Kyleena experiences almost always come back to the same two things: the device is smaller than a Mirena and it holds less hormone. Women who switch usually notice that placement was somewhat more comfortable, and that their period does get lighter but stops altogether less often.
Kyleena contains 19.5 mg of levonorgestrel and lasts up to five years. That places it squarely between the two other hormonal IUDs commonly used in the Netherlands.
Kyleena, Mirena and the lowest dose side by side
| Feature | Lowest dose | Kyleena | Mirena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levonorgestrel | 13.5 mg | 19.5 mg | 52 mg |
| Lasts | up to 3 years | up to 5 years | up to 8 years |
| Frame width | 28 mm | 28 mm | 32 mm |
| Bleeding after a year | Slightly lighter | Clearly lighter | Often very light or absent |
| Chance the period stops | Small | Moderate | Highest |
| Also used as a treatment | No | No | Yes, for heavy bleeding |
That third row explains most of it. Kyleena has a narrower frame than Mirena, which is why it is often offered to women who have not given birth and have a narrower cervix.
Which side effects do women mention most?
The complaints below appear in the patient leaflet and the Dutch Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas. The large majority sit in the first months and ease afterwards.
| Side effect | When it plays up | How it usually goes |
|---|---|---|
| Irregular spotting | Month 1 to 6 | Gradually decreases |
| Cramping | First weeks | Eases after settling in |
| Acne or oilier skin | First months | Variable, sometimes persists |
| Tender breasts | First months | Usually temporary |
| Headache | Variable | Usually mild |
| Mood swings | Variable | Worth raising if it persists |
| Ovarian cysts | Can occur | Usually resolve on their own |
Make contact for fever, persistent severe abdominal pain, foul-smelling discharge, or if you can no longer feel the threads when you previously could.
Kyleena or Mirena: how do you choose?
The question is usually not which device is better, but what you want your period to do.
If you mainly want reliable contraception and a lighter bleed, Kyleena is a logical choice, particularly if you have not given birth. If your main problem is heavy menstrual bleeding, the higher dose does more, and Mirena is often chosen because it is genuinely used as a treatment for that.
See which IUD is best for the full comparison, including the copper device.
What do you notice from the hormones themselves?
Levonorgestrel from an IUD works mainly locally in the uterus. Some does reach your bloodstream, but far less than with the pill, and less with Kyleena than with Mirena because the dose is lower.
Practically that means many women keep their own ovulation. Your cycle keeps turning while your bleeding is lighter. So with this type, an absent period is usually not a sign your hormones have stalled. What happens to your actual values is covered in hormonal IUD side effects.
If you are unsure whether complaints come from the device or from something else, your thyroid or your iron for instance, a female hormone blood test gives you the starting point. With persistent fatigue alongside heavy bleeding, ferritin is the value that shows something earliest.
When is Kyleena replaced or removed?
After five years. Leave a device in longer and reliability drops. So record the end date somewhere the moment it goes in, because five years is long enough to forget.
Removal can happen at any time and is usually quicker and simpler than placement. The doctor grips the threads and draws the device out in one movement. Most women feel a brief cramp and little else. If the threads are not visible, an ultrasound is sometimes needed to locate the device.
Your fertility returns quickly after removal. There is no washout period as with the contraceptive injection, so you can conceive in the very next cycle. If you do not want that, arrange other contraception for the day of removal, not afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Kyleena last?
Up to five years. After that it needs replacing to stay reliable.
Does Kyleena hurt less to place than Mirena?
The frame is narrower, and many women find placement somewhat more comfortable as a result. It is not a guarantee, because passing the cervix stays the most sensitive moment. See IUD insertion pain for what happens step by step.
Does your period stop with Kyleena?
For a share of women it does, but less often than with Mirena, because the dose is lower. Getting lighter happens for most.
Do you gain weight on Kyleena?
Weight gain appears in the leaflet but is not reported by most women. Fluid retention in the first months is more common.
References
- Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas, intrauterine levonorgestrel monograph
- NHG-Standaard Anticonceptie, Dutch College of General Practitioners
- Thuisarts.nl, information on the hormonal IUD
- World Health Organization, Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Author
Lunarahealth
Dr. Naimi, BIG-registered physician, oversees the medical standards behind our content and assessments. Read our medical policy
