Side effects
Hormonal coil (IUS) common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
62% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported period like cramps
43% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported tender breasts
40% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported vaginal discharge
29% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported lower back pain
26% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported breast enlargement
Hormonal coil (IUS) rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
3% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported discomfort wearing contact lenses
3% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported high blood pressure
2% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported a latex allergy
Possible Hormonal coil (IUS) side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Period like cramps (62%)
- Tender breasts (43%)
- Vaginal discharge (40%)
- Lower back pain (29%)
- Breast enlargement (26%)
- Vaginal dryness (22%)
- Thrush (21%)
- Body hair increase (18%)
- Sweating more than usual (16%)
- Nausea or vomiting (15%)
- Body hair getting darker (13%)
- Cystitis (12%)
- Headaches (10%)
- Migraines (7%)
- Pelvic infection (6%)
- Dizziness (6%)
- Migraine with aura (5%)
- Hair loss (4%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (3%)
- High blood pressure (3%)
- A latex allergy (2%)
Reviews
3.5
858 reviews
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Community reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
From coil insertion I had issues, it was very painful having it inserted and I had cramps for a weeks. I also got a post coil infection. I would get horrible period pain at that time of the month and my periods would also last longer than before coil. Often had spotting and could always feel there was something there like a pressure (difficult to explain). I also didn’t feel like myself, I didn’t have energy for a long time after the coil insertion. I got thrush and then got a UTI in August which I had for 6 & half weeks and took 5 courses of antibiotics. I finally saw a nurse who said stop the meds and agreed with my decision to have coil removed and said we would monitor it. I had coil removed 29/09 and am still getting the discomfort down there and regularly have a hot bean bag on my lower abdomen. Some days are better than others and this week I have had headaches so I’m not sure if it is linked to coil removal. The nurse will call me for follow up next week and if still getting it she needs to see if it could be pelvic inflammatory disease
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I liked that it was minimal effort once inserted. My periods were far lighter and less frequently occurring. Because of the thickening of vaginal fluids being part of the mechanism; I found I because much more prone to UTIs after sex and also had lower sexual drive. I came off the Mirena because I wanted to track my cycle accurately to see if my hormones and cycle were affecting/triggering my seizures (I have drug resistant epilepsy). When I came off the Mirena I found I was less anxious over the months following swapping to the copper coil I.e. non hormonal. This had not been a concern of mine when on it.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
While I had my Levosert, I liked it. I had mood changes, and cried a lot more than usual, but mostly just leading up to my period so it was manageable. I had recurrent thrush with it, and actually ended up having a prescription for monthly fluconazole tablets. In the end, after around 2 years, my coil slipped into my cervix, and it was incredibly stressful. I had no symptoms that it had slipped down, except my strings were a bit longer than usual. A doctor mistakenly told me it was fine to keep using, but when I later had it checked at a different clinic with ultrasound, they were alarmed that I'd had no symptoms as it was pretty much almost out of my body. I'd essentially been unprotected for about 8 months, and this led to a big pregnancy scare.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
The mirena coil did effectively reduce menstrual bleeding and prevent pregnancy. Due to thickening vaginal discharge I found I was more prone to thrush and also that this had an impact on arousal. I was an advocate for the hormonal coil until I changed to a non hormonal birth control and found that this had elevated my anxiety certain times in my cycle. I am epileptic without seizure control and this was my reason for coming off hormonal methods. Female hormones can trigger seizures in women with refractory epilepsy!
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Positives: lighter pain free periods, no anxiety over remembering to taking a pill everyday, no changes to mood skin weight etc. Negative: it moved after 11 months and I fell pregnant
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I was on the Kyleena IUD for 10 months after being on mirena for 5 years. Kyleena has had a terrible impact on my mental health and the reason I got it removed was because increased hair loss.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Sep 25
Have only had the coil for 2 months (although feels like much longer) so will give it a bit more of a chance, I also acknowledge that everyone reacts differently and my side effects seem to be less common, however in my experience and at this point in time, the negative side effects FAR outweigh the positives. My GP talked me into trying Mirena for managing my PCOS and the excruciating pain I would experience on occasion from burst ovarian cysts, as well as the birth control aspect. I’ve gone from an abnormally long (but fairly painless) cycle to an even longer one, bleeding and in moderate-severe pain almost daily. If my stomach doesn’t hurt, my head will be, or both. I’m not joking when I say I look pregnant from abdominal swelling on top of it all.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
63 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Sep 25
It was a very positive as i was having irregular heavy periods And personally I had a much better libido When in the past, bloods tested low in testerol levels of 7.5 i II wish this had been aware of of this before bow, i thought there was something not quite right as apparently 12 or above is the better level of testerol for women
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Sep 25
I've had the Mirena coil for about 10 months now, my doctor recommended it to stop uterine polyps from reappearing. Prior to the coil I had very heavy, extremely painful periods and pretty bad iron deficiency, but now my periods are super light and not painful at all!! The insertion was painful but not worse that the period cramps I used to get before; I spotted for 3 months straight but after that I started having semi-regular periods. I noticed that I had much more energy (probably because my iron levels were back to normal), my libido increased and I lost weight. I am really really happy with the coil.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Aug 25
Awful experience having it fitted, very painful. I’m convinced it triggered vaginal atrophy (I was already menopausal)
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments