Can Skyla IUD cause weight gain. Does Skyla IUD lead to acne. What are the common side effects of Skyla IUD. How does Skyla compare to other birth control methods. Is Skyla a good option for long-term contraception.

Understanding the Skyla IUD: A Comprehensive Overview

The Skyla intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular form of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) that has gained widespread use in recent years. As with any birth control method, potential users often have questions and concerns about side effects, particularly regarding weight gain and skin changes. This article aims to provide a thorough examination of the Skyla IUD, addressing common concerns and providing evidence-based information to help individuals make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

What is the Skyla IUD?

The Skyla IUD is a small, T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It is a hormonal IUD that releases a low dose of levonorgestrel, a synthetic form of progesterone, locally within the uterus. Skyla is designed to be effective for up to 3 years, making it an attractive option for those seeking long-term contraception without the need for daily administration.

Debunking the Myth: Skyla and Weight Gain

One of the most common concerns among potential IUD users is the possibility of weight gain. However, scientific evidence suggests that there is little to no direct correlation between Skyla use and significant weight changes.

What does the research say about Skyla and weight gain?

Multiple studies have investigated the relationship between hormonal IUDs like Skyla and weight gain. The consensus among researchers is that any weight changes associated with IUD use are typically minimal and not statistically significant. A comprehensive review published in the Journal of Contraception found that women using hormonal IUDs experienced an average weight gain of less than 2 pounds over 12 months, which is within the range of normal weight fluctuations.

Why do some users report weight gain with Skyla?

While the IUD itself is not likely to cause substantial weight gain, there are several factors that may contribute to perceived weight changes:

• Normal weight fluctuations due to age, lifestyle changes, or other factors
• Fluid retention, which may cause temporary bloating
• Changes in appetite or eating habits unrelated to IUD use
• Psychological effects, such as increased awareness of body changes after starting a new contraceptive method

Skyla and Skin Health: Addressing Acne Concerns

Another common worry among potential Skyla users is the impact on skin health, particularly the development or worsening of acne. While hormonal changes can affect the skin, the relationship between Skyla and acne is not straightforward.

Does Skyla cause acne?

The low, localized dose of levonorgestrel released by Skyla is unlikely to cause significant systemic effects that would lead to acne. In fact, some users report improvements in their skin after starting Skyla. However, individual responses can vary, and a small percentage of users may experience changes in their skin condition.

How does Skyla compare to other hormonal contraceptives in terms of skin effects?

Compared to higher-dose hormonal contraceptives like combined oral contraceptive pills, Skyla typically has a lower risk of causing skin-related side effects. The localized action of the IUD means that less hormone enters the bloodstream, potentially reducing the likelihood of acne or other skin changes.

Common Side Effects of Skyla: What to Expect

While Skyla is generally well-tolerated, it’s important for users to be aware of potential side effects. Understanding these can help individuals make informed decisions and manage any symptoms that may arise.

What are the most frequently reported side effects of Skyla?

According to clinical studies and user reports, the most common side effects of Skyla include:

1. Changes in menstrual bleeding patterns (e.g., lighter periods, spotting)
2. Mild cramping, especially during the first few months after insertion
3. Headaches
4. Breast tenderness
5. Mood changes

It’s important to note that these side effects are typically mild and often subside after the first few months of use as the body adjusts to the IUD.

Comparing Skyla to Other Birth Control Methods

To fully appreciate the benefits and drawbacks of Skyla, it’s helpful to compare it to other contraceptive options available.

How does Skyla stack up against other IUDs?

Skyla is similar in efficacy to other hormonal IUDs like Mirena and Kyleena. However, Skyla has a lower hormone dose and a slightly shorter duration of use (3 years compared to 5-7 years for other hormonal IUDs). This can make Skyla an attractive option for those who prefer a lower hormone dose or are considering pregnancy in the near future.

Skyla vs. non-hormonal contraceptives: What are the key differences?

Compared to non-hormonal methods like the copper IUD or barrier methods, Skyla offers the advantage of potentially lighter periods and reduced menstrual cramping. However, some individuals may prefer non-hormonal options to avoid any hormone-related side effects.

Long-Term Benefits of Skyla: Beyond Contraception

While Skyla’s primary function is to prevent pregnancy, it may offer additional health benefits for some users.

Can Skyla help with menstrual-related issues?

Many users report lighter periods and reduced menstrual pain with Skyla. For individuals who experience heavy or painful periods, this can significantly improve quality of life. Additionally, the localized action of Skyla may help manage conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis.

Are there any protective effects associated with Skyla use?

Some studies suggest that hormonal IUDs like Skyla may offer a protective effect against endometrial cancer. While more research is needed to fully understand this relationship, it represents a potential long-term benefit for users.

Making the Decision: Is Skyla Right for You?

