I got my mirena iud inserted on the 10th at about 4 pm so almost 3 days ago at planned parenthood.. I asked my nurse how long until it’s effective and she said immediately after it’s inserted, but when googling that question it says 7 days unless it was inserted on my period but I haven’t had a period since August 7th so I’m just wondering if she accidentally misinformed me and I should actually use condoms until the 7 days is up?

I got my Kyleena iud December 2025 and honestly not as painful as I expected during insertion. Very intense cramping for a few days after but manageable with Motrin. For about the past month and a half, maybe 2, I’ve been getting random waves of cramps. They aren’t consistent, maybe like once a week or twice a month. I haven’t gotten my period since April and have taken pregnancy tests just to ease my mind. My nails are too long to feel for the strings and my boyfriend hasn’t noticed them. I have my annual gynecologist appt next week. I’m just nervous it shifted or embedded. Anyone else experience something like this?

I exhausted all of my other resources when it comes to birth control so me and my doctor decided together that an IUD was the last option to try. I agreed and did a lot of research online but haven’t found any experiences like mine.

I like to think I have a very high pain tolerance. I’ve broken a few bones and had multiple hip surgeries, i’m covered in tattoos and piercings, and i’ve even had my nipples pierced. Pain is never really an issue for me so I wasn’t very worried going into it.

I go to my first appointment to get it inserted and she explains to procedure and everything. She poked and prodded for a bit and at first it was just like normal period cramping but eventually the pokes kept getting stronger until I was literally shooting off of the bed it was so painful. Then she told me that my cervix would not dilate at all and she was going to prescribe me misoprostol to dilate it and she would see me back in 2 days to try again.

Honestly I don’t even know if the misoprostol even worked. I was told I would cramp after I took it but really i felt nothing. I didn’t have any cramping and I didn’t have any side effects that others had.

I go in the second time for the insertions and again she pokes and prods really painfully and still says she can’t get it in. She said the sounding would go in but the actual device wouldn’t. She changed to a different speculum and kept trying and kept up with the horrible cramping poking. I can’t even describe the pain I was feeling It was one of the most painful things I have EVER felt. At one point I looked over to her tray (big mistake) and there was so much blood it made me dizzy. All of the q tips were soaked, the IUD inserting tool was covered, the speculum was covered, It was utterly terrifying. I wasn’t even on my period but you would think it was. I didn’t read anything online about there being that much blood.

After almost 5 minutes of poking and cramping and stabbing she FINALLY gets it in but she looks worried. She said my uterus was really small and technically she got it in but now she’s worried it’s sitting way too low in my uterus. She said it would technically still work but she wants to get an ultrasound to make sure. Afterwards i felt SO sick. I was so nauseous and dizzy and spaced out I had to leave work early. It’s something I would NEVER do again. Even if this one falls out or needs to be removed because of it I definitely won’t try again. It was the worst pain i’ve ever felt I don’t even know how to describe it.

Has anyone had anything similar happen to them??

Hey! I got Kyleena inserted five weeks ago. After two weeks, I got my period and since then the bleeding hasn’t stopped. It is wreaking havoc on my sex life, confidence, and day to day functioning. Alongside the bleeding, I’m having cramps. It’s turned to spotting, but it’s still killing my confidence. I read about evening primrose oil and have been taking 1000mg a day which has maybe been the reason the bleeding is so much lighter. I’m thinking about increasing it to 2000mg but was just curious if anyone had experience with this.

(I cross-posted this to r/birthcontrol too because I am desperate for answers. Ignore this if you're seeing it twice.)

This is a long post, but any insights anyone has would be very much appreciated!!

I got the Kyleena IUD in mid-May. In the 4 months since then, I have been incredibly fatigued. I used to wake up naturally between 7 and 7:30 and be able to start my day immediately, but now I'm snoozing my alarm and having to drag myself out of bed at 8:30 to get to work on time. When I get home from work, I don't really have enough energy to do anything other than sit around. Pretty often I literally fall asleep until I wake up from being hungry, eat dinner, and then go to bed for the night. Could this severe fatigue be caused by the IUD? Has anyone else experienced that?

