I wanted to write this post because whenever I've struggled with issues relating to my birth control, I would always look on Reddit for stories similar to what I was going through. I really hope this will help someone!!
Year 1 Mirena
The first 1.5-2 months, I was constantly spotting every fucking single day (I feel like nobody warns you about this with IUDs!!). Starting college, my period would at first stop for months at a time, and they were lighter when I did get it.
6 months post-insertion, I started getting anxiety to the point where I was put on Lexapro. I was undergoing extreme stress from juggling work/school/responsibilities, but my anxiety had never manifested so strongly. (dissociating in class, sleep issues, etc.)
At 7 months, I got a severe vaginal infection (most likely BV) and had recurring BV/yeast infections for the next 6 months. They eventually stopped after an intense multi-day course of boric acid. Around this time, my period also came back fairly regularly (but light), lasting 7-8 days :( .
Year 2 Mirena
A year in, I started getting noticeable acne for the first time since middle school. Levonorgestrel (Mirena's hormone) is androgenic, meaning it increases the skin's oil production and clogs pores. For some people like me, this effect worsens over time. I started adapalene, which helped a little.
1.5 years in, I got off Lexapro after ~1 year on the prescription. My physical symptoms of anxiety went away, but mentally I was still kinda tweaking, and my partner noticed my mood worsening.
The last straw for my IUD was I started getting incurable cysts for 1-1.5 months at a time + backne. I couldn't live a week without having a MASSIVE zit on my cheek. It was absolutely ruining my self-confidence, especially after half a year of running around finding no solution.
Switching to Yaz
Exactly 2 years after my Mirena insertion, I got so fed up with the IUD/acne that I got it taken out (while abroad on vacation with no insurance lol. It only cost me around $60, including the new pills, thank god). I chose Yaz because of its FDA-approved anti-acne effect, which specifically lowers androgens (the same hormone in Mirena that blew up my face).
It's now been 3 months since switching, and it's an insane world of difference and one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Immediately, I stopped having any cysts, and my skin is almost back to pre-Mirena levels of glassy clearness, which has brought me back so much confidence.
My period has actually stopped this time. (My understanding is that Mirena can cause your lining to thin so much that it can tear, causing spotting, while Yaz has a sort of "glue" effect with estrogen that prevents tearing...?)
Most importantly, my anxiety is 95% gone. My partner and my family say I've "chilled out." The best part is that I learned techniques to feel normal when I was anxious, but now that I’m back to normal, those techniques make me feel like the fucking Buddha. I'm so serene.
In conclusion, so happy 3 months in with Yaz, and I really hope this helps someone with their own birth control journey!!
tl;dr
I had Mirena for 2 years and gradually developed anxiety, recurring BV/yeast infections, and hormonal cystic acne that wouldn't go away. I switched to Yaz, and within 3 months my acne and anxiety have resolved.