Choosing a contraceptive method is a personal decision that should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider. When considering Skyla, it’s important to weigh the potential benefits against any concerns or potential side effects.

What factors should be considered when deciding on Skyla?

Key considerations include:

• Desire for long-term, highly effective contraception
• Preference for a low-maintenance method
• Comfort with a hormonal method
• Personal health history and risk factors
• Future pregnancy plans

Who might be the ideal candidate for Skyla?

Skyla may be particularly well-suited for:

• Individuals seeking reliable, long-term contraception
• Those who have difficulty remembering to take daily pills
• Women who experience heavy or painful periods and desire menstrual management
• Individuals who prefer a lower hormone dose compared to other hormonal IUDs

Addressing Common Misconceptions About Skyla

Despite the wealth of information available, misconceptions about Skyla and other IUDs persist. Addressing these can help potential users make more informed decisions.

Can Skyla affect fertility after removal?

There is no evidence to suggest that Skyla or other IUDs have any long-term impact on fertility. Once removed, fertility typically returns quickly, often within the first menstrual cycle.

Is Skyla suitable for women who haven’t had children?

Contrary to outdated beliefs, Skyla and other modern IUDs are safe and effective for women who have not given birth. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends IUDs as a first-line contraceptive option for most women, including nulliparous individuals.

In conclusion, the Skyla IUD offers a highly effective, low-maintenance contraceptive option with minimal systemic side effects. While concerns about weight gain and acne are common, evidence suggests that these effects are generally minimal or non-existent for most users. As with any medical decision, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare provider to determine if Skyla is the right choice for your individual needs and health profile. By understanding the facts and dispelling myths, individuals can make informed choices about their reproductive health and contraceptive options.

Weight Gain Not a Side Effect of IUD

Written by Janie McQueen

Medically Reviewed by Nivin Todd, MD on December 20, 2020

• Weight Gain Not Listed as IUD Side Effect
• Other Things Can Bring Weight Gain
• IUDs Can Help With Other Conditions

When it’s time to choose a birth control method, it’s common to wonder: Will it make me gain weight? The mere notion that a contraceptive can bring on extra pounds is a deal breaker for many users.

Sometimes this fear can extend to IUDs, also known as intrauterine devices. But there’s no evidence these small T-shaped devices, which a doctor inserts into your uterus to prevent pregnancy long-term, will make you get heavier.

“My experience is completely that weight gain is not an issue with [IUDs],” says Henry Dorn, MD, an OB/GYN in private practice in High Point, NC. “The studies basically show that there’s less than 5% [of IUD users] who show any weight gain, and it’s generally a little water weight. ”

Even with hormonal IUDs like Mirena, which emit progestin, so little of the hormone gets into your system that any effects on weight are minor, he says.

The progestin in hormonal IUDs thickens the mucus in your cervix to block sperm from reaching an egg. It also thins the lining of your uterus so it’s harder for any sperm that does get through to implant. The device can work and remain in the uterus for 3 to 6 years. A copper IUD uses the metal’s properties instead of hormones to stop most sperm and prevent any that get by from implanting. This type of IUD can stay in your uterus (and keep working) for much longer, up to 10 years.

The IUD is a LARC, which stands for long-acting reversible contraception. Like birth control implants, the matchstick-sized rods a doctor inserts into your upper arm, the IUD works really well. Fewer than one in 100 users of either method will get pregnant in the first year.

Both IUD types work about equally well to prevent pregnancy. They can cause similar, minor side effects for some people, Dorn says, like headaches and changes to your skin, hair, or mood. You might have heavier periods on the copper IUD.

Lists of possible IUD side effects don’t include weight gain. Also, a 2013 study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reported that among LARC users, women who used implants and shots were more likely to report weight gain than those who used copper IUDs.

According to the ACOG, LARC methods work 20 times better than birth control pills; the patch, which releases hormones through the skin; or the vaginal ring, which you need to replace every month.

“There is no perfect birth control,” Dorn notes, “but [IUDs] are the best we’ve got.”

It also might be the easiest. “It takes 30 seconds to put in, and 5 seconds to take out,” he says.

Even when people report weight gain, Dorn says it’s important to think about other factors that might play a role. Sometimes it’s merely your stage of life. For example, if you start using an IUD before your body fully matures, you might think normal body changes result from the IUD.

“A lot of it is timing. A lot of it is, it coincides with the normal weight gain of maturity,” Dorn says.

You can stop the birth control as easily as you start it, too. If you decide you want to get pregnant, or otherwise don’t want to use the method anymore, you only have to go to your doctor or other medical professional to have it removed.

Dorn also prescribes the IUD as treatment for women who have heavy periods. He cites the number of sanitary pads used as a measure. If you have an IUD, you might have to use 2 to 3 pads less per day during your period, he says.

