Skyla and Spotting: What Users Say (Page 5)

• 27y...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I got Skyla for birth control and also because I was having irregular/long periods (usually 12-14 days of a 28-32 day cycle that varied). In the first months after I got it, I did see an increase in acne (I am already prone to acne, but it did get worse). Throughout, I have had frequent spotting and irregular bleeding. I have had two 'periods' that lasted 23 days with light bleeding/spotting and maybe 1-2 days of heavier bleeding. So basically since I have been on Skyla, more than half of my life I have spotting. It has been very frustrating. I am considering switching to Kyleena or to a different birth control completely because I pretty much always have spotting. I think 8 months is long enough to see that this is not a good fit for me. Has anyone else had similar experiences?"

• Pea...
• April 14, 2018

For Birth Control "Positives: sexual freedom and easy insert. Negatives: HORRIBLE acne, mood swings, periods lasting 10-20 days per cycle and spotting in between periods. I only lasted 6 and a half months on this IUD :( This is just my personal experience with this medication, other people experience it differently. The acne affected my self-esteem, and my mood swings made me feel vulnerable because I would be content one minute and the next minute I would feel sad, irritable, or anxious. I've had the IUD removed for 2 weeks, and my face is already clearing up (no new pimples), and my mood is stable. Thank God! My doctor told me that the symptoms would get better in 6 months, unfortunately, they consistently got worse over the months, and I couldn't put up with it anymore. I hope other women's experiences are better than mine."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2015

For Birth Control "I got Skyla about 2 months ago, and the bleeding has not stopped. Pads and tampons have been a part of my life for the past two months, it's so annoying. The insertion pain wasn't that bad, it was just like a really strong period cramp. So far, I'm just annoyed with the bleeding and spotting, it's so inconvenient."

• Zou...
• June 9, 2018

For Birth Control "I had Skyla for 2.5 years before I finally had it taken out. The insertion/removal were both fairly painful. After insertion, I spotted for a month and felt generally uncomfortable. The random cramping and bloated feeling never went away. Sometimes I would cramp really badly and be doubled over in pain, but this would pass in a few minutes, so it wasn’t a deal breaker. I dealt with all this because I loved having a birth control that didn’t make me nauseous for once. The deal breaker was that I gained 10 pounds. I work out 5 times a week, follow a healthy diet, and no matter what I did, I kept gaining weight. My doctor denied this had anything to do with the IUD and instead blamed my getting older. Well, I listened to instinct and got it removed on Wednesday. It is now Saturday. I have lost 5 pounds in 3 days. I’m not saying everyone’s experience will be the same, but listen to your instincts and remember you have a continuous medicine in your body. I am SO THANKFUL I finally did."

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I got the Skyla one week ago. Insertion was uncomfortable, but I think my nerves got the best of me and made it worse. Like many other people, I read all the horror stories of insertion being incredibly painful. I was shaking the entire time because I was so nervous, and it was just a lot of pressure that was over really quickly. Post-insertion, I have cramps no worse than period cramps and very light spotting, which I expect to be over soon. Don't let all the horror stories scare you. Everyone is different. The IUD is worth it, you are 20% less likely to have an unplanned pregnancy with it than you are with regular birth control pills. Insertion is not fun, but being pregnant is even less fun."

• Ark...
• April 20, 2016

For Birth Control "I got the Skyla IUD inserted exactly a week ago. (21 with no kids) The process of getting it inserted wasn't exactly comfortable. It was painful, but it only lasted a few minutes. I was bleeding so bad that I had to stop by the store on the way home. Now on day 7, I'm still having pretty bad cramps. I have been taking ibuprofen since the first day. At one point today, I was in so much pain my body started shaking. I'm still spotting, but I'm staying hopeful. I just keep trying to stay positive that it will get better. I hope this helps someone!"