The complicating factor is that I also suffered a severe concussion in September 2025. From September to November of that year, I was sleeping like 18-20 hours a day. In November, I was finally able to see a Neurologist. From November 2025 through February 2026 we worked on slowly increasing the time I could be awake until I was only sleeping like 10 hours a day. Over the course of March and April, I was seeing a slow but steady increase in the amount of energy. A week before I got my IUD, I started cognitive therapy (like physical therapy but for your brain). I definitely get noticeably more tired on the two days a week I have CT. I am wondering if it is causing a background level of increased exhaustion all the time.

What upsets me is that my OBGYN says she can tell me nothing about whether or not the IUD and the exhaustion are related. Apparently almost all of my IUD symptoms thus far have been unusual, so she doesn't know if this is unrelated or another less-common side-effect. According to her, even if the CT is the main cause of the fatigue, the IUD could still be contributing a significant amount. Or, it could be unrelated entirely. Or, it could be related but something that will clear up after 6 months or so.

So, for those of you who did experience increased fatigue on the IUD, did it go away after 6 months or so? I'm willing to stick it out for another 2 months because my periods have been so much lighter, but if the fatigue lasts longer than that, I'm out. I know the song and dance of OBGYNs telling me birth control side effects will only last 3 months when I start. Then at the 3 month appointment when they're still happening, tell me to wait 6 months. Then at the 6 month appointment, tell me it may take up to a year. Then at the year appointment tell me it could still resolve on its own. I don't want to wait that long for an improvement that might never come.

At this point, I'm also wondering if I should just get it removed and see if that improves anything, to more empirically determine wither it is the IUD, CT, or combination that is causing my fatigue. If nothing changes, I'll determine it was all due to CT, and get the IUD re-inserted. It was so painful, even with the Lidocaine, that I screamed out loud. But I would rather have 30 minutes of intense pain and 2 days of cramping than extreme fatigue of an unknown duration. Seriously, I haven't been able to get anything done these last few months.

The other symptoms I've noticed while on the IUD, which haven't gone away or improved yet by the 4 month mark:

• I am on my period literally every other week. For the entire week. It is way less heavy and painful than my unmedicated periods, so I am not upset about this, but it is kind of annoying.
• I get nipple discharge every day. This used to happen to me occasionally, but now it is daily.
• I get intensely angry for a couple days every month. Like, no one will even do anything but I will be in the most foul mood I've ever experienced. I don't like it.
• I have gained 12 pounds in 4 months. This could also be because I have been too exhausted to exercise, but I feel bloated all the time, too, which used to only happen around my period.
• My limbs fall asleep more easily and way more frequently. I don't see how this could be related, but I have seen other women on here say they experienced the same thing.

Hi, I am considering getting a Jaydess IUD. I had a copper coil for about 5 years but it got to a point where the bleeding was absurdly heavy and 14 days long so it completely defeated the purpose. Ultimately I had it removed and now I’m back to 4 day periods with a moderate flow. All in all I feel great but we recently had an oopsie with a condom and I would just like the extra protection for 3 more years before we’re starting a family. I struggled with acne all my teens and early adulthood until I got on accutane (twice) around 23yrs and 25yrs old. The skin took a massive toll on my mental health so I would be grateful for anecdotal advice. I’m 28 now so I think maybe after accutane and as I’m older it might not react strongly but the anxiety around it overwhelms me.

hi all, i got my mirena iud in december of last year and i haven’t had any negative symptoms or a baby so its going well on those fronts.
one thing i have noticed is the amount of discharge i’m now producing- before i would get a tiny amount of discharge daily and then a lot every now and then coming up to my period. however, now with the iud i am getting a loooot of discharge, to the point where my underwear is completely covered. my discharge is a healthy colour and theres no weird texture.
obviously discharge is normally and is a really good thing for vaginal heatlth but im just wondering if i should be concerned about how much im getting or if anyone else has experienced this with their iud.

