Hormonal coil (IUS)

The IUS (hormonal coil) lasts between 3-6 years, depending on the brand of coil. After this time, you will need to book an appointment to get it removed or replaced by a doctor or nurse. You will need to use another method of contraception, or get a new coil if you don't want to fall pregnant. Find out more about coil removal in our guide to the IUS.

There is no evidence the the hormonal coil can affect weight, but some women still report this side effect. Make sure to take a look at our users' reviews to see how our community report the IUS affects their weight.You can also take a look our guide to contraception and weight to find out more.

It's unclear as to whether or not the hormonal coil can affect acne. According to our user reviews, some women find their acne is worse after having a hormonal coil inserted. However the levels of progestogen are much less than that found in the contraceptive pill, so therefore the impact may be less noticeable. Take a look at our user reviews or head to our guide on acne and the pill to find out more.

Hormonal methods of contraception may affect your mood. However there are several factors that influence this such as your age, medical history and contraceptive history, as well as what else may be going on in your life. Our review data seems to indicate that fewer users of the hormonal IUS are reporting that it negatively impacts their mood vs. other hormonal methods. Some women report an improvement in mood changes or mood swings throughout their cycle (associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS)). Make sure to check out our users' reviews to see how our community shares their experiences with this. You can also find out more in our guide to contraception and mood.

You need to go to a GP surgery or sexual health clinic where some staff are trained to fit coils. Find out more about coil fittings. Once the hormonal coil is fitted, the only requirement is that you check you can feel your threads which hang down through the neck of the womb in the top of the vagina. You should do this regularly, every few weeks, to make sure that your coil is in place. Read our blog about how to check your coil threads. If your coil is fitted in the first 7 days of your cycle, you’ll be protected against pregnancy immediately. If it’s fitted at any other time, you'll need to use condoms or other contraception for 7 days afterwards. You can read our comprehensive guide on how the hormonal coil works. To maintain its effectiveness the hormonal coil will need to be replaced before it runs out, you should check when this will be with the doctor or nurse who does the fitting. Your hormonal coil can be removed at any time by a trained doctor or nurse. It’s normally simpler than having it fitted – they will gently pull on the threads and the T shape folds up and it can be pulled out of the womb.