel like I'm about to throw up. I get the cramps every month for a week before my period, and I cry (actual tears) every time. It literally puts me in a ball. Heating pad and pain medicine work somewhat. Skyla did its job at preventing pregnancy, but the side effects just aren't worth it. I stayed on as long as I could."

• Gem...
• March 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had Skyla for 3 years now. I was 21 when it was originally placed. At that time, I knew virtually nothing about Skyla, so I assumed every risk would happen to me. None of them, not one, happened. There was slight pain when it was placed, and I honestly don't even remember spotting in the weeks afterward, but that was 3 years ago. Since then, I've had no troubles, worries, or children. So, in my case, this has been an absolute success. I've read some of the other horror stories, and honestly, I would've been afraid to get one after those. But I can truthfully say, for me, it's been great."

• Alp...
• December 3, 2017

For Birth Control "I had Skyla inserted 9/18/15. Never have I ever been pregnant. I was 26 at the time of insertion. Insertion was VERY painful. While the insertion was painful, it lasted only 2-3 minutes. I had slight pain for 3 days with MAJOR bloating. I spotted every day for 8 months. It was enough I had to wear a panty liner. Eventually, spotting stopped. My periods are irregular, when I did get one, I would bleed for 15-20 days. It was always dark, thick tissue that I bled. I had severe cramps not only on my period but randomly. Severe 8/10 pain. I just had the device removed 11/30/17. While it did prevent pregnancy, I had minimal side effects. The prolonged bleeding, the pain, and unpredictability of getting my period made me choose to remove it."

• Mad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2015

For Birth Control "I had previously been on birth control for two years. The last year on the pill, they changed it to continuous use due to the intense cramping/bleeding I experienced. I had been thrilled at the concept of having no periods until I started heavily spotting. For a majority of 9 months, I had one colossal period, and my OBGYN finally suggested trying an IUD (Skyla, to be exact). I am 20 years old and have never been pregnant. I had the IUD placed March 10th, 2015, and I have to admit the insertion was painful despite the ibuprofen I had taken, but also very quickly done. The pain has definitely seemed worth it, my cramps are now virtually gone, and my 'periods' are now constant and are VERY light spotting. Not to add, my PMS from BC is gone too!"

• KMW...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2016

For Birth Control "I have been on Skyla for 8 months. I read many negative reviews that horrified me. I am VERY happy with my IUD! Inserting it hurt, and the next few days I felt like I was having a really bad period. I had minor spotting the first month. I had a minor 2-4 day period the first three months. Since then, my period has completely stopped. I have even lost the weight I put on from birth control pills, and my sex drive has increased. I sincerely recommend trying Skyla."

• Jak...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 21, 2015

For Birth Control "I got my IUD put in September of last year. It was the most painful thing I've ever experienced and took me about two days to recover, with months and months of side effects. I kept hearing to give my body time to adjust, but I just knew something was wrong. Today, I finally went to the doctor to have it removed a year later. They seemed annoyed with the fact I wanted it removed and advised me against it, saying it was very unlikely causing me other problems. When she took it out, it was covered in tissue... She said she'd never seen anything like it before. She told me it must have been inserted incorrectly and it probably was the reason for all of my discomfort and pain. Never ignore your body if something feels off! So relieved I got it removed!"

• pea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2015

For Birth Control "I got the Skyla IUD inserted in February of 2015 after having been on the pill 2 years prior. I wanted a form of birth control that cost less (I had to pay for my pills every month), and I wanted something more reliable than the pill. My gyno recommended the Skyla IUD to me, so I figured, why not. Best decision of my life, hands down. Insertion was painful, but I was prepared, luckily. Take some pain killers beforehand, and it should lessen the blow. Also, be prepared to rest that day and a few days after because you will be sore. I did spot constantly for about 12 days afterward, but I haven't had a period since!!! Life is so much better, and I'm so happy I got the Skyla IUD. I highly recommend it."

• pea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2015

For Birth Control "I got the Skyla IUD inserted in February of 2015 after having been on the pill 2 years prior. I wanted a form of birth control that cost less (I had to pay for my pills every month), and I wanted something more reliable than the pill. My gyno recommended the Skyla IUD to me, so I figured, why not. Best decision of my life, hands down. Insertion was painful, but I was prepared, luckily. Take some pain killers beforehand, and it should lessen the blow. Also, be prepared to rest that day and a few days after because you will be sore. I did spot constantly for about 12 days afterward, but I haven't had a period since!!! Life is so much better, and I'm so happy I got the Skyla IUD. I highly recommend it."

• Chr...
• March 30, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had Skyla since I was 20, 2 years now. It is meant for women who have not had a baby before. I took some ibuprofen before and got it done in less than 5 mins. It was pretty, pretty painful, but you have to understand that they are dilating your cervix. Afterwards, I was in a little pain but was able to drive home. Laid down for the rest of the day. And 2 years later, I still love it! I did get an ovarian cyst like a year ago, but when I felt abdominal pain, I went to my dr. No complications. Had no period for 1 year, but overall feel great. It's not for everyone, but it has worked great for me. Also, I have not used a condom since I got it and never pregnant."

• 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!"

• Deb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 23, 2016

For Birth Control "I had my first Skyla inserted 4/13, then removed 3/16, and I just got my second 10/2016. I absolutely love the Skyla. My dr gave me Vicodin & Valium to take before insertion, but I still felt the typical pain and discomfort. I've had consistent heavy bleeding since my second insertion, but only discomfort for the first few days. I go back in Nov for a follow-up ultrasound to see if it has moved. I have yet to have an issue with the IUD-my partner and I had unprotected sex during the duration of my 1st, and no pregnancies. I did not get many periods for that monthly reassurance, though. I absolutely recommend the Skyla if your dr deems it a good option for you."

• Mol...
• December 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I'm 23 and have never had kids. I was on the Depo shot for about 6 years and just got on the Skyla in August 2016. The insertion process was painful and extremely uncomfortable. I almost passed out, and I usually have a high pain tolerance. I thought I was okay to drive home, but the whole time I was hurling over my steering wheel in pain. I was in bed with medicine and a heating pad the rest of the day and honestly two days after. I'm on month 4, almost 5 now, and I've had terrible cramps but no periods. They are basically contraction-like pains. I get them almost every day. I don't know if I should get the Skyla removed or not. These cramps are unbearable. Only a heating pad and laying down helps."

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I've had Skyla for a year and three months; the insertion was painful and uncomfortable. I had some VERY light spotting, cramping, and a bit of nausea the first day, but by the following day, I was absolutely fine. All in all, this has been the BEST decision I've ever made in terms of birth control. Prior to Skyla, I took pills, and they wreaked havoc on my body and libido. After almost three years, I was fed up with the side effects, so I opted to try something new. I would recommend this IUD to anyone reconsidering their current method of BC. The simplicity and joy of not having to remember a pill every night, emergency prescription runs, and the improvement in the overall feeling of my body is incredible and well worth one day of discomfort."