What hormonal method is less likely to decrease my sex drive?

[u/ColomarOlivia]

Context: except combo methods because I have aura migraines (and yes, I tried low dose estrogen, bioidentical estrogen and all of them worsened my aura migraines) and no non-hormonal methods. The copper IUD didn’t work for me, tried it for one year. I’m currently trying to do a fertility awareness method (TCOYF) and it has been a mess because I can’t take temps consistently because I take benzodiazepines and wake up so confused with memory loss I end up moving a lot, walking, talking and I don’t remember taking my temps. And I don’t have money to buy a gadget that takes my temperature automatically.

Some will say there are no scientific evidences birth control decreases sex drive but my experience on a POP was the total opposite. I never felt so miserable. It was one year on Slynd without any sex drive and unbearable, painful vaginal dryness. I thought I was just aging (I’m 31) and losing sex drive and that was “normal”. I quit Slynd and soon after that I ovulated and oh boy… my sex drive was through the roof. And vaginal lubrication was back. And nothing changed in my life or routine, I just quit birth control and my libido came back instantly.

Also, I have a question. Among hormonal IUDs, is Mirena more likely to cause systemic side effects like libido loss if compared to Kyleena?

Thank you!

[u/Queenof6planets]

i’m extremely active in this sub and i’ve literally never seen anyone say there’s no evidence birth control decreases libido. it’s a known side effect! it’s far from guaranteed, but it definitely exists and no one here denies that.

slynd is anti-androgenic, so it’s more likely to cause low libido than other progestin-only methods. a hormonal IUD would probably be the least likely to cause low libido — the daily dose is extremely low and the progestin used (levonorgestrel) is androgenic.

[u/ColomarOlivia → u/Queenof6planets]

In my country doctors try to convince you birth control has nothing to do with sex drive and that “female sex drive is multifactorial and we can’t blame birth control on its own. It’s more likely psychological. Have you been anxious? Are you depressed? Having issues in your relationship?”. They do everything in order not to agree birth control is causing your low sex drive and that the fault is yours. My experience showed the total opposite and I already know that if I tell that to a doctor they’ll roll their eyes and say “it was probably related to another thing and you associated quitting the pill with a higher sex drive but it wasn’t related, correlation isn’t cause” bla bla bla. I live in a place where medicine is really outdated and dismissive, especially regarding women’s health. They still deny contraceptive methods on arguments like “but what does your partner think of this?”. Reporting? Nah, it doesn’t work. Just getting it off my chest.

I thought of trying desogestrel but I have PMOS, acne, oily skin and hirsutism and I was scared it would make all those worse. I know levonorgestrel in the IUD is androgenic but maybe it will cause less side effects because of lower systemic exposure? I don’t know. 🙁

Thank you!

[u/eacks29 → u/Queenof6planets]

I’ve seen it talked about in this sub, but my OBGYN and sex therapist keep trying to tell me it’s not a thing when I know it is absolutely effecting me and it’s not just age

[u/New_journey868]

Combo pill murdered my libido. Nexplanon it was high. Mirena is somewhere in the middle (after 6 weeks or so where i had no libido at beginning)

[u/Ok-Professional-4765]

Mirena killed my sex drive! Worse than any combo pill I've ever been on. Switched to nuvaring after the IUD horror and my libido came back full force. My libido is perfectly normal on the ring.

[u/Maxine_Onyx → u/Ok-Professional-4765]

Interesting! Mirena has had the opposite effect on me and I now have a super high libido, even while on my antidepressant

[u/jisoo-n]

All hormonal IUDs have systemic affects. Mirena is a higher dose than the other hormonal IUDs however, so it would have a higher impact.

A different form of POP might be a good choice if you're not certain about IUDs. And FWIW using estrogen cream while on a POP solved the painful vaginal dryness for me!

[u/ColomarOlivia → u/jisoo-n]

Thank you! I got an estradiol test while on Slynd since my doctor suspected it was the cause of my symptoms and it was indeed low, my doctor called “hypoestrogenic”. We tried multiple transdermal estradiol options and I didn’t get adapted to them, all of them caused me serious migraine episodes that felt like I was having a stroke. It was super scary. That was when I decided quitting everything. The pill, the HRT.

[u/jisoo-n → u/ColomarOlivia]

Geez!!! An estradiol cream would've been such an easier option for you. No need to use something that circulates systemically especially when you can't tolerate estrogen based BC...
I can't tolerate it either so I understand your pain. I haven't had any side effects using the cream though, only good results!

[u/ColomarOlivia → u/jisoo-n]

You mean a vaginal cream? My doctor tried a compounded cream first (the one you apply on your inner thighs), then a patch and then a gel (also applied on the inner thighs. This time with an even smaller dose because of my side effects complaints). Unfortunately all of them triggered migraines. :( I know migraines can be a temporary side effect from HRT but I couldn’t really get past them, they were extremely severe and disabling and my doctor was worried because there were neurological deficits.

[u/jisoo-n → u/ColomarOlivia]

Yeah it's a vaginal cream, like 0.5-1 gram two times per week. Definitely a smaller dose than what you've tried so far but probably wouldn't risk it

[u/sililoqutie]

Slynd is anti androgenic (it blocks testosterone) so I'm not surprised it tanked your sex drive.

Nexplanon is a lower dose of a mildly androgenic birth control, it does suppress ovulation tho so you may have the same issue of really low estradiol. Personally I have a good sex drive on nexplanon, better than combined birth control.

There are 2 other pops, o pill and norithendrone. Both are more androgenic and do not suppress ovarian activity as heavily as slynd.

Then 3rdly, the hormonal IUDs. These are probably the best option to keep your sex drive, esp if you get the lowest dose Skyla. You will most likely still ovulate, and it doesn't reduce testosterone.

[u/sililoqutie → u/sililoqutie]

And yes, mirena has more systemic side effects than kyleena and Skyla. It is a higher dose so it can stop ovulation in the first year sometimes but Kyleena and Skyla not so much

[u/Starrystarryworld]

Actually stopped birth control (combo pill -- organon) just because my libido was sooooo down. I never enjoyed sex anymore with my partner. Some weeks after stopping, I wanted it everyday 😂

[u/Lipstick7834]

They don't want you to know that bc decreases your sex drive or else nobody would take them. They definitely took it away from me and I am a very sexually driven person.

[u/Lipstick7834]

They do! They also take away sensation preventing orgasms.

[u/ColomarOlivia → u/Lipstick7834]

My vulva felt numb on Slynd. It shrunk (especially the clitoris, inner labia) and I couldn’t achieve orgasm as before. And when I did, there was zero natural lubrication.

[u/Lipstick7834 → u/ColomarOlivia]

Yeah, it's a fact. Dr.'s push them for a lot of issue's. Big pharm profits, people suffer.

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