Combination birth control pill vs Hormonal IUD
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
What Lowdown reviewers say
28% no impact on mood
32% lighter periods
38% lost sex drive
42% no impact
41% improved skin
39% in 1 month
42% no impact on mood
47% stopped periods
46% no impact
47% no impact
38% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combination birth control pill reviews
111 reviews
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 8+ yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I’ve tried the shot, the ring, different pills, this is the one. Weight gain was an important factor as was acne. I have not gained weight and have had only an occasional acne bump likely due to another cause. For birth control, just make sure you take the pill daily at the same time. I no longer experience mood swings or pms in anyway. I also do not have periods bc with my doctor’s approval, I take the pill straight through each month due to endometriosis.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
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 8+ yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I’ve tried the shot, the ring, different pills, this is the one. Weight gain was an important factor as was acne. I have not gained weight and have had only an occasional acne bump likely due to another cause. For birth control, just make sure you take the pill daily at the same time. I no longer experience mood swings or pms in anyway. I also do not have periods bc with my doctor’s approval, I take the pill straight through each month due to endometriosis.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal IUD reviews
55 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve only been on it for going on 3 weeks now. The first week was cramping and low back pain. Week 2 was nausea and hunger pains. I’m starting week 3 now and I’m working with my hunger, tiredness, and possibly some mood swings. So far I really like it. I don’t feel it, it doesn’t hurt or nothing.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Apr 25
Top side effects not reported
10 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve only been on it for going on 3 weeks now. The first week was cramping and low back pain. Week 2 was nausea and hunger pains. I’m starting week 3 now and I’m working with my hunger, tiredness, and possibly some mood swings. So far I really like it. I don’t feel it, it doesn’t hurt or nothing.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Apr 25
Top side effects not reported
10 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Apr 25
I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label to me after suffering from ridiculously heavy periods in my teens. I used to bleed 200mls+ on some periods and even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been an absolute life-saver and my periods are so much lighter. I will admit I have experienced some side effects - I used to have clear skin 95% of the time, however since the IUD I permanently have 1 or 2 pimples around my jawline which can be quite annoying. My periods are often very long now (7-11 days) despite being light which also gets frustrating. Those are the two main side effects I’ve experienced, but overall it’s been a positive experience.
Worse skin
10 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Apr 25
I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label for my heavy menstrual bleeding. I used to bleed sometimes over 200ml per period, even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been a life saver - my periods are so much lighter. Overall it’s been a positive experience. I won’t pretend it doesn’t have other side effects though. My periods are now way longer than they used to be (7-11 days) although not heavy at all. I also had clear skin 95% of the time prior to the IUD but now I permanently have one or two pimples around my jawline which can be pretty annoying.
Worse skin
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Apr 25
Irregular cycles. Mood swings, fatigue, brain fog and headaches seem to correlate to menstrual cycle. Effective birth control but still unsure if symptoms are related to Mirena or independent migraine, thyroid or other issues.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Apr 25
I’m pretty pleased for the most part. It’s my 2nd IUD, first hormonal one. My periods are pretty much gone and I love that. They were pretty bad before. The downside is that my scalp sweats PROFUSELY with very little physical exertion and my face is super oily. So much so that I have several pimples along and into my hairline. I’m very upset about that. I’m on month 7 and the pimples just started, but the sweating and oil started almost right away.
Worse skin
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Apr 25
Decreased sex drive
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 31st Mar 25
I’ve had it for 6 months and I have my period twice a month and the pain is pretty consistent day to day.
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
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