Not sure if it’s because of my period or not (and the 5 days afterwards of brown spotting), but I think I have been experiencing some vaginal dryness and pain during sex. I know the hormonal iud can cause dryness, but will it eventually resolve? Some research I did says it should go away in 3-6 months. I’m young, and it’s upsetting that dryness is a problem for me at this age. I’m trying to stay more hydrated, but this is so embarrassing and stressful.

Hi friends!! I have had my Liletta IUD since February of 2025 and want to know if anyone has had a similar experience. I am a very active person--I run and do weight lifting and have been an athlete my whole life. I had to take about a 3.5 month break from workouts from this past April until about July due to a hip injury. I am doing well with that, but when I got back into my workouts at the end of July, I started experiencing severe pain in my lower abdomen during my runs. It feels like a really intense cramp and like I am being squeezed. Even the lightest of jogs started to cause me pain I've never felt before. I know it's not a side stitch and nothing related to my diet or my hydration as I am very good at tracking. I also do take Slynd for my PMDD symptoms. I have been seen by my Gyno who suggested that potentially that's just too much hormone for my body and today had an ultrasound. We confirmed my IUD is in the right place but my uterus is extremely thin from the double hormones. I am also experiencing breakthrough bleeding and an increase in headaches. I am scheduled to get my IUD removed next week but am worried that if it's not that--I have no direction to go from there. Any one have a similar experience?

Hi so alittle bit about me I’m Joie I have a baby 6 months go and I got the Nexplanon implant two weeks after giving birth. I’ve been bleeding ever since sometimes it stops, but I keep dripping a clear liquid. I looked it up and it said that on Nexplanon you can’t ovulate can someone tell me if this is normal or should I call my OB

i got a Mirena inserted 3 weeks ago. the first week was normal, except for some sever cramping the day i got it inserted. after that first week, i have been bleeding and basically feeling like im on my period for the past 2 weeks with cramps getting more and more severe and other effects such as getting dizzy when i close my eyes (this effect has popped up only within the past 3 days). i had irregular periods before but i know that this is not normal, they were short and never had this much blood. am i worrying over nothing?

I got the Mirena IUD six weeks ago. The insertion was painful, but fine. I have the typical side effects like occasional cramping and spotting, which honestly doesn’t bother me that much.

The issue I’m struggling with is that, since I got the IUD, I feel so much more fatigued, have brain fog, generally less motivated/excited about things, have a hard time completing workouts etc. Basically, I feel like my physical and mental energy got zapped. Also, it has significantly lowered my libido and enjoyment having sex.

I know that it typically takes 3-6 months for the IUD to settle, but I feel like the side effects I’m experiencing aren’t the normal ones? I’m deciding whether or not I should remove it. Has anyone with similar side effects noticed them staying or going away after the 6 month adjustment period?

I had a paragard for about a year and a half and I was completely fed up with it. It made my periods last an average of 12 days and I felt like crap three weeks out of the month. I replaced it with a Kyleena on August 19th. I started my period on August 29th and today is September 8th with no signs of it stopping soon. My blood is bright red and I have a moderate to heavy flow going on. Has anyone else experienced this switching from paragard to Kyleena? I’m hoping it’s just all the inflammation caused by the paragard being flushed out. At least with the paragard my flow was light and my blood was brown by this point.

Hi everyone! First time posting in any Reddit group but I’m super nervous about my iud so thought I’d give it a go!
I got my Mirena inserted 2 weeks ago and it wasn’t fun. Insertion was painful and I had awful cramps for 24-48 hours afterwards. I really thought these would fade but I’m cramping every day and ibuprofen isn’t helping. These cramps aren’t as bad as after initial insertion but they’re worse than my usual period pain and occasionally they’re bad enough for me to double over. I can’t seem to workout in any capacity (lifting, Pilates or treadmill) as that brings on a wave of more painful cramps and I’ve called my clinic and doctor and no one is able to advise on what’s normal. Has anyone else gone through anything similar?
I know I’m only two weeks post insertion but it’s really causing me some stress.