• adr...
• March 25, 2017

For Birth Control "I got Skyla inserted on March 15th, which was the 5th day of my period. It was suggested I get it inserted while on my cycle due to the fact that I've never had children, and during your cycle, your cervix is supposed to open up some. Insertion hurt like hell. I groaned in pain, that was the absolute worst pain I've experienced (I've had my nipples pierced and a foot tattoo, which are pretty painful, but the insertion tops that!). I got so hot afterwards and lightheaded I had to sit there for a minute while the nurse got me water. Haven't had any side effects besides constant spotting, like I haven't stopped bleeding since the insertion. It's March 25th, so I've had additional bleeding for a week and a half, going on two weeks. I HOPE IT STOPS SOON!!"

• Mos...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 8, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had Skyla for a little over 2 years. I'm not going to lie, the application SUCKED. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but your doctor has to force your cervix to dilate, so that obviously isn't going to feel pleasant. I took Advil an hour before my appointment, as well. I had cramping for 2 weeks and I spotted for a little over a month, but not heavily. The worst part for me was the uncontrollable emotions for the first few days while the hormones set in. I would be talking about something happy, and tears would start flowing (I looked insane). I decided to keep my Skyla and give it time because I'm only 20, and I would rather have some light spotting and uneasy emotions than a child. Now, I'm so happy and everything is normal!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2016

For Birth Control "Got Skyla put in a month ago, 25 years old, no kids. My doctor said it would hurt getting put in, which it did! After the appointment, I almost passed out and started vomiting from the pain. Really bad cramps after the procedure for about an hour, and my pulse was considerably lower than normal. The next morning, just mild cramps. Would definitely recommend having someone drive you home from the appointment. Had a normal period but hardly any cramps. No weight gain, no mood swings, no sudden acne, so so far, so good. I did spot periodically after placement until my period started."

• mmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2016

For Birth Control "I have had my Skyla in for only about 3 weeks now. I was not on my period when I got it inserted, and I did not take any painkillers or anything beforehand. The pain during the procedure was painful but tolerable (I have a moderate pain tolerance). It only lasted 2 minutes tops, and I just had severe cramping during those couple of minutes, which caused me to get very hot. I have had cramping since I've gotten it, along with on-and-off spotting. I've noticed that Midol works the best for the cramps. Although I have not had it in very long, I am so far not minding it. I had heard good things about it from friends, so I am giving it a go."

• Dom...
• April 23, 2016

For Birth Control "So let me just start out by saying I have had Skyla for 3 years now, and I never got pregnant, so that's a plus. 1. Insertion is painful, but just like a really bad cramp, lasts only a couple of seconds. 2. Post-insertion, I had a lot of spotting for the first 2 weeks, got a little annoying, but stopped. 3. For the past 3 years, I have been having irregular periods. Sometimes I have my period for 2 weeks, sometimes there is no period. I feel very painful cramps during these periods, but if you don't want to get pregnant, what's a couple of cramps? PROS: Very effective birth control, easy, sometimes no periods, no acne (depends on the person, I guess). CONS: Loss of sexual appetite, increase in discharge, weight gain. It's okay."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2017

For Birth Control "I've had Skyla for 4 weeks now. Yes, insertion is very uncomfortable, but it is worth it. I only had cramps the first 3 days after insertion, and yes, those were uncomfortable too, but they stopped. I spotted for about a week after insertion, and I have not had any bleeding since. I also have noticed a serious improvement in lubrication (I was on NuvaRing), so sex is more enjoyable. Overall, I would recommend! Also, my boyfriend cannot feel the string, and I can't tell it's there."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2017

For Birth Control "I'm 15, and I got the Skyla IUD yesterday. I was on the Depo shot for about 2 years, but my doctor recommended I find another BC, as they don't like teens on the shot for more than 2 years. I decided on Skyla for multiple reasons. I can say the procedure was the worst pain EVER, and I've had brain surgery. I felt sick/dizzy for about 15 minutes after. I continued to have very BAD cramps for the rest of the day and up to the next morning, and could barely walk (still having small cramps 24 hours after). I never had periods on the shot, so maybe others used to cramps would take to it better. I had brown spotting after (doctor said this is normal). My advice: don't plan this on a day you need to go somewhere, and bring pantyliners and pain meds."