If you want an IUD, a board-certified OB/GYN, certified nurse midwife, or family doctor is your best choice. “Experienced practitioners do better placing them than less experienced,” Dorn says. For example, if someone has a “tilted” uterus, which slants backward instead of forward, a highly skilled doctor needs to insert the IUD.

But such a condition is rare, so don’t let finding a health professional stop you. Check out medical clinics in your area. And while IUDs should be covered by insurance or Medicaid, Dorn says, cost shouldn’t be a barrier either. Clinics often offer a sliding payment scale. “Almost nobody has to pay full price,” he says, which is about $750.

If you’re done having children, Dorn says the best type of birth control is to have the male partner get a vasectomy. “A vasectomy has a zero weight gain for women,” he says.

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Skyla anxieties about weight gain and acne

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Hello all —

I’m a long-time lurker in this community and have appreciated so many of your posts. I got the Skyla IUD three weeks ago (after having two Paragard IUDs, one for 13 months, one for nine months, both removed due to pain). I wanted to get another Paragard to try again, but the insertion failed — my uterus expelled the Paragard immediately and the NP advised a Skyla instead since it’s smaller and my uterus is barely big enough for an IUD to begin with. But now I feel anxious about the Skyla all the time — that it will make me gain weight (I have been bloated for three weeks since insertion, which is doing a number on my self esteem and triggering old anxieties I had about weight connected to a teenage eating disorder) or break me out (I already have hormonal breakouts, and they’ve been worse since the Skyla and not going away mid-cycle) and the texture of my skin has changed. My whole face itches terribly and my skin looks slightly inflamed. I also had migraines every day for the first two weeks, as well as heavy bleeding alternating with unrelenting spotting.

And I’m worried about hair loss or changing my metabolism long-term (even if I get the Skyla removed) or ruining my skin for months (or permanently). I’m not sure how to calm down about it. I realize that the majority of stories about IUDs that end up online are going to be negative, what wasn’t working, etc. But I have a few questions —

– If you did gain weight on Skyla/Jaydess, were you able to lose the weight quickly/easily once Skyla was removed? Were you unable to lose the weight gained?
– If you did break out more than usual on Skyla, how long did it take your skin to recover?

I’ve had a lot of bad luck with birth control. I’ve tried just about every kind of HBC pill and had migraines, vomiting, racing heart, etc. Paragard was painful, but at least I didn’t worry about side effects from hormones.

• archangelbeth : (no subject) [+0]
• farrowing : (no subject) [+2]
• Shanice Marie : SKYLA [+0]
• Jessica Baker : Skyla Removed. . [+0]

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Endocrinologist called the reasons for weight gain | Society news | Izvestiya

An imbalance between the energy consumed in the form of food and the energy expended leads to an increase in body weight. Elena Sinitsyna, an endocrinologist and nutritionist at the SM-Clinic, told Izvestia about the causes that could lead to an imbalance.

The imbalance between consumed and expended energy can be caused by many factors. One of the most common causes is overeating. Often people do not notice how they overeat – eating on the run, quick snacks, eating in the presence of distractions (mobile, TV, tablet) are out of control.

Sweets can also contribute to weight gain.

“A small piece of candy or a piece of chocolate has a low calorie content, but causes a sharp increase in blood glucose, and after it, insulin. After a few minutes, your glucose level drops, and you feel a characteristic desire to snack again and eat something delicious. In order not to provoke weight gain, it is important to limit the consumption of pure sugar and starches as much as possible – giving up chocolate and sweets, fruit juices and even sweetened yogurts, ”Sinitsyna emphasized.

The endocrinologist also named a high level of stress in the body among the causes of obesity. During times of stress, the body needs to respond quickly and issue ready-made solutions. Due to the production of the stress hormone (cortisol), in a stressful situation, cravings for sweets (a fast source of energy) increase, and sleep is disturbed. This is an effective tactic for the survival of the body for a short period, but under conditions of chronic stress, the body is literally exhausted and all conditions are created for a rapid increase in body weight.

Serious stress for the body, in particular, is lack of sleep and chronic sleep deprivation, as it significantly impairs biochemical processes. Trying to make up for the lack of energy, people often consume not only more coffee, but food in general, which also leads to weight gain.

Certain medications can also cause weight changes. These drugs include antidepressants, antipsychotics, hypoglycemic drugs, some antihypertensive and anabolic steroids, contraceptives.

Hormonal disorders can also be the cause of imbalance in the body. Sinitsyna added that the most common and frequent abnormalities in the hormonal system that lead to weight gain are thyroid disorders, as well as age-related hormonal disorders.

“Low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) is characterized by a severe metabolic slowdown characterized by rapid weight gain, chronic fatigue, headaches, insomnia, and an inability to get enough sleep even with plenty of sleep,” the endocrinologist explained.