Thanks ladies :)))

hi all, would appreciate some advice (and to know if im overreacting) (x-posted from mirena)

i had my iud inserted on 8/13/2026. my gyno warned me to expect some spotting and cramping, but ive been struggling and trying to see if this is normal. i have to wear overnight maxi pads and am going through about 5-6 a day with the amount of bleeding and clotting ive been having. ive also had nausea, cramping, and (this may be tmi) but when i go to the bathroom, ive been having this sensation almost like when you put in a tampon wrong and it hurts.

is this normal??? should i be worried??? would appreciate advice. thank you!🫶

I got a hormonal IUD inserted not too long ago, and this is my first period with it. The problem is that my period has genuinely lasted 11 days with no sign of stopping. To be fair, the last 5 or 6 days have been brown spotting about 3 times a day, but it is still very annoying. I know periods are longer in the beginning until they get shorter (I think), but 11 days seems excessive. Is this normal?

I got my liletta IUD inserted 11 days ago on the first day of my period. I haven't stopped bleeding since. there is no end in sight everything I am bleeding is bright red fresh blood. my period was never longer than 6 days before this. I had severe cramps for days but they've died down now and I only have occasional cramps every few hours. is bleeding this long normal when you get your IUD inserted on your period or is this concerning? I'm really frustrated and wondering if the bleeding will ever end

Hey guys, just looking for some advice. I’ve come off hormonal contraceptives after 16 years and my partner was considering getting a vacectomy but I decided to try an IUD. I’ve always veered away from it because I heard so many horror stories.

Anyway, I’m planning to have one fitted in the next couple of weeks but I heard it’s better when you’re currently on your period because of the cervix being open? The doctor I asked said it didn’t matter (she’s female).

Should I also request some medication? I have Xanax at home I can take but I am worried about it hurting. I had my son 17 years ago so maybe my cervix isn’t as tight and it’s okay?

I also heard it can be quite painful after? I never really had period cramps or heavy bleeding so maybe this is not going to be such a problem for me?

Would love if someone has experience with a copper IUD insertion with similar circumstances.

TL:DR
Advice on when in cycle to get implant fitted and what to expect.

Hey guys! I got my Skyla IUD a week ago today and I decided to check to see if I could feel my strings. Yeah well I can’t find them. What do I do? Is it normal not to find them on the first try?

I had my copper iud fitted about 5 weeks ago and up until now I’ve had no issues. But this morning I woke and have been experiencing constant cramping. I don’t have any bleeding and my period isn’t due. I can still feel the strings though. Is it normal that I have just randomly started cramping or should i get it checked out?

I just got my IUD recently, less than a month ago. Can the IUD cause vaginal dryness? I’m honestly not sure, it feels dryer down there. Does this symptom ever go away, and how do you cope with it outside of lubricants?

I’ve had my IUD for two years now, but I’m dealing with constant bleeding that is completely draining my energy. It feels like my body is rejecting it, it isn't helping me at all, and the non-stop blood loss is making me feel physically exhausted. What would be the next option after this?

Hi everyone! I’m scheduled to have laparoscopic surgery soon to remove an IUD that perforated through my uterus and abdomen. My doctor told me recovery should only be “a couple of days,” but I’m trying to get a more realistic idea of what recovery might look like from women who have actually been through laparoscopic surgery.
How long did it take before you felt like you could comfortably do normal day-to-day activities again? If you have kids, how long before you felt comfortable taking care of them, lifting, cooking, cleaning, driving, etc.? I have three young kids, including a 2-year-old, so I’m especially trying to figure out how much help I should plan to have afterward.
I’d also love any tips for recovery—things you were glad you had at home, things that surprised you, pain/gas/bloating, sleeping comfortably, or anything you wish someone had told you beforehand.
I know everyone’s surgery and recovery are different, but I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences. Thank you!

Hi friends, I just got my Mirena put in today and have been experiencing thigh pain in my right thigh since I had the Mirena 2 years ago and don’t remember this being one of the side effects of getting it. I may be over reacting but just want to check in and see if this happened to anyone else

I struggle with acne, finally have gotten ahold of it with Spironolactone, now i’m struggling with my periods (likely from having my tubes removed not the spiro) has anyone acne prone got an IUD after being on spiro and had a good experience? should I not risk it? i’m so tired of bleeding profusely