• Ann...
• January 10, 2017

For Birth Control "I've had the Skyla IUD for 2 years now, and it's been a fantastic experience. I will admit the insertion was very painful. I took 600 mg of Advil about an hour beforehand, and it was still very painful (an 8.5 out of 10 pain-wise). The rest of the day I had to stay home because the cramps would come in waves and were severe. After 2-3 days, the pain was gone, but I did have bleeding/spotting for about 1-2 months afterward. However, I was on Depo-Provera prior to the IUD, and it caused my uterine lining to really thicken up, so there's no telling whether the bleeding was from the IUD or from the Depo. Since then, my periods come every 2 months or so and only last about 3-4 days, and I've never once worried about being pregnant. Highly recommend!"

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2017

For Birth Control "I got Skyla inserted 1/25, so it's been almost two months. Pro: I don't have to think about it, and while it does last a while, no mood swing changes (but I do cry occasionally during a sad film now), I don't start random arguments with my bf, bf doesn't feel it. Con: severely decreased sex drive, losing eyelashes (probably even my hair, but hard to say because I have a lot of hair anyway), spotting every SINGLE day (some days more than others), severe cramps when I'm dehydrated."

• Yes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2016

For Birth Control "I just had my Skyla inserted about 3 weeks ago. Ever since then, I've been spotting non-stop, and three days ago, I started bleeding super heavy, like if I was peeing myself, and I haven't stopped bleeding since. It feels miserable when, never before the Skyla, my period was this heavy and the horrible feeling of knowing that at any moment I can stain my pants because it's that heavy. Also, lower back pain and mild cramps. I'm scared now of how bad it is. I don't know whether to take the Skyla off or leave it on, hoping it'll (my period) go back to normal. My experience so far hasn't been great at all. I don't really recommend this to anyone, but everyone is different."

• Mia...
• November 11, 2019

For Birth Control "I had Skyla inserted in May 2016 (20 years old). I have a high tolerance for pain, but the insertion procedure was extremely painful. I had spotting and heavy cramping for the next couple of days. Eventually, my period lightened, or I would miss it entirely, however, I experienced random, extremely painful sharp pains all the time. These sharp pains would be crippling but only last 2 minutes, tops. Although the length of time was short, it was random and I never knew what would trigger these sharp pains. I’d be in the middle of a conversation and have to hold on to the closest thing to me and focus on my breathing to get through them."

• Ell...
• August 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I am 30 years old and had Skyla inserted in me just a bit over a month ago. Although everyone's experience is different due to different bodies and such, my experience I would say wasn't painful but uncomfortable (feeling a bit violated) for a lack of better words. First few days I was spotting, followed by my 5-day period, followed by more spotting on and off. It's been a month and about a week now and no dark red, almost brown chunk like discharges, but I'm not sure if I'm out of the woods yet. Still trying to see and decide if this is still a good choice for me, so far I am rating it a 7 for first-time experience, with all the discomfort and spotting on and off. I'll comment again after my 2nd month and see where I'm at with it."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 13, 2017

For Birth Control "I've been on Skyla for over a year. I thought it was super painful to have the procedure done, and I had bad cramps and spotting/light periods on and off for about 3 months. The cramps were so painful I was often doubled over and felt like the wind was knocked out of me. After that 3-month period, I was getting my period consistently in the sense that I was just consistently bleeding. I've also felt a sense of anxiety I didn't have prior to Skyla. I stopped getting my period about 7 months after being on Skyla, but recently I've started getting the bad cramps again. So, I went to my doctor, and basically, my body goes through the motions of having a period without bleeding. It's painful, but I am not pregnant."