Weight gain may be related to age-related hormonal changes. For example, in women during menopause, the production of female sex hormones decreases, which is accompanied by a restructuring of all metabolic processes. The average weight gain during this period is from five to seven kilograms. However, as the metabolism changes, getting rid of this weight is not always easy.

“An analogue of male menopause is an age-related decrease in testosterone levels, which leads not only to a sharp loss of muscle mass, but also provokes obesity. In this case, fat begins to be deposited on the chest, thighs and lower abdomen. Recently, I often see a decrease in testosterone levels in young men, which may be the result of a sedentary lifestyle and chronic stress, ”said Sinitsyna.

In addition to common causes, there are a number of serious diseases that cause obesity: Itsenko-Cushing syndrome, Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome, Prader-Will syndrome, Carpenter’s syndrome.

On December 15, Elizabeth Louden, a physician at the American Center for Metabolic Health and Weight Loss, revealed that the majority of belly fat is due to a low metabolism. If you solve the problem with metabolism, you will get rid of excess weight forever. In this case, consultation with specialists is necessary.

Medications that can make you gain weight

Taking medications that your doctor prescribes for you for a particular reason may cause side effects that are not always desirable. Unfortunately, doctors do not always warn about what medications can lead to, and many would like to know what to expect from a course of medications.

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One of the most common drug side effects is weight gain. Let’s make a reservation right away – this does not happen for everyone and not always, but you can be one of those “lucky ones” who really put on weight.

We talk about drugs that can cause weight gain. We are sure that it is better to know and take some steps in advance so as not to gain weight than to accidentally discover an extra 3-5, or even 10 kg, gained over several weeks of taking the drug.

In general, it would be absolutely useful to discuss with the doctor all the possible “side effects” that the prescribed medicine can cause in order to take timely action. This, however, applies to any side effects, and not just those associated with weight. In some cases, undesirable effects are inevitable, but there are situations when their occurrence can be completely avoided or at least made less pronounced.

Steroids

Steroid preparations can be prescribed for various diseases. They make it quite easy to achieve an improvement in the condition, but the treatment is often accompanied by an undesirable effect, including insomnia, increased appetite and swelling. All this is the perfect combo for those extra pounds to literally stick in strategic places. It is important that steroids are available in different forms – these can be ointments and creams, sprays, as well as tablets. The latter just cause weight gain the most. You can reduce your chances of gaining weight by choosing the lowest possible dose for you, as well as adjusting your diet and choosing the ideal sleep pattern for you.

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Antidepressants

Many people say that you can gain weight on antidepressants. Fortunately, not everyone is gaining it, although this, of course, is quite real. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors pose the greatest danger in this regard, so if you are taking drugs whose active ingredient belongs to this class of substances, be careful.

The fact is that such drugs not only improve your mood and help you feel less depressed, but also increase your appetite. And here the connection is quite obvious: you want to eat more – you eat more – your weight increases.

If you are prone to weight gain, then discuss with your doctor in advance that you are worried about the fact that he will become more – it is likely that he will be able to choose another suitable drug for you.

Birth control pills

Oral contraceptives have many side effects, some of which are quite pleasant and desirable. But, let’s not hide, weight gain is not included in this list for everyone.

It works like this: progesterone, which is part of birth control pills, increases appetite, which causes women to eat more and gain weight. Another possible mechanism is that while taking contraceptives, the body begins to more actively retain water, and the weight also goes up because of this.

Antihistamines

Popular antihistamine-based allergy medications are most often not available by prescription. They can be prescribed by a doctor, but many people buy these drugs on their own initiative and choose the dosage on their own.

In addition to the fact that the selection of medicines still has to be done by a specialist, there is another danger. All the same kilograms that you can gain. Taking allergy medications frequently can lead to weight gain. This happens more often in women than in men. If you notice that you are really gaining weight on the background of a course of antihistamines, but at least try to change the dosage form: the spray in this case will be much less dangerous than tablets.

Blood pressure medications

Medicines prescribed for hypertension, such as beta-blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers, also affect weight. Unfortunately, in the case of such drugs, the choice is not too rich. There is nothing to replace them and cancel, most likely, the doctor will not allow. And this means that in order to prevent gaining extra pounds, you will have to carefully monitor your lifestyle, adjust your diet and try to introduce at least a minimum of physical activity into your daily routine.

Migraine Medicines

Migraine pain is terrible and excruciating, so finding that one medicine or another really helps with these nightmarish headaches is priceless. People who suffer from migraines are often ready to go to great lengths to improve their condition, and they may not even notice such “little things” as weight gain while taking medication.

However, in any case, for those who suffer from migraines, it is important to monitor their condition, minimize or completely eliminate the influence of triggers that can provoke a migraine attack.