IUD and Acne
I’m 27, and have been on birth control for roughly 13-14 years. I have been on the pill for the majority of those years, aside from 3 months when I tried the birth control shot. The reason I stopped taking the shot so early on was due to severe cystic acne. To be up front, I always struggled with acne, and couldn’t find a treatment that ever made it completely go away. It was never so severe (until I was on the shot) that it was cystic, scarring, painful, etc.
So I immediately went back on the pill (as well as a course of accutane), and didn’t really have any issues until the past 2 years. My periods have been increasingly heavier and more painful, and at some points I have had to miss work.
The gynecologist I was seeing a few years ago recommended to not go with the IUD since the same hormone in the shot that caused the cystic acne is in the IUD, and I decided to not go through with it. Fast forward to now, and with a different gynecologist, after expressing my periods getting worse she suggested the IUD. I told her why I was apprehensive, and what my previous gynecologist said and she gave me the same “it’s more localized” answer that I’ve read others writing about in this group. She had me get an ultrasound, and everything came back normal.
I have the insertion scheduled for next month, but I’m still extremely apprehensive and have not found any comfort in any of the medical professionals answers. So if any of the girls that have struggled with acne have had either positive or negative side effects on the IUD in regards to acne, please share your experiences. Any general advice/opinions are welcome as well.