• Can...
• November 25, 2019

For Birth Control "Had Skyla inserted in Nov of 2016. Overall, I've had a very pleasant experience. I've had a Mirena before, so I knew what to expect with regard to insertion. Just felt some minor poking and prodding - I guess you can say I have a fairly high pain tolerance? I did experience some slight spotting afterward, but that was to be expected. The first 2 years were amazing, and I had no side effects whatsoever, except for lighter periods (but I consider this a pro). For the last year, though, there was a drastic change - I began feeling depressed, was very emotional, very tired and fatigued, and had an increase in bloating. I also saw a decline in my sex drive, periods were irregular (every 2-3 months), and an ovarian cyst formed. I will say that it has been a rough year for me both mentally and physically, so that probably exemplified those side effects. Nonetheless, Skyla did its job, and I would definitely recommend - 3 years of birth control with no major issues or side effects!"

• Soc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 7, 2017

For Birth Control "Again, this is not for everyone. I had it in for about 11 months. For the first 5 months, I bled constantly, after that, it was spotting. However, annoying nonetheless. Insertion was a little painful, but tolerable. The last 4-5 months, that's when everything started to get worse. It was constant spotting, my acne got worse, I gained like 15 pounds, headaches, and fatigue. I am 20, with no kids. I switched to the pill, but I just read reviews on it, and it has really bad reviews, but I'm trying it out."

• don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2019

For Birth Control "I was hesitant to get an IUD, so my doctor recommended the Skyla because it's a little smaller and has fewer hormones. I've never birthed a child, and I wasn't on my period during the insertion. The insertion was a nightmare, it took several tries for my doc to get it in properly. I almost fainted from the pain and anxiety. After four or five tries, he finally said it was good to go. I had to wait in the room after for about 20 minutes before I felt okay enough to drive home. I was bedridden for three days. The last three weeks have been a nightmare, I've had constant heavy spotting and persistent cramps that are sometimes sharp, but they're always existent. Nausea every day all day, and very bloated. The Skyla IUD is not for me, and I'm getting it removed tomorrow."

• lrg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I had Skyla for the full 3 years and just had it removed on June 26. Skyla did its job well, but I can’t say it was a 10/10 experience overall. I basically had constant spotting for the full 3 years, and only in the last year of having it did my periods begin to regulate. Between my “real” periods (aside from the spotting, which was very light), I didn’t have any real issues with Skyla. During my periods, I would get very painful cramps like 2 days before and 1-2 days into my period that were honestly more painful than the cramps I experienced pre-IUD. No real issues having sex, except that when my BF would hit my cervix, it was like an earthquake of pain radiating up from my cervix into my uterus which (obviously) would usually kill the mood. All said, I’d still recommend Skyla to someone. I’m pretty sure that the issues I had are very uncommon for most women that have Skyla, so go for it! It just wasn’t the best fit for me. FYI, I am 23/NP."

• ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2017

For Birth Control "I had the Skyla IUD put in December 13th (I believe that's the day). I have a very high pain tolerance, over 16 piercings, have even pierced myself a few times, and the pain from having this inserted was easily a 10/10. I was crying. I was telling them to take it out of me, it hurt so bad, but honestly, immediately after it was completely in, the pain went away SO FAST. I had terrible cramping that day and the day after, but I only bled about 3 days once it was put in. I spotted pretty irregularly the first month, and when it came to the time my period was coming, I bled a full 8 days very heavily. Since my period has ended, I haven't spotted once, and I haven't had any cramps. I would definitely go through the pain again!! Best birth control!!"

• Cdt...
• August 23, 2015

For Birth Control "I got Skyla inserted 5 days ago. I think it's also helpful to mention I naturally miscarried last year for the first time in case anyone wants a comparison. (Skyla insertion > miscarriage) I was terrified of the insertion process, but it wasn't like any of the horror stories I've read. I should say I took two ibuprofen, 200 mg, 30 mins before. The best way to describe it is like getting a Pap smear, but for an extra minute. The whole process was less than 2 mins, and it just felt like an intense cramp briefly. After that, I went back to work and didn't feel different for 6 hrs, aside from mental awareness. However, 6 hrs later, I started getting bad cramps I remedied with sleeping through it. Now just spotting and occasional mild cramps, but no regrets."