Combination birth control pill vs Copper IUD
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
Copper IUD ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers say
29% no impact on mood
32% lighter periods
38% lost sex drive
43% no impact
41% improved skin
39% in 1 month
37% no impact on mood
68% heavier periods
58% no impact
68% no impact
79% no impact on skin
33% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combination birth control pill reviews
112 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• today
I’ve heard this birth control is supposed to be helpful for acne, but I have been flushed since I started taking it and seen a couple breakouts, and I haven’t even finished my first pack yet. I have also been sweating profusely off and on since the second week of taking it. Those are the most significant side effects I’ve noticed. I did just have my Mirena IUD removed after my uterus tried to absorb it, so these effects could be related to that. I’ve been on many different birth control pills over the past 15 years and usually I have no side effects after the first month or two, so we’ll see.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 6 days ago
It is not bad. The bad thing about it is it did make me gain weight and made my boobs go from a C to a DD and it kind of hurts my back. I gained like 10-15 lbs and I am unable to lose it no matter what diets I do. My skin has cleared up and my hair isn’t as oily and my periods have stopped which is really nice though.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
I had severe anxiety on this pill, and also all of the sudden got motion sick all the time. I was nauseous everyday and lost weight because I couldn't eat. It did definitely help with acne and my previously irregular periods. However, I lost 20 pounds and had to eventually stop. Within a week of stopping, my mood returned to normal and I wasn't panicking all the time. Within a few months, however, my acne got way worse and I started getting cystic acne along my jawline. I also still suddenly get motion sick sometimes, and this isn't something I ever had before.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• today
I’ve heard this birth control is supposed to be helpful for acne, but I have been flushed since I started taking it and seen a couple breakouts, and I haven’t even finished my first pack yet. I have also been sweating profusely off and on since the second week of taking it. Those are the most significant side effects I’ve noticed. I did just have my Mirena IUD removed after my uterus tried to absorb it, so these effects could be related to that. I’ve been on many different birth control pills over the past 15 years and usually I have no side effects after the first month or two, so we’ll see.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 6 days ago
It is not bad. The bad thing about it is it did make me gain weight and made my boobs go from a C to a DD and it kind of hurts my back. I gained like 10-15 lbs and I am unable to lose it no matter what diets I do. My skin has cleared up and my hair isn’t as oily and my periods have stopped which is really nice though.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
I had severe anxiety on this pill, and also all of the sudden got motion sick all the time. I was nauseous everyday and lost weight because I couldn't eat. It did definitely help with acne and my previously irregular periods. However, I lost 20 pounds and had to eventually stop. Within a week of stopping, my mood returned to normal and I wasn't panicking all the time. Within a few months, however, my acne got way worse and I started getting cystic acne along my jawline. I also still suddenly get motion sick sometimes, and this isn't something I ever had before.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Copper IUD reviews
19 reviews
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Apr 25
My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes
Very negative mood
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 23rd Mar 25
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Feb 25
This birth control contributed to me getting BV and frequent yeast infections AND it was placed way too low and cause sex to be painful and my IUD was oxidizing inside of me and when I got it out, the IUD was literally falling apart I would not recommend this birth control
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Apr 25
My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes
Very negative mood
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 23rd Mar 25
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Feb 25
This birth control contributed to me getting BV and frequent yeast infections AND it was placed way too low and cause sex to be painful and my IUD was oxidizing inside of me and when I got it out, the IUD was literally falling apart I would not recommend this birth control
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 26th Nov 24
The insertion was unbelievably painful and I will not be getting it put back in after three months. 2 days in I nearly went back to get it taken out but decided to push through. The pain subsided however I occasionally get the most awful pains randomly which will last 3+ days sporadically with no period to go with it.
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Oct 24
I’ve had it for over a year, I’m happy with it since it’s been effective in preventing pregnancy but I’ve all the sudden been getting weird side effects and hormone imbalances and bloating.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Aug 24
I love the copper IUD as I was looking for a non hormonal way of birth control. Besides the heavy bleeding and intense cramps during my period, it’s great!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 31st Jul 24
I wanted the copper IUD because it was non-hormonal and my DR said the only real side effect was worse periods (which she said would be fine for me because my periods are were not too bad in the first place. Insertion was not as painful as I thought it would be. Periods have become extremely painful and mood has definitely suffered
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Jul 24
This was super painful to implant and more pain each month I used it during my period-longer and heavier as well as cramping and spotting each month at ovulation. Eventually I had the device removed and I started taking a birth control pill to regulate my hormones in hopes of lowering instance of migraines due to hormonal fluctuations. Now on a pill designed to prevent hormonal migraines, I realize that during my IUD years I had much less frequent migraines so perhaps there is no correlation between my migraines and birth control.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 30th May 24
I had Paraguard for almost 7 years. When it was first inserted (insanely painful) I was told it would last for 12 years, however it fell out recently. Only half fell out, as one arm broke off and I was recommended to have a hysteroscopy under full anesthesia to remove the missing part. Luckily it came out on its own and I didn’t require the operation but it was a terrifying experience. Throughout the past 7 years the only issues I had was very heavy periods and severe cramps (including sharp pain when going to the bathroom). Other than that, it was great for me and nice to have regular periods.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
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